he alchemy of science can extract beautiful colours from coal tar； cannot Divine alchemy enable us to evolve gladness and brightness out of the agonised hearts and dark； dreary； loveless lives of these doomed myriads？ Is it too much to hope that in God's world God's children may be able to do something； if they set to work with a will； to carry out a plan of campaign against these great evils which are the nightmare of our existence？
The remedy； it may be； is simpler than some imagine。 The key to the enigma may lie closer to our hands than we have any idea of。 Many devices have been tried； and many have failed； no doubt； it is only stubborn； reckless perseverance that can hope to succeed； it is well that we recognise this。 How many ages did men try to make gunpowder and never succeeded？ They would put saltpetre to charcoal； or charcoal to sulphur； or saltpetre to sulphur； and so were ever unable to make the compound explode。 But it has only been discovered within the last few hundred years that all three were needed。 Before that gunpowder was a mere imagination； a phantasy of the alchemists。 How easy it is to make gunpowder； now the secret of its manufacture is known！
But take a simpler illustration； one which lies even within the memory of some that read these pages。 From the beginning of the world down to the beginning of this century； mankind had not found out； with all its striving after cheap and easy transport； the miraculous difference that would be brought about by laying down two parallel lines of metal。 All the great men and the wise men of the past lived and died oblivious of that fact。 The greatest mechanicians and engineers of antiquity； the men who bridged all the rivers of Europe； the architects who built the cathedrals which are still the wonder of the world； failed to discern what seems to us so obviously simple a proposition； that two parallel lines of rail would diminish the cost and difficulty of transport to a minimum。 Without that discovery the steam engine； which has itself been an invention of quite recent years； would have failed to transform civilisation。
What we have to do in the philanthropic sphere is to find something analogous to the engineers' parallel bars。 This discovery think I have made； and hence have I written this book。
SECTION 2MY SCHEME
What； then； is my Scheme？ It is a very simple one； although in its ramifications and extensions it embraces the whole world。 In this book I profess to do no more than to merely outline； as plainly and as simply as I can； the fundamental features of my proposals。 I propose to devote the bulk of this volume to setting forth what can practically be done with one of the most pressing parts of the problem； namely； that relating to those who are out of work； and who； as the result； are more or less destitute。 I have many ideas of what might be done with those who are at present cared for in some measure by the State； but I will leave these ideas for the present。
It is not urgent that I should explain how our Poor Law system could be reformed； or what I should like to see done for the Lunatics in Asylums； or the Criminals in Gaols。 The persons who are provided for by the State we will； therefore； for the moment； leave out of count。 The indoor paupers； the convicts； the inmates of the lunatic asylums are cared for； in a fashion； already。 But； over and above all these； there exists some hundreds of thousands who are not quartered on the State； but who are living on the verge of despair； and who at any moment； under circumstances of misfortune； might be compelled to demand relief or support in one shape or another。 I will confine myself； therefore； for the present to those who have no helper。
It is possible； I think probable； if the proposals which I am now putting forward are carried out successfully in relation to the lost； homeless； and helpless of the population； that many of those who are at the present moment in somewhat better circumstances will demand that they also shall be allowed to partake in the benefits of the Scheme。 But upon this； also； I remain silent。 I merely remark that we have； in the recognition of the importance of discipline and organisation； what may be called regimented co…operation； a principle that will be found valuable for solving many social problems other than that of destitution。 Of these plans； which are at present being brooded over with a view to their realisation when the time is propitious and the opportunity occurs； I shall have something to say。
What is the outward and visible form of the Problem of the Unemployed？ Alas！ we are all too familiar with it for any lengthy description to be necessary。 The social problem presents itself before us whenever a hungry； dirty and ragged man stands at our door asking if we can give him a crust or a job。 That is the social question。 What are you to do with that man？ He has no money in his pocket； all that he can pawn he has pawned long ago； his stomach is as empty as his purse； and the whole of the clothes upon his back； even if sold on the best terms； would not fetch a shilling。 There he stands； your brother； with sixpennyworth of rags to cover his nakedness from his fellow men and not sixpennyworth of victuals within his reach。 He asks for work； which he will set to even on his empty stomach and in his ragged uniform； if so be that you will give him something for it； but his hands are idle； for no one employs him。 What are you to do with that man？ That is the great note of interrogation that confronts Society to…day。 Not only in overcrowded England； but in newer countries beyond the sea； where Society has not yet provided a means by which the men can be put upon the land and the land be made to feed the men。 To deal with this man is the Problem of the Unemployed。 To deal with him effectively you must deal with him immediately； you must provide him in some way or other at once with food； and shelter； and warmth。 Next you must find him something to do； something that will test the reality of his desire to work。 This test must be more or less temporary； and should be of such a nature as to prepare him for making a permanent livelihood。 Then； having trained him； you must provide him wherewithal to start life afresh。 All these things I propose to do。 My Scheme divides itself into three sections； each of which is indispensable for the success of the whole。 In this three…fold organisation lies the open secret of the solution of the Social Problem。
The Scheme I have to offer consists in the formation of these people into self…helping and self…sustaining communities； each being a kind of co…operative society； or patriarchal family； governed and disciplined on the principles which have already proved so effective in the Salvation Army。
These communities we will call； for want of a better term； Colonies。 There will be：
（1） The City Colony。 （2） The Farm Colony。 （3） The Over…Sea Colony。
THE CITY COLONY。
By the City Colony is meant the establishment； in the very centre of the ocean of misery of which we have been speaking； of a number of Institutions to act as Harbours of Refuge for all and any who have been shipwrecked in life； character； or circumstances。 These Harbours will gather up the poor destitute creatures； supply their immediate pressing necessities； furnish temporary employment； inspire them with hope for the future； and commence at once a course of regeneration by moral and religious influences。
From these Institutions； which are hereafter described； numbers would； after a short time； be floated off to permanent employment； or sent home to friends happy to receive them on hearing of their reformation。 All who remain on our hands would； by varied means； be tested as to their sincerity； industry； and honesty； and as soon as satisfaction was created； be passed on to the Colony of the second class。
THE FARM COLONY。
This would consist of a settlement of the Colonists on an estate in the provinces； in the culture of which they would find employment and obtain support。 As the race from the Country to the City has been the cause of much of the distress we have to battle with； we propose to find a substantial part of our remedy by transferring these same people back to the country； that is back again to 〃the Garden！〃
Here the process of reformation of character would be carried forward by the same industrial； moral； and religious methods as have already been commenced in the City； especially including those forms of labour and that knowledge of agriculture which； should the Colonist not obtain employment in this country； will qualify him for pursuing his fortunes under more favourable circumstances in some other land。
From the Farm； as from the City； there can be no question that large numbers； resuscitated in health and character； would be restored to friends up and down the country。 Some would find employment in their own callings； others would settle in cottages on a small piece of land that we should provide； or on Co…operative Farms which we intend to promote； while the great bulk； after trial and training； would be passed on to the Foreign Settlement； which would constitute our third class； namely The Over…Sea Colony。
THE OVER…SEA COLONY。
All who have given attention to the subject are agreed that in our Colonies in South Africa； Canada； Western Australia and elsewhere； there are millions of acres of useful land to be obtained almost for the asking； capable of supporting our surplus population in health and comfort； were it a thousand times greater than it is。 We propose to secure a tract of land in one of these countries； prepare it for settlement； establish in it authority； govern it by equitable laws； assist it in times of necessity； settling it gradually with a prepared people； and so create a home for these destitute multitudes。
The Scheme； in its entirety； may aptly be compared to A Great Machine； foundationed in the lowest slums and purlieus of our great towns and cities； drawing up into its embrace the depraved and destitute of all classes； receiving thieves； harlots； paupers； drunkards； prodigals； all alike； on the simple conditions of their being willing to work and to conform to disc