In  the  poorhouse  the  inmates  have  to  suffer  one
another  during  the  whole  time  of  their  stay.  Some  of
them  rebel  and  leave  the  place,  even  though  they  know
that  they  wiU  be  more  uncomfortable  outside.  They  at
least  have  a  change  of  discomfort.  Surely  the  money
spent  in  chasing  them  and  in  keeping  them  would
yield  a  better  return  if  they  were  boarded  out  in  com-
fortable surroundings,  where  during  the  few  remaining
years  of  their  pilgrimage  they  might  get  fresh  air
and  some  space  to  move  about  in.  Their  very  feeble-
ness makes  their  custody  less  difficult,  and  it  is  no
profit  to  them  or  to  us  to  make  it  more  arduous  than
it  need  be.  If  it  be  objected  that  this  would  be  treating
them  better  than  the  "  deserving  poor,"  that  is  only
to  remind  us  of  the  shameful  way  in  which  we  have
neglected  those  to  whom  we  give  that  name.  The
"  deserving  poor "  are  the  uncomplaining  poor ;
and  so  long  as  they  do  not  complain  their  deserts  are
likely  to  be  disregarded,  even  when  quoted  as  a  re-
proach to  those  whose  behaviour  has  attracted  our
censure.
