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all great industrial centres； whether in this or other countries； is
aware that； amidst a large and increasing body of that population； la
misere reigns supreme。 I have no pretensions to the character of a
philanthropist； and I have a special horror of all sorts of
sentimental rhetoric； I am merely trying to deal with facts； to some
extent within my own knowledge； and further evidenced by abundant
testimony； as a naturalist； and I take it to be a mere plain truth
that； throughout industrial Europe； there is not a single large
manufacturing city which is free from a vast mass of people whose
condition is exactly that described； and from a still greater mass
who； living just on the edge of the social swamp； are liable to be
precipitated into it by any lack of demand for their produce。 And；
with every addition to the population； the multitude already sunk in
the pit and the number of the host sliding towards it continually
increase。
Argumentation can hardly be needful to make it clear that no society
in which the elements of decomposition are thus swiftly and surely
accumulating can hope to win in the race of industries。
Intelligence； knowledge； and skill are undoubtedly conditions of
success； but of what avail are they likely to be unless they are
backed up by honesty； energy； goodwill； and all the physical and moral
faculties that go to the making of manhood； and unless they are
stimulated by hope of such ＇217＇ reward as men may fairly look to？ And
what dweller in the slough of want； dwarfed in body and soul；
demoralized； hopeless； can reasonably be expected to possess these
qualities？
Any full and permanent development of the productive powers of an
industrial population； then； must be compatible with and； indeed；
based upon a social organization which will secure a fair amount of
physical and moral welfare to that population； which will make for
good and not for evil。 Natural science and religious enthusiasm rarely
go hand in hand； but on this matter their concord is complete； and the
least sympathetic of naturalists can but admire the insight and the
devotion of such social reformers as the late Lord Shaftesbury； whose
recently published 〃Life and Letters〃 gives a vivid picture of the
condition of the working classes fifty years ago； and of the pit which
our industry； ignoring these plain truths； was then digging under its
own feet。
There is； perhaps； no more hopeful sign of progress among us； in the
last half…century； than the steadily increasing devotion which has
been and is directed to measures for promoting physical and moral
welfare among the poorer classes。 Sanitary reformers； like most other
reformers whom I have had the advantage of knowing； seem to need a
good dose of fanaticism； as a sort of moral coca； to keep them up to
the mark； and； doubtless； they have made many mistakes； but that the
＇218＇ endeavour to improve the condition under our industrial
population live； to amend the drainage of densely peopled streets； to
provide baths； washhouses； and gymnasia； to facilitate habits of
thrift； to furnish some provision for instruction and amusement in
public libraries and the like； is not only desirable from a
philanthropic point of view； but an essential condition of safe
industrial development； appears to me to be indisputable。 It is by
such means alone； so far as I can see； that we can hope to check the
constant gravitation of industrial society towards la misere； until
the general progress of intelligence and morality leads men to grapple
with the sources of that tendency。 If it is said that the carrying out
of such arrangements as those indicated must enhance the cost of
production； and thus handicap the producer in the race of competition；
I venture； in the first place； to doubt the fact； but if it be so； it
results that industrial society has to face a dilemma； either
alternative of which threatens destruction。
On the one hand； a population the labour of which is sufficiently
remunerated may be physically and morally healthy and socially stable；
but may fail in industrial competition by reason of the dearness of
its produce。 On the other hand； a population the labour of which is
insufficiently remunerated must become physically and morally
unhealthy； and socially unstable； and though it ＇219＇ may succeed for
a while in industrial competition； by reason of the cheapness of its
produce； it must in the end fall； through hideous misery and
degradation； to utter ruin。
Well； if these are the only possible alternatives； let us for ourselves
and our children choose the former； and； if need be； starve like men。
But I do not believe that the stable society made up of healthy；
vigorous； instructed； and self…ruling people would ever incur serious
risk of that fate。 They are not likely to be troubled with many
competitors of the same character； just yet； and they may be safely
trusted to find ways of holding their own。
Assuming that the physical and moral well…being and the stable social
order； which are the indispensable conditions of permanent industrial
development； are secured； there remains for consideration the means of
attaining that knowledge and skill without which； even then； the
battle of competition cannot be successfully fought。 Let us consider
how we stand。 A vast system of elementary education has now been in
operation among us for sixteen years； and has reached all but a very
small fraction of the population。 I do not think that there is any
room for doubt that； on the whole； it has worked well； and that its
indirect no less than its direct benefits have been immense。 But； as
might be expected； it exhibits the defects of all our educational
systemsfashioned ＇220＇ as they were to meet the wants of a bygone
condition of society。 There is a widespread and； I think；
well…justified complaint that it has too much to do with books and too
little to do with things。 I am as little disposed as any one can well
be to narrow early education and to make the primary school a mere
annexe of the shop。 And it is not so much in the interests of
industry； as in that of breadth of culture； that I echo the common
complaint against the bookish and theoretical character of our primary
instruction。
If there were no such things as industrial pursuits； a system of
education which does nothing for the faculties of observation； which
trains neither the eye nor the hand； and is compatible with utter
ignorance of the commonest natural truths； might still be reasonably
regarded as strangely imperfect。 And when we consider that the
instruction and training which are lacking are exactly； those which
are of most importance for the great mass of our population； the fault
becomes almost a crime； the more that there is no practical difficulty
in making good these defects。 There really is no reason why drawing
should not be universally taught； and it is an admirable training for
both eye and hand。 Artists are born； not made； but everybody may be
taught to draw elevations； plans； and sections； and pots and pans are
as good； indeed better； models for ＇221＇ this purpose than the Apollo
Belvedere。 The plant is not expensive； and there is this excellent
quality about drawing of the kind indicated； that it can be tested
almost as easily and severely as arithmetic。 Such drawings are either
right or wrong； and if they are wrong the pupil can be made to see
that they are wrong。 From the industrial point of view； drawing has
the further merit that there is hardly any trade in which the power of
drawing is not of daily and hourly utility。 In the next place； no
good reason； except the want of capable teachers； can be assigned why
elementary notions of science should not be an element in general
instruction。 In this case； again； no expensive or elaborate apparatus
is necessary。 The commonest thinga candle； a boy's squirt； a piece
of chalkin the hands of a teacher who knows his business； may be
made the starting…point whence children may be led into the regions of
science as far as their capacity permits； with efficient exercise of
their observational and reasoning faculties on the road。 If object
lessons often prove trivial failures； it is not the fault of object
lessons； but that of the teacher； who has not found out how much the
power of teaching a little depends on knowing a great deal； and that
thoroughly； and that he has not made that discovery is not the fault
of the teachers； but of the detestable system of training them which
is widely prevalent。*
* Training in the use of simple tools is no doubt desirable；
on all grounds。 From the point of view of 〃culture；〃 the
man whose 〃fingers are all thumbs〃 is but a stunted
creature。 But the practical difficulties in the way of
introducing handiwork of this kind into elementary schools
appear to me to be considerable。
＇222＇ As I have said； I do not regard the proposal to add these to the
present subjects of universal instruction as made merely in the
interests of industry。 Elementary science and drawing are just as
needful at Eton （where I am happy to say both are now parts of the
regular course） as in the lowest primary school。 But thei