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In taking this course I am aware that I cut myself off from a wide and attractive field； but as a practical man； dealing with sternly prosaic facts； I must confine my attention to that particular section of the problem which clamours most pressingly for a solution。 Only one thing I may say in passing。 Then is nothing in my scheme which will bring it into collision either with Socialists of the State； or Socialists of the Municipality； with Individualists or Nationalists； or any of the various schools of though in the great field of social economics excepting only those anti…christian economists who hold that it is an offence against the doctrine of the survival of the fittest to try to save the weakest from going to the wall； and who believe that when once a man is down the supreme duty of a self…regarding Society is to jump upon him。 Such economists will naturally be disappointed with this book I venture to believe that all others will find nothing in it to offend their favourite theories； but perhaps something of helpful suggestion which they may utilise hereafter。 What； then； is Darkest England？ For whom do we claim that 〃urgency〃 which gives their case priority over that of all other sections of their countrymen and countrywomen？
I claim it for the Lost； for the Outcast； for the Disinherited of the World。
These； it may be said； are but phrases。 Who are the Lost？ reply； not in a religious； but in a social sense； the lost are those who have gone under； who have lost their foothold in Society； those to whom the prayer to our Heavenly Father； 〃Give us day by day our daily bread；〃 is either unfulfilled； or only fulfilled by the Devil's agency： by the earnings of vice； the proceeds of crime； or the contribution enforced by the threat of the law。
But I will be more precise。 The denizens in Darkest England； for whom I appeal； are （1） those who； having no capital or income of their own； would in a month be dead from sheer starvation were they exclusively dependent upon the money earned by their own work； and （2） those who by their utmost exertions are unable to attain the regulation allowance of food which the law prescribes as indispensable even for the worst criminals in our gaols。
I sorrowfully admit that it would be Utopian in our present social arrangements to dream of attaining for every honest Englishman a gaol standard of all the necessaries of life。 Some time； perhaps； we may venture to hope that every honest worker on English soil will always be as warmly clad； as healthily housed； and as regularly fed as our criminal convictsbut that is not yet。
Neither is it possible to hope for many years to come that human beings generally will be as well cared for as horses。 Mr。 Carlyle long ago remarked that the four…footed worker has already got all that this two…handed one is clamouring for： 〃There are not many horses in England； able and willing to work； which have not due food and lodging and go about sleek coated； satisfied in heart。〃 You say it is impossible； but； said Carlyle； 〃The human brain； looking at these sleek English horses； refuses to believe in such impossibility for English men。〃 Nevertheless； forty years have passed since Carlyle said that； and we seem to be no nearer the attainment of the four…footed standard for the two…handed worker。 〃Perhaps it might be nearer realisation；〃 growls the cynic； 〃if we could only product men according to demand； as we do horses； and promptly send them to the slaughter…house when past their prime〃which； of course； is not to be thought of。
What； then； is the standard towards which we may venture to aim with some prospect of realisation in our time？ It is a very humble one； but if realised it would solve the worst problems of modern Society。 It is the standard of the London Cab Horse。 When in the streets of London a Cab Horse； weary or careless or stupid； trips and falls and lies stretched out in the midst of the traffic there is no question of debating how he came to stumble before we try to get him on his legs again。 The Cab Horse is a very real illustration of poor broken…down humanity； he usually falls down because of overwork and underfeeding。 If you put him on his feet without altering his conditions； it would only be to give him another dose of agony； but first of all you'll have to pick him up again。 It may have been through overwork or underfeeding； or it may have been all his own fault that he has broken his knees and smashed the shafts； but that does not matter。 If not for his own sake； then merely in order to prevent an obstruction of the traffic； all attention is concentrated upon the question of how we are to get him on his legs again。 Tin load is taken off； the harness is unbuckled； or； if need be； cut； and everything is done to help him up。 Then he is put in the shafts again and once more restored to his regular round of work。 That is the first point。 The second is that every Cab Horse in London has three things； a shelter for the night； food for its stomach； and work allotted to it by which it can earn its corn。
These are the two points of the Cab Horse's Charter。 When he is down he is helped up； and while he lives he has food； shelter and work。 That； although a humble standard； is at present absolutely unattainable by millionsliterally by millionsof our fellow…men and women in this country。 Can the Cab Horse Charter be gained for human beings？ I answer； yes。 The Cab Horse standard can be attained on the Cab Horse terms。 If you get your fallen fellow on his feet again； Docility and Discipline will enable you to reach the Cab Horse ideal； otherwise it will remain unattainable。 But Docility seldom fails where Discipline is intelligently maintained。 Intelligence is more frequently lacking to direct than obedience to follow direction。 At any rate it is not for those who possess the intelligence to despair of obedience； until they have done their part。 Some； no doubt； like the bucking horse that will never be broken in； will always refuse to submit to any guidance but their own lawless will。 They will remain either the Ishmaels or the Sloths of Society。 But man is naturally neither an Ishmael nor a Sloth。
The first question； then； which confronts us is； what are the dimensions of the Evil？ How many of our fellow…men dwell in this Darkest England？ How can we take the census of those who have fallen below the Cab Horse standard to which it is our aim to elevate the most wretched of our countrymen？
The moment you attempt to answer this question； you are confronted by the fact that the Social Problem has scarcely been studied at all scientifically。 Go to Mudie's and ask for all the books that have been written on the subject； and you will be surprised to find how few there are。 There are probably more scientific books treating of diabetes or of gout than there are dealing with the great social malady which eats out the vitals of such numbers of our people。 Of late there has been a change for the better。 The Report of the Royal Commission on the Housing of the Poor； and the Report of the Committee of the House of Lords on Sweating； represent an attempt at least to ascertain the facts which bear upon the Condition