There are today over thirty million idle in Europe and America, most of
them being somehow fed, housed and clothed, but eating their hearts out at the way it is being done.
The truth is that the work of the world is being accomplished without them, because of machines. It is probable that in our lifetime there will always be a big army of down-hearted men out of work, unless we can all change our ideas about unemployment. We look on it as a curse; but if we could look on it as a blessing could
we not transform it into one? Could we not organize life differently so that all might share this great boon of leisure that the thirty million now fret under?
If all this leisure now going to waste could be divided up and planned for, how rich and splendid it could make our lives! If men knew in advance that they were to be allowed three months off every year, or every second year, how they would plan and save for it! Then, during that three months of free time, how gardens would prosper, how local orchestras and choruses and dramatic societies would get on!
The leisure now being wasted all over the world is an ugly monument
to mass stupidity.
It is worth while thinking about, this use of the leisure of over thirty
million men.
