and the effort is made to promote general neighborliness. The hosts and hostesses are well-to-do people from any part of London. Etiquette is a kind of minor morals." Good form has meaning and use, and it is learned by imitation. Example, however, is not potent, save in the visible presence of the superior.*

F. Political and Legal. Workers among wage earners become aware of a certain wide-spread distrust of law and government. The belief is only too general that government is under capitalistic control. Socialists naturally and consistently foster this belief. The reports of legislative corruption and purchase of aldermen, tend to deepen and fix this dangerous conviction. The great journals and magazines carry the news to all parts of society. In times of strike the members of trade unions find the policemen always protecting property and rivals. If they go to law the appeals to federal and supreme courts take litigation far beyond their reach. They may not see the other side; the difficulties of corporations to secure fair treatment in face of popular prejudice; the almost certainty that a local jury will not be just to a rich man; and the legislation inspired by spite against the successful. They very naturally dwell on their own side of the grievance, and this brooding over real and fancied wrongs makes them opponents of law.

*A form of invitation used at Browning Settlement is: "Robert Browning Hall, Social Settlement, York Street, Walworth. Alderman and Mrs. Evan Spicer invite Mr. and lady to the People's Drawing Room, on Thursday, May 23d, 1895, 8.15 to 10."

The practical difficulty is to make government séem to the poor as if it were their friend, their own affair, a thing in which they could make their personality felt and which could be made to help them realize the ends of life. Municipal reform can never be carried by rich men's clubs. Civic ambitions must thrill the remotest members of society. The great majority of voters must come to realize that the government is really their own, to make or to mar.

The Settlement does not pretend to take the place of any natural institution. Its highest hope is to leaven existing institutions and promote the better working of social organs which have issued from the past. Municipal governments existed before Settlements came into being, and will continue to act after the new philanthropy has assumed other forms. The resident casts in his lot with the people and shares their legitimate aspirations. He needs fresh air, light, clean streets, wholesome water, parks, walks, good schools, police protection, equitable taxation, and all other good things which only the powerful machinery of government can provide. He wants all these goods at the lowest possible cost. Therefore he desires an honest and economical as well as progressive government. This is the "civic spirit," the spirit of coöperation pervading the entire community and acting through the only organization which actually belongs to all and is the agency of executing the will of the people.

Hence the residents seek to create a sound and

informed public opinion, to influence the selection of candidates and their election to office; and sometimes they stand for election or appointment to places in councils, school boards, committees and administrative places.

"Hitherto the ward politician has been the power; as boss, as friend of the old and young, as the advocate of the rights of the people, he has held undisputed sway. Now the Settlement introduces some new factors into the ward or district." (Gunton's Magazine.) It stands for the community rather than for a class. It makes appeal to the large human feelings rather than to proletarian narrowness and passions. Its lectures, classes in economics and politics and discussions, led by men of all types, show the limitations of local champions and call for a higher style of repre

sentative.

Mr. S. A. Barrett touches the heart of the question: "The social unrest of the last ten years, which took form in bitter cries, royal commissions and social schemes, seems now to be settling down to a steady demand for better local administration. Voluntary effort has been valuable for making experiments; it has shown what may be done for the education, for the housing, and for the recreation of the people. It may, in the future, make even greater discoveries and show the possibility of 'joy in widest commonality' spread. But voluntary effort has not been strong enough nor continuous enough to apply generally what has been discovered as good.

"Boards and Councils have at their command money and knowledge, they can levy rates on the mean and the generous, they by their organization are able to reach the darkest corners of a district. They at the same time draw their life from the people they serve, their doings are known and have a direct effect. If they spend foolishly their neighbors become personally aware of the fact; if they spend wisely the same neighbors see the result in pleasanter homes and happier lives. Local government can do more, and is every day doing more, to improve social conditions than is done by all the churches, missionaries and societies put together. It takes charge of more orphans, nurses more sick, educates more children, and trains more adults."

Take an illustration from the sanitary laws which are designed to protect the health of a community. They will not enforce themselves. The working people have little leisure and ambition to look after their own interests, and they have reason to fear the wrath of moneyed power interested in abuses. The Settlement discovers hopeful conditions, creates public opinion, takes the initiative in making complaints and prosecuting offenders. Thus it helps the people to realize that law is the most powerful instrument for helping them against invisible enemies of health and life.

Another form of legal assistance accomplishes the same end, the "legal dispensary" or "poor man's lawyer." At certain hours an attorney is in his office at the Settlement to hear complaints and give legal advice to those who are too poor for it.

They examine the grounds of the complaints and recover damages for the mutilated soldiers of industry," allay strife and save victims from sharks who prey on the ignorant and unwary.

CULTIVATION OF PATRIOTISM.-One of the Settlements circulated Dr. Edward E. Hale's appeal to patriotic boys: "Boys, if ever you are tempted to say a word, or do a thing that shall put a bar between you and your family, your home, and your country, pray God, in His mercy, to take you that instant home to His own heaven. Stand by your family, boy; forget you have a self, while you do everything for them.

"Think of your home, boy; talk about it. Let it be nearer and nearer to your thoughts the further you have to travel from it. Write often; and rush And for your coun

back to it when you are free. try, boy, and for this flag, never dream a dream but of serving her as she bids you, though the service carry you through a thousand torments. No matter what happens to you, no matter who flatters or who abuses you, never look at another flag, never let a night pass but you ask God to bless that flag. Remember, boy, that you belong to your country as you belong to your mother, and stand by her.”

This appeal was printed on a calendar, in the form of a United States flag, and sent to the teachers of boys' schools in New York. It became quite popular, and its ringing words on the lofty themes were recited for the Friday declamations. The incident is typical of the spirit of Settlements.