Significance of the Small Industries. 359 
accident or of any other kind, befalls such a man, he at 
once becomes discontented, begins to complain bitterly, 
and, instead of viewing his own improvident conduct as the 
cause of his present state, he throws the blame upon condi- 
tions which have very little to do with the matter. If 
government should interfere on behalf of workmen, to 
organize a sick benefit or accident fund, in order that the 
unfortunate artizan may not be forthwith penniless when 
anything of this kind befalls him; then he murmurs against 
the deductions made from his wages, at least so long as 
nothing happens to him which renders an application to 
the fund for payments possible to him; and when he does 
have recourse to the accident fund for support, he murmurs 
equally at the inadequacy of the amount allowed him for 
maintenance. In this way discontent arises in, grows with 
and spreads from such a man; the state of things being 
certainly not improved when, as he advances in life, from 
which the freshness and gloss have now been 1emoved, he 
sees nothing before him but his day of toil unrewarded save 
by his weekly wage. Again, since in great factories large 
numbers of men work together in relatively small rooms, 
there is every facility for, as the men are only too prone to 
be, taking part in the discontent and reiterating the com- 
plaints of others. Such places consequently become the 
very breeding-places for all manner of dissatisfaction with 
things as they are, and of envy and hatred for more favour- 
ably j-laced fellow-men. That the ideas of revolutionaries 
have always obtaincd so wonderfully rapid a hold upon the 
employés of the large industries can only be explained in 
this way, and isa proof of the truth of the above contention, 
It is far otherwise with a man who can be his own em- 
ployer. He takes pleasure in and works with diligence and 
foresight at an occupation from which he anticipates a per- 
sonal reward for his own industrious skill. He consequently 
becomes essentially a higher class of man than his compeer 
in the factory. TT e habits of thrift which the successful 
initiation and pursuit of his little concern have inculcated 
have a good general effect on his whole moral character. 
