The community of Harris-Ingram had little or no poverty. Everybody had money in the savings bank, or accumulations going into pretty homes, and mill stock, and all respected law and order, hence few if any policemen were ever seen on the streets. Everybody was well dressed, courteous, and daily growing more intelligent. Taxes were light, and general improvements were economically and promptly made.
Both George and Gertrude believed that the tendency of the age was towards more practical education for the people. London publishes millions of penny books, penny histories and biographies, penny arithmetics, astronomies and dictionaries, and penny books to teach good behavior, honor, and patriotism. In London and elsewhere, the people were organizing workmen's clubs, colleges, and institute unions, for mutual improvement, and glimpses were already caught of Morris's "Earthly Paradise that is to be."
"Then a man shall work and bethink him, and rejoice in the deeds of his hand
Nor yet come home in the even too faint and weary to stand.
Men in that time a-coming shall work and have no fear
For to-morrow's lack of earning and the hungry-wolf a-near.
Oh, strange, new, wonderful justice! But for whom shall we gather the gain?
For ourselves and for each of our fellows, and no hand shall labor in vain."
Free night schools over the country, for the child of eight to the man of eighty, will go a long way in solving the troublesome socialistic problem.
George was familiar with the generous gifts and deeds of the Pratts of Baltimore, and of Brooklyn, of Carnegie, of Lorillard & Co., of Warner Brothers of Connecticut, and of the Messrs. Tangye of Birmingham, England. The latter firm provides for its thousands of workmen a library, evening classes, and twice a week, while the employees are at dinner in a great hall, a twenty minutes crisp talk by capable persons on some live topic.
George Ingram organized an Educational Bureau for the improvement of his employees and others by evening schools and public entertainments. As requisite for the success of such a bureau as he planned, he published the conditions as follows:—
1. Several study rooms and good teachers.
2. A large and cheerful hall, church or opera house for lectures, that the prices may be low, the audience must be large.
3. A capable committee or manager, enthusiasm, good temper, fertility of resource and sympathy with the people. Common sense coupled with determined perseverance works wonders.
4. Variety and quality in the entertainment, with no wearying pauses between the parts. The movement must be swift and sure.