'THE DAYS WILL COME WHEN YE SHALL DESIRE TO SEE ONE OF THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN, AND YE SHALL NOT SEE IT.' A Problem BY CHARLES KINGSLEY London MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1893 The right of translation and reproduction is reserved First Edition (Parker and Son) 1851. Second Edition (Parker and Son) 1852 New Edition (Parker and Son) 1859 First Edition printed for Macmillan and Co., 1866 Reprinted 1872, 1875, 1877; January and September 1878, 1879, 1881, 1883, 1884 Second Edition printed November 1888. Reprinted 1890, 1891, 1893 Eversley Edition 1881 PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION THIS book was written nearly twelve years ago; and so many things have changed since then, that it is hardly fair to send it into the world afresh, without some notice of the improvement-if such there be-which has taken place meanwhile in those southern counties of England, with which alone this book deals. Twelve years I believe that things are improved. more of the new Poor Law have taught the labouring men greater self-help and independence; I hope that those virtues may not be destroyed in them once more, by the boundless and indiscriminate almsgiving which has become the fashion of the day, in most parishes where there are resident gentry. If half the money which is now given away in different forms to the agricultural poor could be spent in making their dwellings fit for honest men to live in, then life, morals, and poor-rates, would be saved to an immense amount. But as I do not see how to carry out such a plan, I have no right to complain of others for not seeing. Meanwhile cottage improvement, and sanitary reform, throughout the country districts, are going on at a fearfully slow rate. Here and there high-hearted landlords, like the Duke of Bedford, are doing their duty like men; but in |