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and universally developed。 Time； experience； criticism； and； above all； the guidance of God will enable us； I hope； to advance on the lines here laid down to a true and practical application of the words of the Hebrew Prophet： 〃Loose the bands of wickedness； undo the heavy burdens； let the oppressed go free； break every yoke； deal thy bread to the hungry； bring the poor that are cast out to thy house。 When thou seest the naked cover him and hide not thyself from thine own flesh。 Draw out thy soul to the hungry Then they that be of thee shall build the old waste places and Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations。〃
To one who has been for nearly forty years indissolubly associated with me in every undertaking I owe much of the inspiration which has found expression in this book。 It is probably difficult for me to fully estimate the extent to which the splendid benevolence and unbounded sympathy of her character have pressed me forward in the life…long service of man； to which we have devoted both ourselves and our children。 It will be an ever green and precious memory to me that amid the ceaseless suffering of a dreadful malady my dying wife found relief in considering and developing the suggestions for the moral and social and spiritual blessing of the people which are here set forth； and I do thank God she was taken from me only when the book was practically complete and the last chapters had been sent to the press。
In conclusion； I have to acknowledge the services rendered to me in preparing this book by Officers under my command。 There could be no hope of carrying out any part of it； but for the fact that so many thousands are ready at my call and under my direction to labour to the very utmost of their strength for the salvation of others without the hope of earthly reward。 Of the practical common sense； the resource； the readiness for every form of usefulness of those Officers and Soldiers； the world has no conception。 Still less is it capable of understanding the height and depth of their self…sacrificing devotion to God and the poor。
I have also to acknowledge valuable literary help from a friend of the poor； who； though not in any way connected with the Salvation Army； has the deepest sympathy with its aims and is to a large extent in harmony with its principles。 Without such assistance I should probably have found itoverwhelmed as I already am with the affairs of a world…wide enterpriseextremely difficult； if not impossible； to have presented these proposals for which I am alone responsible in so complete a form； at any rate at this time。 I have no doubt that if any substantial part of my plan is successfully carried out he will consider himself more than repaid for the services so ably rendered。
WILLIAM BOOTH。
INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE SALVATION ARMY； LONDON； E。C。； October； 1890。
CONTENTS
PART 1。 THE DARKNESS。
CHAPTER 1。 Why 〃Darkest England〃？
CHAPTER 2。 The Submerged Tenth
CHAPTER 3。 The Homeless
CHAPTER 4。 The Out…of…Works
CHAPTER 5。 On the Verge of the Abyss
CHAPTER 6。 The Vicious
CHAPTER 7。 The Criminals
CHAPTER 8。 The Children of the Lost
CHAPTER 9。 Is there no Help？
PART 2。 DELIVERANCE。
CHAPTER 1。 A Stupendous Undertaking
Section 1。 The Essentials to Success Section 2。 My Scheme
CHAPTER 2。 To the Rescue！The City Colony
Section 1。 Food and Shelter for Every Man Section 2。 Work for the Out…of…WorksThe Factory Section 3。 The Regimentation of the Unemployed Section 4。 The Household Salvage Brigade
CHAPTER 3。 To the Country！The Farm Colony
Section 1。 The Farm Proper Section 2。 The Industrial Village Section 3。 Agricultural Villages Section 4。 Co…operative Farm
CHAPTER 4。 New BritainThe Colony Over Sea
Section 1。 The Colony and the Colonists Section 2。 Universal Emigration Section 3。 The Salvation Ship
CHAPTER 5。 More Crusades
Section 1。 A Slum Crusade。Our Slum Sisters Section 2。 The Travelling Hospital Section 3。 Regeneration of our CriminalsThe Prison Gate Brigade Section 4。 Effectual Deliverance for the Drunkard Section 5。 A New Way of Escape for Lost WomenThe Rescue Homes Section 6。 A Preventive Home for Unfallen Girls when in Danger Section 7。 Enquiry Office for Lost People Section 8。 Refuges for the Children of the Streets Section 9。 Industrial Schools Section 10。 Asylums for Moral Lunatics
CHAPTER 6。 Assistance in General
Section 1。 Improved Lodgings Section 2。 Model Suburban Villages Section 3。 The Poor Man's Bank Section 4。 The Poor Man's Lawyer Section 5。 Intelligence Department Section 6。 Co…operation in General Section 7。 Matrimonial Bureau Section 8。 Whitechapel…by…the…sea
CHAPTER 7。 Can it be done； and how？
Section 1。 The Credentials of the Salvation Army Section 2。 How much will it cost？ Section 3。 Some advantages stated Section 4。 Some objections met Section 5。 Recapitulation
CHAPTER 8。 A Pratical Conclusion
IN DARKEST ENGLAND
PART 1。 THE DARKNESS。
CHAPTER 1。 WHY 〃DARKEST ENGLAND〃？
This summer the attention of the civilised world has been arrested by the story which Mr。 Stanley has told of Darkest Africa and his journeyings across the heart of the Lost Continent。 In all that spirited narrative of heroic endeavour； nothing has so much impressed the imagination； as his description of the immense forest； which offered an almost impenetrable barrier to his advance。 The intrepid explorer； in his own phrase； 〃marched； tore； ploughed； and cut his way for one hundred and sixty days through this inner womb of the true tropical forest。〃 The mind of man with difficulty endeavours to realise this immensity of wooded wilderness； covering a territory half as large again as the whole of France； where the rays of the sun never penetrate； where in the dark； dank air； filled with the steam of the heated morass； human beings dwarfed into pygmies and brutalised into cannibals lurk and live and die。 Mr Stanley vainly endeavours to bring home to us the full horror of that awful gloom。 He says：
Take a thick Scottish copse dripping with rain； imagine this to be mere undergrowth nourished under the impenetrable shade of ancient trees ranging from 100 to 180 feet high； briars and thorns abundant； lazy creeks meandering through the depths of the jungle； and sometimes a deep affluent of a great river。 Imagine this forest and jungle in all stages of decay and growth； rain pattering on you every other day of the year； an impure atmosphere with its dread consequences； fever and dysentery； gloom throughout the day and darkness almost palpable throughout the night； and then if you can imagine such a forest extending the entire distance from Plymouth to Peterhead； you will have a fair idea of some of the inconveniences endured by us in the Congo forest。
The denizens of this region are filled with a conviction that the forest is endlessinterminable。 In vain did Mr。 Stanley and his companions endeavour to convince them that outside the dreary wood were to be found sunlight； pasturage and peaceful meadows。
They replied in a manner that s