CANON BARNETT'S SOCIIALISM.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10886, 1 July 1899, Page 7

CANON BARNETT'S SOCIIALISM.

In an interesting interview in the current "Humam'tftrian," Canon Barnett, the Warden of Toynbee Hall, and originaJtor of the University Settiement movement, is represented as remarking, ia conversation to his interviewer, "My Socialiam consists in giving, the people all that they don't want." Canon Barnett goes on to explain that he means such things as public baths and wajh-hottses, pure air, atmitary dwellings, libraries, parks, and picture galleries. "The . dWribution of wealth," he continues, "in "toe snaps of charity doles is fatal to the in"dependence of the people. The only satis,*factory method of social reform is that "which tends to make general the good , which wealth, has for the few. "Social reform should aim at the nationali"s*tio» of luxury," We think these remark* contain much good sense. There Is much too much heard nowadays of the , ti*»dbare democratio fallacy that every aw» isUe best judge of what is good for bim. As a matter of fact it is the good things about which we are least "keen" *&»* are frequently by far the most important. Healthy, roomy, dwellings ; , *» indispensable, really, to men who are .. to be decent citizens; yet artisans in model artisan,* dwellings have preferred to go back to their, old hovels, one of the reasons alleged being that in their rbomier quarters they were not allowed to beat their wives 1 The mission of Toynbee Hall has been to spread the views which Canon Barnett is. represented as advocating. While the University men living their college life in the heart of Whitechapel have always made common cause against the indiscriminate bestowal oi charity that pauperises and degrades the recipient*, they luwe consistently done all in their power to popularise the bigher and raise the tone of life among the toiling thousands round them Free libraries, free concerts, free pictures, but not free food. It is in the direction of Cree pictures that Toynbee Hall has been , p*rt*cuiaxly active. For many years no Baiter !»** passed without a great loan exWhition' of many of the finest pictures in England for the benefit of the East-enders. 'Ai first ft was feared that people might not that if they did the pictures would ;.*!* tUffgetiier beyond their ken. But both these Wtkdpatdons were falsified by the event, \The attendance during the fortnight or ghree weeks of the exhibition now reaches the enorW total of 70,000, while, far - ■'• fMna only the poorer picture*, the

popular tJufftages that are yearly taken for the "favourite pictures I Invariably put Watts, Burne-Jones, and Millais at the head of the liejt. So successful, indeed,, have these picture exhibition/ bex»me, that Mr Paasmore Edwards .-as just presented £7200 for a Whitecnapel picture gallery, and the City Parochial Charities Trustees have provided...an endowment of £500 a year. It is/not, of course, pretended that the visiter? to tbe East End Exhibition are competent art critics, though they at least look carefully at the pictures—which is more ihaa 'can be said of the frequenters ©f son* galleries (further west. But it is claimed that the paintings are really enjoyed and appreciated, and that si whplesbLie break is afforded from the monotonous round of sordid toll in ugly London. Altogether there is a good.deal that may be said on behalf of what has been called "The Qospeil ol Pictures and Parties."