almost nervous sensibility about the condition of the poor in England is a good characteristic of the time. It has not shown itself for the first time in these days, for the last. generation produced many earnest and hard-working philan-thrapists who devoted their lives to the amelioration of such districts as the East-end of London. These men and women threw their whole energies into the work they had taken upon themselves, they did much good and their names are held in reverence by the poor for whom they spent themselves. ® doubt the same devotion to duty is now shown, and probably by an increased number of persons, and the recent opening of the People's Palace is an evidence that the wealthy are now ready to go beyond their former limited sphere of relieving want, and to provide what will in some degree beautify and elevate the lives of the poor. In another way it appears to us that greater attention is being paid to the condition of the East-enders. People, while just as ready as they ever were to give money for their help, are desirous of knowing with all the accuracy which statistics make possible the real condition of matters in the poorer parts of that district of London. Minute and diligent enquiries have been made by competent persons, and we get part, at least, of the results in numerous books, andin articles in reviews and newspapers. The result has been to clear up some matters that were formerly somewhat obscute, and to enable us to see something like the real condition in which a large number of persons actually live. The Tower Hamlets is one of the poorest districts in London, and has a population of 456,877, and among them 65 per cent. are above whatis called the line of poverty,22 per cent.are on that line and 13 per cent. fall below it and into the region of distress. The St. James's Gazette sets out in a tabular form the classification of the residents in the district drawn up by Mr. Charles Booth in his book, "I'he condition and occupation of the People of the ower Hamlets," as follows 1.-—The lowest class sional labourers, loafers, sem street-sellers, street performers, homeless outcasts, ete.
Loi 2.—Cusnal earnings: Labourers, is, seamen, and other workmen in irregular employment; small shopkeepers, charwoman, dress-makers, people who are kept down by sick: ness, ete, 11.35 3.—Intermittent earnings: Very similar to the preceding, but more anxious to keep up decent appearances 4.—Sinall regular earning with home industries, some of the poorer artisans, swell shopkeepers, ete, 5.—Regular standard.
Good workmen and labourers steady employment, railway-men, policemen, small employers, shop: keepers, clerks, agents, general dealers, manufacturers (not employing), ete.
6.—Highly paid Labour: Borem and responsible men, the highest class of artisans rote mile las, the lower professional close cepers and small employ; working, sober, energet 8.—Upper middle cle who keep servants 100.00
The very lowest class is, according to our view, surprisingly small, but. that mnay be owing to the general poverty of the district. Those who are only able to earn casual and intermittent wages are nearly 20 per cent of the whole population—that is about 90,000 persons and from the elements of which the classes arg composed are probably that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.