Chapter I: Front Matter

AN EXPERIMENT IN ALTRUISM

AN EXPERIMENT IN ALTRUISM

BY

ELIZABETH HASTINGS

“The world, which took but six days to make, is like to take six
thousand to make out.”—SIR THOMAS BROWNE.

New York
MACMILLAN AND CO.
AND LONDON
1895

_All rights reserved_

COPYRIGHT, 1895,
BY MACMILLAN AND CO.

Norwood Press:
J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Doctor, Janet, and I converse 1
II. I explain why I am here 6
III. I visit the Altruist 9
IV. I meet the Man of the World 17
V. I set forth the general situation 21
VI. I become acquainted with the Lad 24
VII. Janet and I converse about life and philanthropy 27
VIII. The Lad meets Baby Jean 33
IX. I visit Barnet House 37
X. I visit the Woman’s Settlement 46
XI. I describe the Butterfly Hunter 51
XII. The Lad and I discuss religious matters 55
XIII. The Doctor describes a case 62
XIV. We act as committee 68
XV. I rouse the sympathy of the Man of the World 74
XVI. Janet and the Lad sit by the window 78
XVII. I hear the Altruist lecture on Job 82
XVIII. Another baby enters the world 88
XIX. I describe our conferences and board-meetings 93
XX. Janet and the Lad become better acquainted 103
XXI. I almost decide to stop thinking 108
XXII. The Young Reformer calls 111
XXIII. I meet the People 117
XXIV. I find everybody unhappy 126
XXV. I introduce the Tailoress 131
XXVI. I describe our afternoon teas 138
XXVII. Baby Jean philosophizes 144
XXVIII. We again act as committee 147
XXIX. The Tailoress and I visit the Anarchist 153
XXX. The Lad loses a lectureship 160
XXXI. The Tailoress leads a strike 164
XXXII. The Doctor sets forth her views 171
XXXIII. Janet expounds her new philosophy 177
XXXIV. I hear Polly’s story 183
XXXV. I search for Polly 188
XXXVI. The crisis comes 192
XXXVII. I again explain the general situation 196
XXXVIII. I say good-bye to the Lad 199
XXXIX. Baby Jean plays with the telegram 202
XL. I rebel against God and the Altruist 204
XLI. I converse with the Doctor 208
XLII. I find that Janet has no philosophy 211
XLIII. I dry my pen, and again take up my Cause 214

AN EXPERIMENT IN ALTRUISM