308 THE WOELD OF LIFE 



speculators, they have only to refuse to allow any further 

 water-supply to be provided for London except what now ex- 

 ists, and London will cease to grow. Let every speculator have 

 to provide water for and on his own estate, and the thing will 

 be done — to the enormous benefit of humanity. 



The same thing can, I presume, be done by Parliament for 

 any other growing town or city. It can justly say : '^ When 

 you have not a gallon of polluted water in your town, and 

 when its death-rate is brought down to the average standard 

 of rural areas, we will reconsider the question of your further 

 growth.'' By that time, probably, there will be no public de- 

 mand for enlarging our " wens '' and a very strong and stem, 

 one for their cure or their abolition. 



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