Labour of all kinds is dignifying and honourable; it is the idler, above all others, who is undignified and dishonourable.
"Let the working man," says Mr.Sterling, "try to connect his daily task, however mean, with the highest thoughts he can apprehend, and he thereby secures the rightfulness of his lot, and is raising his existence to his utmost good.

It is because the working man has failed to do this, and because others have failed to help him as they ought, that the lot of labour has hitherto been associated with what is mean and degrading." With respect to remuneration, the average of skilled mechanics and artisans, as we have already said, are better paid than the average of working curates.

The working engineer is better paid than the ensign in a marching regiment.

The foreman in any of our large engineering establishments is better paid than an army surgeon.

The rail-roller receives over a guinea a day, while an assistant navy surgeon receives fourteen shillings, and after three years' service, twenty-one shillings, with rations.