in darkest england and the way out-第2章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ch 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 seemed to imply that we must be strange creatures to suppose that it would be possible for any world to exist save their illimitable forest。 〃No；〃 they replied； shaking their heads compassionately； and pitying our absurd questions； 〃all like this；〃 and they moved their hand sweepingly to illustrate that the world was all alike； nothing but trees； trees and treesgreat trees rising as high as an arrow shot to the sky； lifting their crowns intertwining their branches； pressing and crowding one against the other； until neither the sunbeam nor shaft of light can penetrate it。
〃We entered the forest；〃 says Mr。 Stanley； 〃with confidence； forty pioneers in front with axes and bill hooks to clear a path through the obstructions； praying that God and good fortune would lead us。〃 But before the conviction of the forest dwellers that the forest was without end； hope faded out of the hearts of the natives of Stanley's company。 The men became sodden with despair； preaching was useless to move their brooding sullenness； their morbid gloom。
The little religion they knew was nothing more than legendary lore； and in their memories there dimly floated a story of a land which grew darker and darker as one travelled towards the end of the earth and drew nearer to the place where a great serpent lay supine and coiled round the whole world。 Ah！ then the ancients must have referred to this； where the light is so ghastly； and the woods are endless； and are so still and solemn and grey； to this oppressive loneliness； amid so much life； which is so chilling to the poor distressed heart； and the horror grew darker with their fancies； the cold of early morning； the comfortless grey of dawn； the dead white mist； the ever…dripping tears of the dew； the deluging rains； the appalling thunder bursts and the echoes； and the wonderful play of the dazzling lightning。 And when the night comes with its thick palpable darkness； and they lie huddled in their damp little huts； and they hear the tempest overhead； and the howling of the wild winds
