of view, we believe that the work of the
Industrial Department has been successful. We have seen that large
numbers of men, who are out of work, are taken in by this department and
kept for a number of weeks or months, and that, during this time,
besides making their own support, and gaining in efficiency, in many
cases, they are able to return to a more important part in production.
Let us see what this means. While these men are out of work, they are
not producing anything. They are idle, and thus a loss to the community.
In addition, they are fast losing any potential ability for production,
which they have had. But they now become producers, a gain to the
community, and their potential ability for production is at least
conserved if not increased. Secondly, out-of-work men are a burden on
the community. While they continue to live without employment, they must
be supported in some way or other by private or public charity, and they
form a great item of expense to the community. But in the hands of the
Industrial Department, they cease being an expense to the public and
become to some extent a gain. Thirdly, some of these men are in danger
of becoming members of pseudo-social and anti-social classes; it is from
them that the pauper and criminal classes gain recruits. But through the
elevating environment of this branch of the Army's work, their character
is affected, and they are raised to a higher level. In this way then, in
successful cases, the worthless men become workmen. Worthless men are
changed into economic assets. The dependents become independent. Working
by means of the laws of environment and association, the Army elevates
the degenerate from a pseudo-social and anti-social class to a higher
level and to social position. Where individuality was lost, independence
of character reasserts itself.

Let us consider in detail some of the advantages connected with this
form of practical philanthropy. One advantage is, that once started, the
work continues and increases without further expenditure on the part of
the charitably disposed public beyond the giving away of things for
which they have no further use. This is so because the Army here in its
work becomes an efficient producer and creates articles which have
market value. Leaving all charity alone, the work is paying and more
than self-supporting, and thus in a short time will be reimbursed with
all the money which was necessary to initiate it. In nearly