第125章 A PRACTICAL CONCLUSION.(9)

We are very anxious to help that most needy class,the "boardmen,"many of whom are "sweated"out of their miserable earnings;receiving often as low as one shilling for a day's toil.

WE APPEAL TO ALL WHO SYMPATHISE WITH SUFFERING HUMANITY,especially Religious and Philanthropic individuals and Societies,to assist us in our efforts,by placing orders for the supply of Boardmen,Messengers,Bill-distributors,Window-cleaners and other kinds of labour in our hands.Our charge for "boardmen"will be 2s.2d.,including boards,the placing and proper supervision of the men,&c.Two shillings,at least,will go direct to the men;most of the hirers of boardmen pay this,and some even more,but often not more than one-half reaches the men.

We shall be glad to forward you further information of our plans,or will send a representative to further explain,or to take orders,on receiving notice from you to that effect.

Believe me to be,Yours faithfully,etc.

CENTRAL LABOUR BUREAU.

TO THE UNEMPLOYED.--MALE AND FEMALE.

NOTICE.

A Free Registry,for all kinds of unemployed labour,has been opened at the above address.If you want work,call and make yourself and your wants known.Enter your name and address and wants on the Registers,or fill up form below,and hand it in at above address.Look over the advertising pages of the papers provided.Tables with pens and ink are provided for you to write for situations.If you live at a distance,fill up this form giving all particulars,or references,and forward to Commissioner Smith,care of the Labour Bureau.

Name.

Address.

Kind of work wanted.

Wages you ask.

---------------------------------------------------------------------IName I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IAge I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IDuring past 10years have I

you had regular employment?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IHow long for?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IWhat kind of work?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IWhat work can you do?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IWhat have you worked at I

at odd times?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IHow much did you earn when I

regularly employed?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IHow much did you earn when I

irregularly employed?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IAre you married?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IIs wife living?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------IHow many children and ages?I

I---------------------------------------------------------------------If you were put on a farm to I work at anything you could do,I and were supplied with food,I lodging,and clothes,with a I view to getting you on your feet,I would you do all you could?

I---------------------------------------------------------------------HOW BEGGARY WAS ABOLISHED IN BAVARIA BY COUNT RUMFORD.

Count Rumford was an American officer who served with considerable distinction in the Revolutionary War in that country,and afterwards settled in England.From thence he went to Bavaria,where he was promoted to the chief command of its army,and also was energetically employed in the Civil Government.Bavaria at this time literally swarmed with beggars,who were not only an eyesore and discredit to the nation,but a positive injury to the State.The Count resolved upon the extinction of this miserable profession,and the following extracts from his writings describe the method by which he accomplished it:--"Bavaria,by the neglect of the Government,and the abuse of the kindness and charity of its amiable people,had become infested with beggars,with whom mingled vagabonds and thieves.They were to the body politic what parasites and vermin are to people and dwellings--breeding by the same lazy neglect.""In Bavaria there were laws which made provision for the poor,but they suffered them to fall into neglect.Beggary had become general."

"In short,"says Count Rumford,"these detestable vermin swarmed everywhere;and not only their impudence and clamorous importunity were boundless,but they had recourse to the most diabolical arts and the most horrid crimes in the prosecution of their infamous trade.

They exposed and tortured their own children,and those they stole for the purpose,to extort contributions from the charitable.""In the large towns beggary was an organised imposture,with a sort of government and police of its own.Each beggar had his beat,with orderly successions and promotions,as with other governments.

There were battles to decide conflicting claims,and a good beat was not unfreguently a marriage portion or a thumping legacy.""He saw that it was not enough to forbid beggary by law or to punish it by imprisonment.The beggars cared for neither.The energetic Yankee Statesman attacked the question as he did problems in physical science.

He studied beggary and beggars.How would he deal with one individual beggar?Send him for a month to prison to beg again as soon as he came out?That is no remedy.The evident course was to forbid him to beg,but at the same time to give him the opportunity to labor;to teach him to work,to encourage him to honest industry.And the wise ruler sets himself to provide food,comfort,and work for every beggar and vagabond in Bavaria,and did it.""Count Rumford,wise and just,sets himself to reform the whole class of beggars and vagabonds,and convert them into useful citizens,even those who had sunk into vice and crime.