a country it has withered the ancient cottage industries of our land.  It is true that even before the time of railways the development of machinery had in large measure destroyed the spinning and weaving trades, which in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and elsewhere had given employment to large numbers of country families.  The railway, and the constant application of new machinery have completed this work of destruction, and have likewise abolished a number of small handicrafts, such as hand-stitched boots, and lace, which flourished in western and midland districts, Nor is this all.  The same potent forces have transferred to towns many branches of work connected indirectly with agricultural pursuits; country smiths, brickmakers, sawyers, turners, coopers, wheelwrights, are rapidly vanishing from the face of the country.

Sec. 5.  Attractions of the Town, Economic and Social.  The concrete form in which the industrial forces, which we have described, appeal to the dull-headed rustic is the attraction of higher wages.  An elaborate comparison of towns and country wages is not required.  It is enough to say that labourer’s wages in London and other large cities are some 50 per cent, higher than the wages of agricultural labourers in most parts of England, and the wages of skilled labour show a similar relation.  Besides the actual difficulty of getting agricultural employment in many parts, improved means of knowledge, and of cheap transport, constantly flaunt this offer of higher wages before the eyes of the more discontented among agricultural workers.  It is true that if wages are higher in London, the cost of living is also higher, and the conditions of life and work are generally more detrimental to health and happiness; but these drawbacks are more often realized after the fatal step has been taken than before.

Along with the concrete motive of higher wages there come other inherent attractions of town life.

“The contagion of numbers, the sense of something going on, the theatres and music-halls, the brilliantly-lighted streets and busy crowds"[18] have a very powerful effect on the dawning intelligence of the rustic.  The growing accessibility of towns brings these temptations within the reach of all.  These social attractions probably contain more evil than good, and act with growing force on the restless and reckless among our country population.  The tramp and the beggar find more comfort and more gain in the towns.  The action of indiscriminate and spasmodic charity, which still prevails in London and other large centres of riches, is responsible in no small measure for the poverty and degradation of city slums.

“The far-reaching advertisement of irresponsible charity acts as a powerful magnet.  Whole sections of the population are demoralized, men and women throwing down their work right and left in order to qualify for relief; while the conclusion of the whole matter is intensified congestion of the labour market—­angry bitter feeling for the insufficiency of the pittance, or rejection of the claim.”  So writes Miss Potter of the famous Mansion House Relief Funds.