A magistrate at Bilston, not connected with the employment of workmen, has mentioned the following case.  “I prevailed,” he says, “upon a workman to begin a deposit in the savings bank.  He came most unwillingly.  His deposits were small, although I knew his gains to be great.  I encouraged him by expressing satisfaction at the course he was taking.  His deposits became greater; and at the end of five years he drew out the fund he had accumulated, bought a piece of land, and has built a house upon it.  I think if I had not spoken to him, the whole amount would have been spent in feasting or clubs, or contributions to the trades unions.  That man’s eyes are now open—­his social position is raised—­he sees and feels as we do, and will influence others to follow his example.”

From what we have said, it will be obvious that there can be no doubt as to the ability of a large proportion of the better-paid classes of working men to lay by a store of savings.  When they set their minds upon any object, they have no difficulty in finding the requisite money.  A single town in Lancashire contributed thirty thousand pounds to support their fellow-workmen when on strike in an adjoining town.  At a time when there are no strikes, why should they not save as much money on their own account, for their own permanent comfort?  Many workmen already save with this object; and what they do, all might do.  We know of one large mechanical establishment,—­situated in an agricultural district, where the temptations to useless expenditure are few,—­in which nearly all the men are habitual economists, and have saved sums varying from two hundred to five hundred pounds each.

Many factory operatives, with their families, might easily lay by from five to ten shillings a week, which in a few years would amount to considerable sums.  At Darwen, only a short time ago, an operative drew his savings out of the bank to purchase a row of cottages, now become his property.  Many others, in the same place, and in the neighbouring towns, are engaged in building cottages for themselves, some by means of their contributions to building societies, and others by means of their savings accumulated in the bank.

A respectably dressed working man, when making a payment one day at the Bradford savings bank, which brought his account up to nearly eighty pounds, informed the manager how it was that he had been induced to become a depositor.  He had been a drinker; but one day accidentally finding his wife’s savings bank deposit book, from which he learnt that she had laid by about twenty pounds, he said to himself, “Well now, if this can be done while I am spending, what might we do if both were saving?” The man gave up his drinking, and became one of the most respectable persons of his class.  “I owe it all,” he said, “to my wife and the savings bank.”