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market-places, open sheds, and, in fine weather, the road-way, esplanade, or some shady tree, have to suffice.
As already said, I am quite willing to admit that this question of shelter for the poor is of secondary importance as, compared with that of their food-supply. And y^t is it nothing to us that, millions of the Indian poor have, no place that they, can call " home," not even the meagre shelter of the one-roomed hut with which they would gladly be content? Is it nothing to us that sup^radded to the sufferings of hunger, they have, to face the slxarp a,n<l sometimes frosty air of the cold weather with scarcely a rag to 'their backs, and no doors, windows, or even walls to keep -offthe chilly wind? Is it nothing to us that in the rainy-season they have to make their bed on the damp floor or ground, though to do so means a certain attack of fever ? •Is it nothing to us that under such circumstances the "houseless poor should be converted into a dismal quagmire in which moral leprosy, more terrible than its bodily representative, should thrive and propagate itseJdE t Certainly if the Indian destitute are to Ixave a " bullock cliarieir" to. them, it will be necessary tfcat, it should sopne^ o;: include suitable and d^ceB.^ shelter as well $9 food.
True, the problem is a vast O;EI$, b^t this i$ no4 rea^Ofl wkj 4t, should be looked upon as insoluble, or left to grpipr by year still vaster and mpre uncontrollable.
W^at we propose pu?selv§s t,fl und^rta^e m will be found elsewhere (s$e B^,rt JI Qhaptei; Y^)* ?* mus.t be, remembered, mpreoyer, *|hat if our, ^ffprt^ to deaj with the wop^lessf mas^e^ in finding tlie;u sliQuld prove sueces^ful,, thi^ ^ill in itself help to much of %e ejis^irig evil. Aiid by <lir$cting Isjbop .channels where it can bp t|i0 papst prpfitably ^.piplp^d, ^e help tp disei^barrass tho§0 chan^ls whiglj |ip^ at t choked up with 9,11 excpi?^ of it