the miseries of the miserable men； do we pause in the regular routine of our daily duties； and shudder as we realise for one brief moment what life means to the inmates of the Slums。 But one of the grimmest social problems of our time should be sternly faced； not with a view to the generation of profitless emotion； but with a view to its solution。
Is it not time？ There is； it is true； an audacity in the mere suggestion that the problem is not insoluble that is enough to take away the breath。 But can nothing be done？ If； after full and exhaustive consideration； we come to the deliberate conclusion that nothing can be done； and that it is the inevitable and inexorable destiny of thousands of Englishmen to be brutalised into worse than beasts by the condition of their environment； so be it。 But if； on the contrary； we are unable to believe that this 〃awful slough；〃 which engulfs the manhood and womanhood of generation after generation is incapable of removal； and if the heart and intellect of mankind alike revolt against the fatalism of despair； then； indeed； it is time； and high time； that the question were faced in no mere dilettante spirit； but with a resolute determination to make an end of the crying scandal of our age。
What a satire it is upon our Christianity and our civilisation that the existence of these colonies of heathens and savages in the heart of our capital should attract so little attention！ It is no better than a ghastly mockerytheologians might use a stronger wordto call by the name of One who came to seek and to save that which was lost those Churches which in the midst of lost multitudes either sleep in apathy or display a fitful interest in a chasuble。 Why all this apparatus of temples and meeting…houses to save men from perdition in a world which is to come； while never a helping hand is stretched out to save them from the inferno of their present life？ Is it not time that； forgetting for a moment their wranglings about the infinitely little or infinitely obscure； they should concentrate all their energies on a united effort to break this terrible perpetuity of perdition； and to rescue some at least of those for whom they profess to believe their Founder came to die？
Before venturing to define the remedy； I begin by describing the malady。 But even when presenting the dreary picture of our social ills； and describing the difficulties which confront us； I speak not in despondency but in hope。 〃I know in whom I have believed。〃 I know； therefore do I speak。 Darker England is but a fractional part of 〃Greater England。〃 There is wealth enough abundantly to minister to its social regeneration so far as wealth can； if there be but heart enough to set about the work in earnest。 And I hope and believe that the heart will not be lacking when once the problem is manfully faced； and the method of its solution plainly pointed out。
CHAPTER II。 THE SUBMERGED TENTH。
In setting forth the difficulties which have to be grappled with； I shall endeavour in all things to understate rather than overstate my case。 I do this for two reasons： first； any exaggeration would create a reaction； and secondly； as my object is to demonstrate the practicability of solving the problem； I do not wish to magnify its dimensions。 In this and in subsequent chapters I hope to convince those who read them that there is no overstraining in the representation of the facts； and nothing Utopian in the presentation of remedies。 I appeal neither to hysterical emotionalists nor headlong enthusiasts； but having tried to approach the examination of this question in a spirit of scientific investigation； I put forth my proposals with the view of securing the support and co…operation of the sober； serious； practical men and women who constitute the saving strength and moral backbone of the country。 I fully admit that them is much that is lacking in the diagnosis of the disease； and； no doubt； in this first draft of the prescription there is much room for improvement； which will come when we have the light of fuller experience。 But with all its drawbacks and defects； I do not hesitate to submit my proposals to the impartial judgment of all who are interested in the solution of the social question as an immediate and practical mode of dealing with this； the greatest problem of our time。
The first duty of an investigator in approaching the study of any question is to eliminate all that is foreign to the inquiry； and to concentrate his attention upon the subject to be dealt with。 Here I may remark that I make no attempt in this book to deal with Society as a whole。 I leave to others the formulation of ambitious programmes for the reconstruction of our entire social system； not because I may not desire its reconstruction； but because the elaboration of any plans which are more or less visionary and incapable of realisation for many years would stand in the way of the consideration of this Scheme for dealing with the most urgently pressing aspect of the question； which I hope may be put into operation at once。
In taking this course I am aware that I cut myself off from a wide and attractive field； but as a practical man； dealing with sternly prosaic facts； I must confine my attention to that particular section of the problem which clamours most pressingly for a solution。 Only one thing I may say in passing。 Then is nothing in my scheme which will bring it into collision either with Socialists of the State； or Socialists of the Municipality； with Individualists or Nationalists； or any of the various schools of though in the great field of social economics excepting only those anti…christian economists who hold that it is an offence against the doctrine of the survival of the fittest to try to save the weakest from going to the wall； and who believe that when once a man is down the supreme duty of a self…regarding Society is to jump upon him。 Such economists will naturally be disappointed with this book I venture to believe that all others will find nothing in it to offend their favourite theories； but perhaps something of helpful suggestion which they may utilise hereafter。 What； then； is Darkest England？ For whom do we claim that 〃urgency〃 which gives their case priority over that of all other sections of their countrymen and countrywomen？
I claim it for the Lost； for the Outcast； for the Disinherited of the World。
These； it may be said； are but phrases。 Who are the Lost？ reply； not in a religious； but in a social sense； the lost are those who have gone under； who have lost their foothold in Society； those to whom the prayer to our Heavenly Father； 〃Give us day by day our daily bread；〃 is either unfulfilled； or only fulfilled by the Devil's agency： by the earnings of vice； the proceeds of crime； or the contribution enforced by the threat of the law。
But I will be more precise。 The denizens in Darkest England； for whom I appeal； are （1） those who； having no capital or income of their own； would in a month be dead from sheer starvation were they exclusively dependent upon the money earned by their own work； and （2） those who by their utmost exertions are unable to attain the regulation allowance of food which the law prescribes as indispensable even for the worst criminals in our gaols。
I sorrowfully admit that it would be Utopian in our present social arrangements to dream of attaining for every honest Englishman a gaol standard of all the necessaries of life。 Some time； perhaps； we may venture to hope that every honest worker on English soil will always be as warmly clad； as healthily housed； and as regularly fed as our criminal convictsbut that is not yet。
Neither is it possible to hope for many years to come that human beings generally will be as well cared for as horses。 Mr。 Carlyle long ago remarked that the four…footed worker has already got all that this two…handed one is clamouring for： 〃There are not many horses in England； able and willing to work； which have not due food and lodging and go about sleek coated； satisfied in heart。〃 You say it is impossible； but； said Carlyle； 〃The human brain； looking at these sleek English horses； refuses to believe in such impossibility for English men。〃 Nevertheless； forty years have passed since Carlyle said that； and we seem to be no nearer the attainment of the four…footed standard for the two…handed worker。 〃Perhaps it might be nearer realisation；〃 growls the cynic； 〃if we could only product men according to demand； as we do horses； and promptly send them to the slaughter…house when past their prime〃which； of course； is not to be thought of。
What； then； is the standard towards which we may venture to aim with some prospect of realisation in our time？ It is a very humble one； but if realised it would solve the worst problems of modern Society。 It is the standard of the London Cab Horse。 When in the streets of London a Cab Horse； weary or careless or stupid； trips and falls and lies stretched out in the midst of the traffic there is no question of debating how he came to stumble before we try to get him on his legs again。 The Cab Horse is a very real illustration of poor broken…down humanity； he usually falls down because of overwork and underfeeding。 If you put him on his feet without altering his conditions； it would only be to give him another dose of agony； but first of all you'll have to pick him up again。 It may have been through overwork or underfeeding； or it may have been all his own fault that he has broken his knees and smashed the shafts； but that does not matter。 If not for his own sake； then merely in order to prevent an obstruction of the traffic； all attention is concentrated upon the question of how we are to get him on his legs again。 Tin load is taken off； the harness is unbuckled； or； if need be； cut； and everything is done to help him up。 Then he is put in the shafts again and once more restored to his regular round of work。 That is the first point。 The second is that every Cab Horse in London has three things； a shelter for the night； food for its stomach； and work allotted to it by which it can earn its corn。
These are the two points of the Cab Horse's Charter。 When he is down he is helped up； and while he lives he has food；