interposing incombustible things between them. As we have no
authority to apply force, and no means at hand for its exercise if we
had the authority, our work has been in the other direction. We have
been trying to get in among these burning brands elements that would
stand the fire, and, so lessen the ardor of combustion."

"How are you doing this?"

"By getting better houses for the people to live in. Improve the house,
make it more sightly and convenient, and in most cases you will improve
the person who lives in it. He will not kindle so easily, though he yet
remain close to the burning brands."

"And are you doing this?"

"A little has been done. Two or three years ago a building association
was organized by a few gentlemen of means, with a view to the purchase
of property in this district and the erection of small but good houses,
to be rented at moderate cost to honest and industrious people. A number
of such houses have already been built, and they are now occupied
by tenants of a better class, whose influence on their neighbors is
becoming more and more apparent every day. Brady street--once the worst
place in all this district--has changed wonderfully. There is scarcely
a house in the two blocks through which it runs that does not show some
improvement since the association pulled down half a dozen of its worst
frame tenements and put neat brick dwellings in their places. It is no
uncommon thing now to see pavement sweeping and washing in front of
some of the smallest and poorest of the houses in Brady street where two
years ago the dirt would stick to your feet in passing. A clean muslin
half curtain, a paper shade or a pot of growing plants will meet your
eyes at a window here and there as you pass along. The thieves who once
harbored in this street, and hid their plunder in cellars and garrets
until it could be sold or pawned, have abandoned the locality. They
could not live side by side with honest industry."

"And all this change may be traced to the work of our building
association, limited as are its means and half-hearted as are its
operations. The worst of our population--the common herd of thieves,
beggars and vile women who expose themselves shamelessly on the
street--are beginning to feel less at home and more in danger of arrest
and exposure. The burning brands are no longer in such close contact,
and so the fires of evil are raging less fiercely. Let in the light, and
the darkness flees. Est