Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.

to g ive way to the vice of drunkenness more immediately connected with the victims themselves , we may here note two or three evil practices of society or sections of society , to which may be attributed at least a portion of the drunkenness of the working-classes . One of these pernicious

courses is the paying , or allowing to be paid the workmen ' s wages in public-houses . The firm pays the overlookers , the overlookers the workmen , and as this last process is carried on in a room in some neighbouring public-housea certain

, fixed sum is required to be " spent for the good of the house ; " surely all firms could , and ought to , put a stop to this practise by paying the men at their own office . A similar result accompanies the holding

of Benefit Societies at public-houses ; if , as we propose later on , Working Men ' s Clubs are established , the Meetings of all such Benefit Societies can very well be held in the room belonging to the Club .

The third practise , whilst it is , perhaps , the most pernicious of all , is also the most easily remedied , inasmuch as it is introduced and kept alive by persons who , although they do the harm through good nature , are ignorant or heedless of the mischief that they cause : it is the habit of giving drink

in an indiscriminate way to people who deliver messages , parcels , goods , and the like . If the case be taken of a man delivering goods to many different places in the course of the clay , supposing that at one half only of these , the custom

referred to is pursued , it is frightful to contemplate the consequences of the drink daily consumed by the man thus treated . Let a resolute front be shown to all demands for gratuities in the form of drink ( indeed , there can be no possible

ground for gratuities to such people as porters at all , if their employers pay them fair wage , and such gratuities become a heavy tax upon householders of small means ) but where messengers have to be recompensed for services performedlet it

, be always in the form of money , which , if our suggestions propounded below be carried into effect , it will not be possible to squander in intoxicating liquor . It having been seen in what manner society may prevent such part of the mischief as

is brought about , however unintentionally , by its own means , and the blame of which therefore lies at its own door j let us turn our attention to the things most fraught with mischief amongst the working-classes themselves .

The principal causes which lead or drive men to drink and to the public-house , in a general way , we find to be an insufficiency of nourishing and appetizing food ; a miserable , comfortless home ; a lack of amusement ; and a want of so-called " good " company . Of late yearstooincreased

, , wages and lengthened hours of leisure , without the capacity of rationally employing them , have led to an alarming increase of drunkenness ; this source of the evil can only be stopped by education , to which , together with the other subjects of food

, amusements , comfortable homes , and the like , we hope to have further opportunities of directing our readers' attention at length ; meanwhile , and until such can be ameliorated or provided , as the case may beseeing that our working-classes are led

, or driven to congregate at the public-house and form habits of drunkenness , let us as a first step see whether those places of public entertainment , so-called , could not be materially improved , so that whilst they should fulfil the purpose for which they

were primarily designed , as places of temptation to working-men they should no longer have an existence . Whilst , then , landlords are providing decent , tidy cottages , worthy the name of home ; whilst the wives are endeavouring to keep them so by habits of cleanliness

and frugality combined with a cheerful demeanour , so that the husbands can amuse themselves at home , and learn to love to stay there better than to seek entertainment abroad ; whilst for the young , not yet advanced to the dignity of

householders , there is established the Working Men's Institute or Club—call it what you p lease—only set it , and keep it , going ; whilst all kinds of manly sports are provided for the summer evenings , and harmless games of skill , added to the cpiiet

pleasnresof the reading-roomforthe winter ' s night , or the rainy , world ess clay ; and whilst refreshments good and cheap are provided on the premises of such establishments for those who , having no home or housekeeper , need them ; let us sweep the