Inallthislatter-dayrangeofleisure-classactivitiesthatproceedonthebasisofanon-invidiousandnon-religiousinterest，itistobenotedthatthewomenparticipatemoreactivelyandmorepersistentlythanthemen——except，ofcourse，inthecaseofsuchworksasrequirealargeexpenditureofmeans。Thedependentpecuniarypositionofthewomendisablesthemforworkrequiringlargeexpenditure。Asregardsthegeneralrangeofameliorativework，themembersofthepriesthoodorclergyofthelessnaivelydevoutsects，orthesecularizeddenominations，areassociatedwiththeclassofwomen。Thisisasthetheorywouldhaveit。Inothereconomicrelations，also，thisclergystandsinasomewhatequivocalpositionbetweentheclassofwomenandthatofthemenengagedineconomicpursuits。Bytraditionandbytheprevalentsenseoftheproprieties，boththeclergyandthewomenofthewell-to-doclassesareplacedinthepositionofavicariousleisureclass；withbothclassesthecharacteristicrelationwhichgoestoformthehabitsofthoughtoftheclassisarelationofsubservience——thatistosay，aneconomicrelationconceivedinpersonalterms；inbothclassesthereisconsequentlyperceptibleaspecialpronenesstoconstruephenomenaintermsofpersonalrelationratherthanofcausalsequence；bothclassesaresoinhibitedbythecanonsofdecencyfromtheceremoniallyuncleanprocessesofthelucrativeorproductiveoccupationsastomakeparticipationintheindustriallifeprocessoftodayamoralimpossibilityforthem。Theresultofthisceremonialexclusionfromproductiveeffortofthevulgarsortistodraftarelativelylargeshareoftheenergiesofthemodernfeminineandpriestlyclassesintotheserviceofotherintereststhantheself-regardingone。Thecodeleavesnoalternativedirectioninwhichtheimpulsetopurposefulactionmayfindexpression。Theeffectofaconsistentinhibitiononindustriallyusefulactivityinthecaseoftheleisure-classwomenshowsitselfinarestlessassertionoftheimpulsetoworkmanshipinotherdirectionsthanthatofbusinessactivity。
Ashasbeennoticedalready，theeverydaylifeofthewell-to-dowomenandtheclergycontainsalargerelementofstatusthanthatoftheaverageofthemen，especiallythanthatofthemenengagedinthemodernindustrialoccupationsproper。
Hencethedevoutattitudesurvivesinabetterstateofpreservationamongtheseclassesthanamongthecommonrunofmeninthemoderncommunities。Henceanappreciableshareoftheenergywhichseeksexpressioninanon-lucrativeemploymentamongthesemembersofthevicariousleisureclassesmaybeexpectedtoeventuateindevoutobservancesandworksofpiety。Hence，inpart，theexcessofthedevoutproclivityinwomen，spokenofinthelastchapter。Butitismoretothepresentpointtonotetheeffectofthisproclivityinshapingtheactionandcoloringthepurposesofthenon-lucrativemovementsandorganizationshereunderdiscussion。Wherethisdevoutcoloringispresentitlowerstheimmediateefficiencyoftheorganizationsforanyeconomicendtowhichtheireffortsmaybedirected。Manyorganizations，charitableandameliorative，dividetheirattentionbetweenthedevotionalandthesecularwell-beingofthepeoplewhoseintereststheyaimtofurther。Itcanscarcelyhedoubtedthatiftheyweretogiveanequallyseriousattentionandeffortundividedlytothesecularinterestsofthesepeople，theimmediateeconomicvalueoftheirworkshouldbeappreciablyhigherthanitis。Itmightofcoursesimilarlybesaid，ifthisweretheplacetosayit，thattheimmediateefficiencyoftheseworksofameliorationforthedevoutmightbegreaterifitwerenothamperedwiththesecularmotivesandaimswhichareusuallypresent。
Somedeductionistobemadefromtheeconomicvalueofthisclassofnon-invidiousenterprise，onaccountoftheintrusionofthedevotionalinterest。Buttherearealsodeductionstobemadeonaccountofthepresenceofotheralienmotiveswhichmoreorlessbroadlytraversetheeconomictrendofthisnon-emulativeexpressionoftheinstinctofworkmanship。Tosuchanextentisthisseentobetrueonacloserscrutiny，that，whenallistold，itmayevenappearthatthisgeneralclassofenterprisesisofanaltogetherdubiouseconomicvalue——asmeasuredintermsofthefullnessorfacilityoflifeoftheindividualsorclassestowhoseameliorationtheenterpriseisdirected。Forinstance，manyoftheeffortsnowinreputablevoguefortheameliorationoftheindigentpopulationoflargecitiesareofthenature，ingreatpart，ofamissionofculture。Itisbythismeanssoughttoacceleratetherateofspeedatwhichgivenelementsoftheupper-classculturefindacceptanceintheeverydayschemeoflifeofthelowerclasses。Thesolicitudeof“settlements，“forexample，isinpartdirectedtoenhancetheindustrialefficiencyofthepoorandtoteachthemthemoreadequateutilizationofthemeansathand；butitisalsonolessconsistentlydirectedtotheinculcation，bypreceptandexample，ofcertainpunctiliosofupper-classproprietyinmannersandcustoms。Theeconomicsubstanceoftheseproprietieswillcommonlybefoundonscrutinytobeaconspicuouswasteoftimeandgoods。Thosegoodpeoplewhogoouttohumanizethepoorarecommonly，andadvisedly，extremelyscrupulousandsilentlyinsistentinmattersofdecorumandthedecenciesoflife。Theyarecommonlypersonsofanexemplarylifeandgiftedwithatenaciousinsistenceonceremonialcleannessinthevariousitemsoftheirdailyconsumption。Theculturalorcivilizingefficacyofthisinculcationofcorrecthabitsofthoughtwithrespecttotheconsumptionoftimeandcommoditiesisscarcelytobeoverrated；norisitseconomicvaluetotheindividualwhoacquiresthesehigherandmorereputableidealsinconsiderable。
Underthecircumstancesoftheexistingpecuniaryculture，thereputability，andconsequentlythesuccess，oftheindividualisingreatmeasuredependentonhisproficiencyindemeanorandmethodsofconsumptionthatarguehabitualwasteoftimeandgoods。Butasregardstheulterioreconomicbearingofthistraininginworthiermethodsoflife，itistobesaidthattheeffectwroughtisinlargepartasubstitutionofcostlierorlessefficientmethodsofaccomplishingthesamematerialresults，inrelationswherethematerialresultisthefactofsubstantialeconomicvalue。Thepropagandaofcultureisingreatpartaninculcationofnewtastes，orratherofanewscheduleofproprieties，whichhavebeenadaptedtotheupper-classschemeoflifeundertheguidanceoftheleisure-classformulationoftheprinciplesofstatusandpecuniarydecency。Thisnewscheduleofproprietiesisintrudedintothelower-classschemeoflifefromthecodeelaboratedbyanelementofthepopulationwhoselifeliesoutsidetheindustrialprocess；andthisintrusiveschedulecanscarcelybeexpectedtofittheexigenciesoflifefortheselowerclassesmoreadequatelythantheschedulealreadyinvogueamongthem，andespeciallynotmoreadequatelythantheschedulewhichtheyarethemselvesworkingoutunderthestressofmodernindustriallife。
AllthisofcoursedoesnotquestionthefactthattheprOprietiesofthesubstitutedschedulearemoredecorousthanthosewhichtheydisplace。Thedoubtwhichpresentsitselfissimplyadoubtastotheeconomicexpediencyofthisworkofregeneration——thatistosay，theeconomicexpediencyinthatimmediateandmaterialbearinginwhichtheeffectsofthechangecanbeascertainedwithsomedegreeofconfidence，andasviewedfromthestandpointnotoftheindividualbutofthefacilityoflifeofthecollectivity。Foranappreciationoftheeconomicexpediencyoftheseenterprisesofamelioration，therefore，theireffectiveworkisscarcelytobetakenatitsfacevalue，evenwheretheaimoftheenterpriseisprimarilyaneconomiconeandwheretheinterestonwhichitproceedsisinnosenseself-regardingorinvidious。Theeconomicreformwroughtislargelyofthenatureofapermutationinthemethodsofconspicuouswaste。
Butsomethingfurtheristobesaidwithrespecttothecharacterofthedisinterestedmotivesandcanonsofprocedureinallworkofthisclassthatisaffectedbythehabitsofthoughtcharacteristicofthepecuniaryculture；andthisfurtherconsiderationmayleadtoafurtherqualificationoftheconclusionsalreadyreached。Ashasbeenseeninanearlierchapter，thecanonsofreputabilityordecencyunderthepecuniarycultureinsistonhabitualfutilityofeffortasthemarkofapecuniarilyblamelesslife。Thereresultsnotonlyahabitofdisesteemofusefuloccupations，butthereresultsalsowhatisofmoredecisiveconsequenceinguidingtheactionofanyorganizedbodyofpeoplethatlaysclaimtosocialgoodrepute。
Thereisatraditionwhichrequiresthatoneshouldnotbevulgarlyfamiliarwithanyoftheprocessesordetailsthathavetodowiththematerialnecessitiesoflife。Onemaymeritoriouslyshowaquantitativeinterestinthewell-beingofthevulgar，throughsubscriptionsorthroughworkonmanagingcommitteesandthelike。Onemay，perhapsevenmoremeritoriously，showsolicitudeingeneralandindetailfortheculturalwelfareofthevulgar，inthewayofcontrivancesforelevatingtheirtastesandaffordingthemopportunitiesforspiritualamelioration。Butoneshouldnotbetrayanintimateknowledgeofthematerialcircumstancesofvulgarlife，orofthehabitsofthoughtofthevulgarclasses，suchaswouldeffectuallydirecttheeffortsoftheseorganizationstoamateriallyusefulend。Thisreluctancetoavowanundulyintimateknowledgeofthelower-classconditionsoflifeindetailofcourseprevailsinverydifferentdegreesindifferentindividuals；butthereiscommonlyenoughofitpresentcollectivelyinanyorganizationofthekindinquestionprofoundlytoinfluenceitscourseofaction。Byitscumulativeactioninshapingtheusageandprecedentsofanysuchbody，thisshrinkingfromanimputationofunseemlyfamiliaritywithvulgarlifetendsgraduallytosetasidetheinitialmotivesoftheenterprise，infavorofcertainguidingprinciplesofgoodrepute，ultimatelyreducibletotermsofpecuniarymerit。Sothatinanorganizationoflongstandingtheinitialmotiveoffurtheringthefacilityoflifeintheseclassescomesgraduallytobeanostensiblemotiveonly，andthevulgarlyeffectiveworkoftheorganizationtendstoobsolescence。
Whatistrueoftheefficiencyoforganizationsfornon-invidiousworkinthisrespectistruealsoasregardstheworkofindividualsproceedingonthesamemotives；thoughitperhapsholdstruewithmorequalificationforindividualsthanfororganizedenterprises。Thehabitofgaugingmeritbytheleisure-classcanonsofwastefulexpenditureandunfamiliaritywithvulgarlife，whetheronthesideofproductionorofconsumption，isnecessarilystrongintheindividualswhoaspiretodosomeworkofpublicutility。Andiftheindividualshouldforgethisstationandturnhiseffortstovulgareffectiveness，thecommonsenseofthecommunity-thesenseofpecuniarydecency——wouldpresentlyrejecthisworkandsethimright。Anexampleofthisisseenintheadministrationofbequestsmadebypublic-spiritedmenforthesinglepurposeatleastostensibly
offurtheringthefacilityofhumanlifeinsomeparticularrespect。Theobjectsforwhichbequestsofthisclassaremostfrequentlymadeatpresentaremostfrequentlymadeatpresentareschools，libraries，hospitals，andasylumsfortheinfirmorunfortunate。Theavowedpurposeofthedonorinthesecasesistheameliorationofhumanlifeintheparticularrespectwhichisnamedinthebequest；butitwillbefoundaninvariablerulethatintheexecutionoftheworknotalittleofothermotives，frequenCyincompatiblewiththeinitialmotive，ispresentanddeterminestheparticulardispositioneventuallymadeofagoodshareofthemeanswhichhavebeensetapartbythebequest。
Certainfunds，forinstance，mayhavebeensetapartasafoundationforafoundlingasylumoraretreatforinvalids。Thediversionofexpendituretohonorificwasteinsuchcasesisnotuncommonenoughtocausesurpriseoreventoraiseasmile。Anappreciableshareofthefundsisspentintheconstructionofanedificefacedwithsomeaestheticallyobjectionablebutexpensivestone，coveredwithgrotesqueandincongruousdetails，anddesigned，initsbattlementedwallsandturretsanditsmassiveportalsandstrategicapproaches，tosuggestcertainbarbaricmethodsofwarfare。Theinteriorofthestructureshowsthesamepervasiveguidanceofthecanonsofconspicuouswasteandpredatoryexploit。Thewindows，forinstance，togonofartherintodetail，areplacedwithaviewtoimpresstheirpecuniaryexcellenceuponthechancebeholderfromtheoutside，ratherthanwithaviewtoeffectivenessfortheirostensibleendintheconvenienceorcomfortofthebeneficiarieswithin；andthedetailofinteriorarrangementisrequiredtoconformitselfasbestitmaytothisalienbutimperiousrequirementofpecuniarybeauty。
Inallthis，ofcourse，itisnottohepresumedthatthedonorwouldhavefoundfault，orthathewouldhavedoneotherwiseifhehadtakencontrolinperson；itappearsthatinthosecaseswheresuchapersonaldirectionisexercised——wheretheenterpriseisconductedbydirectexpenditureandsuperintendenceinsteadofbybequest——theaimsandmethodsofmanagementarenotdifferentinthisrespect。Norwouldthebeneficiaries，ortheoutsideobserverswhoseeaseorvanityarenotimmediatelytouched，bepleasedwithadifferentdispositionofthefunds。Itwouldsuitnoonetohavetheenterpriseconductedwithaviewdirectlytothemosteconomicalandeffectiveuseofthemeansathandfortheinitial，materialendofthefoundation。Allconcerned，whethertheirinterestisimmediateandself-regarding，orcontemplativeonly，agreethatsomeconsiderableshareoftheexpenditureshouldgotothehigherorspiritualneedsderivedfromthehabitofaninvidiouscomparisoninpredatoryexploitandpecuniarywaste。Butthisonlygoestosaythatthecanonsofemulativeandpecuniaryreputabilitysofarpervadethecommonsenseofthecommunityastopermitnoescapeorevasion，eveninthecaseofanenterprisewhichostensiblyproceedsentirelyonthebasisofanon-invidiousinterest。