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honouring themselves in the harmless pride and calm pursuits of
piece。
Of which lowly peace it is written that 〃justice〃 and peace
have kissed each other；〃 and that the fruit of justice is 〃 sown
in peace of them that make peace；〃 not 〃peace…makers〃 in the
common understanding reconcilers of quarrels； （though that
function also follows on the greater one；） but peace…Creators；
Givers of Calm。 Which you cannot give； unless you first gain； nor
is this gain one which will follow assuredly on any course of
business； commonly so called。 No form of gain is less probable；
business being （as is shown in the language of all nations
polein from pelo； prasis from perao； venire； vendre； and venal；
from venio； &c。） essentially restless and probably
contentious； having a raven…like mind to the motion to and
fro； as to the carrion food； whereas the olive…feeding and
bearing birds look for rest for their feet： thus it is said of
Wisdom that she 〃hath builded her house； and hewn out her seven
pillars；〃 and even when； though apt to wait long at the
door…posts； she has to leave her house and go abroad； her paths
are peace also。
For us； at all events； her work must begin at the entry of
the doors： all true economy is 〃Law of the house。〃 Strive to make
that law strict； simple； generous： waste nothing； and grudge
nothing。 Care in nowise to make more of money； but care to make
much of it； remembering always the great； palpable； inevitable
fact the rule and root of all economy that what one person
has； another cannot have； and that every atom of substance； of
whatever kind； used or consumed； is so much human life spent；
which； if it issue in the saving present life； or gaining more；
is well spent； but if not； is either so much life prevented； or
so much slain。 In all buying； consider； first； what condition of
existence you cause in the producers of what you buy； secondly；
whether the sum you have paid is just to the producer； and in due
proportion； lodged in his hands；（35*） thirdly； to how much clear
use； for food； knowledge； or joy； this that you have bought can
be put； and fourthly； to whom and in what way it can be most
speedily and serviceably distributed： in all dealings whatsoever
insisting on entire openness and stern fulfilment； and in all
doings； on perfection and loveliness of accomplishment；
especially on fineness and purity of all marketable commodity：
watching at the same time for all ways of gaining； or teaching；
powers of simple pleasure； and of showing oson en asphodelps geg
oneiar the sum of enjoyment depending not on the quantity of
things tasted； but on the vivacity and patience of taste。
And if； on due and honest thought over these things； it seems
that the kind of existence to which men are now summoned by every
plea of pity and claim of right； may； for some time at least； not
be a luxurious one； consider whether； even supposing it
guiltless； luxury would be desired by any of us； if we saw
clearly at our sides the suffering which accompanies it in the
world。 Luxury is indeed possible in the future innocent and
exquisite； luxury for all； and by the help of all； but luxury at
present can only be enjoyed by the ignorant； the cruelest man
living could not sit at his feast； unless he sat blindfold。 Raise
the veil boldly； face the light； and if； as yet； the light of the
eye can only be through tears； and the light of the body through
sackcloth； go thou forth weeping； bearing precious seed； until
the time come； and the kingdom； when Christ's gift of bread； and
bequest of peace； shall be 〃Unto this last as unto thee〃； and
when； for earth's severed multitudes of the wicked and the weary；
there shall be holier reconciliation than that of the narrow
home； and calm economy； where the Wicked cease not from
trouble； but from troubling and the Weary are at rest。
NOTES：
1。 The difference between the two modes of treatment； and between
their effective material results； may be seen very accurately by
a comparison of the relations of Esther and Charlie in Bleak
House； with those of Miss Brass and the Marchioness in Master
Humphrey's Clock。
The essential value and truth of Dickens's writings have been
unwisely lost sight of by many thoughtful persons； merely because
he presents his truth with some colour of caricature。 Unwisely；
because Dickens's caricature； though often gross； is never
mistaken。 Allowing for his manner of telling them； the things he
tells us are always true。 I wish that he could think it right to
limit his brilliant exaggeration to works written only for public
amusement； and when he takes up a subject of high national
importance； such as that which he handled in Hard Times； that he
would use severer and more accurate analysis。 The usefulness of
that work （to my mind； in several respects； the greatest he has
written） is with many persons seriously diminished because Mr
Bounderby is a dramatic monster； instead of a characteristic
example of a worldly master； and Stephen Blackpool a dramatic
perfection； instead of a characteristic example of an honest
workman。 But let us not lose the use of Dickens's wit and
insight； because he chooses to speak in a circle of stage fire。
He is entirely right in his main drift and purpose in every book
he has written； and all of them； but especially Hard Times；
should be studied with close and earnest care by persons
interested in social questions。 They will find much that is
partial； and； because partial； apparently unjust； but if they
examine all the evidence on the other side； which Dickens seems
to overlook； it will appear； after all their trouble； that his
view was the finally right one； grossly and sharply told。
2。 I have been naturally asked several times； with respect to the
sentence in the first of these papers； 〃the bad workmen
unemployed；〃 〃But what are you to do with your bad unemployed
workmen？〃 Well； it seems to me the question might have occurred
to you before。 Your housemaid's place is vacant you give
twenty pounds a year…two girls come for it； one neatly dressed；
the other dirtily； one with good recommendations； the other with
none。 You do not； under these circumstances； usually ask the
dirty one if she will come for fifteen pounds； or twelve； and； on
her consenting； take her instead of the well…recommended one。
Still less do you try to beat both down by making them bid
against each other； till you can hire both； one at twelve pounds
a year； and the other at eight。 You simply take the one fittest