XVIII 

 INDIAN POVERTY 



THE STANDARD OF LIVING 



When Mr. Keir Hardie was in India he satisfied 

 himself that the standard of living among the 

 working classes in India has been deteriorating. This 

 is interesting psychologically, and one would like to 

 know by what means Mr. Keir Hardie attained to 

 satisfaction on such a great and important question. 

 Doubtless he had the ungrudging assistance of Mr. 

 Chowdry. 



The poverty of India has for a good many years 

 been a handy weapon, like the sailor's belaying pin, 

 for everyone who wanted to "have at" our ad- 

 ministration of that country ; and if "a he which 

 is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies," then this 

 one must be as black as Tartarus, for it is indubitably 

 more than half a truth. The common field-labourer 

 in India is about as poor as man can be. He is 

 very nearly as poor as a sparrow. His hut, built 

 by himself, is scarcely more substantial or per- 

 manent than the sparrow's nest, and his clothing 

 compares very unfavourably with the sparrow's 



