And By Contrast Such experiences were not calculated to improve
my friend's view of humanity. But others did. It was good to have a messenger specially sent from a couple of almost eighty to say, " We will take three children. Who knows how long we shall be here? This is the least we can do." It was refreshing to hear the landlord of a little public-house argue with his wife whether they should take boys or girls, though they had already three boys of their own. On advice they took girls. It was good even in cases where no children could be taken to see a woman wiping her hands on a sack apron and talking with sympathy and understanding. It meant something to have a civil and decent refusal from houses where overcrowding was already rank. It counteracted the reply of a lady who stormed, " Yes, we have three bedrooms, but they're full." " Of what? " " Furniture! " On one point only did rich and poor seem to feel the same way : that the scheme is unsatis- factory. Everywhere there was the same criticism of it, the same feeling that a communal system should quickly take its place.
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