16 NOVEMBER 1889, Page 46

City Slums. By J. A. Ingham, jun. (Swan Sonnenschein and

Co.)—Mr. Ingham's "Remedy "—and one always turns at once to this chapter—seems to be the building of suitable houses for the poor a short way out of London, at the public expense. Un- fortunately, this will benefit the artisan only ; the problem is,— What is to be done with the residuum ? Mr. Ingham has excel- lent intentions, and often hits the truth ; but sometimes he seems to us somewhat out of touch with facts. Ho is all for "arable cultivation of the soil, which," he goes on to say, "is so productive of patience and hope, health and contentment, in those who follow it,"—more patience than hope, we take it. Growing corn in England is, for the most, burying a sovereign to dig up nineteen shillings. You may change the scale on which this done by cut- ting up big farms. But the little corn-growers will still be burying a shilling to dig up elevenpence.