THE HUMANITARIANS AND ROBERT OWEN 753 
possibility of so moulding the characters of individuals that A.D. 177 
they might find personal happiness in conduct which con- 18% 
duces to the common good, and he supported his principles 
by facts drawn from experience among his own workmen. 
For the next ten years the arrangements and organisation at 
New Lanark attracted thousands of visitors ; as Owen appeared 
to have demonstrated the possibility of providing the best 
conditions for the training of children, and bringing elevating 
influences to bear on the hands, in connection with the work- 
ing of a large mill. The success which was due to his in man- 
personal business ability, he himself regarded as testifying to i. 
the wisdom of his doctrines; his desire to give them more Gontnibute 
thorough effect, led to differences with his partner, and in 
1829 he severed his connection with New Lanark. From 
this time he became more of a dreamer and lost much of the 
remarkable influence he had exercised; the failure of ex- 
periments to organise establishments on his principles at 
Orbiston?, and at New Harmony? in Indiana, discredited him 
still farther; but the impression created by his work at 
New Lanark had been invaluable in convincing the public 
that deliberate attempts to improve the condition of the 
operatives were far from hopeless. Others were inspired to 
emulate his example, and it is hardly possible to exaggerate 
the effect of the impulse he gave to the work of social 
amelioration. His influence was felt in many ways, but it 
was in connection with factory reform that it proved most 
potent. He did not attempt to adapt the system of by-gone to ere 
days to the needs of the present?, but he boldly made a new operatives 
departure, in the hope of introducing an infinitely better character. 
future. The improvement of character was the aim he put 
chiefly before him, but, as a means to that end, he became 
the pioneer of industrial reform. He fought all the evils of 
the day,—the stunting of children in mind and body, insani- 
tary conditions of work and life, and truck ; he demonstrated 
men. A New View of Society or Essays on the principles of the formation of 
the Human Character preparatory to the development of a plan for gradually 
ameliorating the condition of Mankind. First published in 1813 (1816), 19. 
1 This was conducted, after 1826, on communistic principles. 
2 Booth, Robert Owen, 97—104. 
3 As had been done in the first Factory Act. See above, p. 631.