The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22
newspaper published. not one library ana

newspaper published. not one library, ana
not one shop for the sale of books.
This might pass as the description OF town
in darkest Africa. but on the contrary IL hes
in the very heart of civilization, Christianity
enlightenment. Not hand was hfted 70
tighten the intellectual gloom of this city OF
dreadful night" indeed very few had the
faintest conception of its condition. until sew
en- wears ago, when Walter Besant. the novel;
ist, began its exploration in search of material
for q new romance. SO moved and astonlshed
was he by the deadly dullness and drearlness,
the ugliness. the squalid pleasures and heavy
ignorance of East London. that he set earnest
ly about the discovery of a remedy. The re-
suit Of these efforts was 'All Sorts and Con;
ditiOns Of Men" that shocked and aroused
the conscience Of all England.
Those familiar with II know that all London
is divided into three parts, the centre being
the city prOper-the great commercial and
financial axle Of the earth-a and its right and
left wings being respectively n superb capital
adorned with all that art. wealth. and power
can devise and command. and an unbeautiul
city Of toilers densely-pOpulated manuiac-
turing town. the home Of the poor, the la
bOriOus and the miserable.
IL Is M if the city sat in the centre and
judged ali the inhabitants Of London, setting
the fortunate. the powerful, and the prosper
ous on its right hand, amid all things desira-
bic, saving to the impOtent. the unhappy, and
the vicious. sit thou on my left, and blessed
are they that expect nothing"
The churches are numerous and active, and
religious workers untiring in their efforts to
reclaim the vicious: but as vet no one bad
dreamed of a duty TO the young, the healthy,
the seif-suppOrting and the moral. They
were left 10 content themselves "a best they
could with the dull round Of labor and cheap.
coarse amusements Indeed the average
English workman has SO great horror OF
charity that no one dared offer 1t 10 him until
Mr.. Besant made plain his desperate need Of
intellectual aid and aims of pleasure. Though
the plan Of this new benevolence had been
set forth in the form OF novel. so feasible
and practical did it appear, and so strongly
did il appeal 10 the public interest. etc.
Then after giving a portrait of Mr.. Walter
Besant. and describing the Peoples Palace IN
detail. Miss Bisland concludes rs follows:
This is the beautiful. the noble result grow
ing out Of the novelsts idea IN idea that was
born from his realization Of the fact that the
great difference between the rich and the poor
is not in the necessities of life. but In the lux
uries: not in the food and clothes. but in the
pleasure of mind and body, and 1t Is these
Injuries and pleasures which wake the discOn-
tent and bitter envy Of those deprived OF
them and form the sharpest contrast to the
dull darkness and uglness Of their lives.
Here is a bridge with which to cross the gulf.
1t does not degrade the people, because they
pay for what they get and yet noble liberal.
ity puts these pleasures within the reach Of
meagre purses. opens 10 those starved minds
and hearts the heaven of knowledge, of art, Of
beauty, and of pure religion.