Under such circumstances, the middle class tends gradually to pass
away, and its condition is well expressed by the term now so
frequently, used, "the uneasy class." The small capitalist, who would
elsewhere purchase a piece of land, a horse and cart, or a machine of
some kind calculated to enable him to double the productiveness of his
labour and increase its reward, is in England forced to make his
investments in savings banks or life-insurance offices, and thus to
place his little capital in the hands of others, at three per cent.,
whereas he could have fifty or a hundred per cent., could he be
permitted to use it himself. There is, therefore, a perpetual strife
for life, and each man is, as has been said, "endeavouring to snatch
the piece of bread from his neighbour's mouth." The atmosphere of
England is one of intense gloom. Every one is anxious for the future,
for himself or his children. There is a universal feeling of doubt as
to how to dispose of the labour or the talents of themselves or their
sons, and the largest fees are paid to men already wealthy, in the
hope of obtaining aid toward securing steady employment. "This _gloom_
of England," says a late English writer--

"Is in truth one of the most formidable evils of modern times. With
all the advance, in morality and decency of the present century, we
have receded rather than gone forward in the attainment of that true
Christian cheerfulness, which--notwithstanding the popular
proverb--I believe to be the blessing next in value to godliness.

"I truly believe," he continues, "that one of the chief obstacles to
the progress of pure living Christianity in this country is to be
found in that worldly carefulness which causes our intense gravity,
and makes us the most silent nation in Europe. The respectability of