Among the numerous benevolent schemes and institutions formed by the
wealthy to assist their poorer brethren, many may no doubt be found,
which instead of being beneficial are pernicious in their
effects--palsying the hand of industry, and destroying the sense of
independence by mere almsgiving. All those societies, however, which
give motives for industry, and which tend to create a sympathy and union
between the two classes of those who have abundance and those who want,
must be of moral benefit to both parties, and few can doubt their
practical utility.
The following is a slight sketch of a Society which appears eminently to
combine the above advantages.
About five or six years back “The District Society” was formed at
Brighton, in consequence of the suggestions of that benevolent lady,
Mrs. Fry. The purport of this association was, that its members should
visit the poor at their own houses--affording them assistance where
required, and encouraging in them habits of industry and frugality. The
idea was eagerly seized by those of the inhabitants whose activity and
influence were best able to promote this object, and in a very short
time the society was established.
This society is divided into three departments--the mendicity
department--the relief department--and the department for the
encouragement of frugality and saving. It is not our intention at
present to touch upon the first or second of these, but to confine
ourselves solely to the latter object.
The town is divided into six districts, and each district into about
twelve divisions. To each of these divisions a visitor is appointed, and
this office is voluntarily undertaken by some benevolent individual. The
number of ladies who devote themselves to this duty considerably exceeds
that of the gentlemen. The recommendation most urged by the visitors is
the exercise of frugality. The industrious poor are exhorted to save, at
a time when they have the power of doing so--thus reserving to
themselves the means of obtaining the enjoyment of such comforts as they
could not otherwise procure, at periods when their exertions produce to
them less profit. As an inducement to prefer the future good to the
present gratification, a small addition from the funds of the society is
made to the savings of individuals.
The visitors receive deposits, however small--enter these sums in a
book--and pay them over to the treasurer. The depositors feel that they
may have their money at any moment they think proper to call for it,
unchecked in their demand, save by the moral restraint which would
prevent them from requiring it for vicious or wasteful occasions.
Deposits are returned either in money or in such articles as are wanted
by those receiving them, the small gratuity already noticed being always
duly added. The number of depositors, and the sums deposited, have been
gradually increasing. Many of these depositors have, at various times,
candidly confessed to the visitors, that but for their interference and
the facility thus afforded to them for saving, their money would have
been spent on things useless in comparison with those comforts which
frugality has enabled them to procure.
Here then was a sum of money distributed among those who had a right to
it--who were under no obligation to any one, farther than that which is
incurred when others interest themselves in our welfare. While the
depositors enjoy the comforts thus obtained, they feel, with a proud
satisfaction, that these are not doled out to them by means of the
poors’ rates, nor administered to them by the hand of charity, but are
derived from their own savings, and result from their own industry,
prudence, and forbearance.
This feeling of independence thus called forth, raises man in the scale
of being; and an institution which fosters or awakens this ennobling
sentiment, offers, besides all other claims to merit, a sufficient proof
of its great value.
The above outline has been given in the hope that its consideration may
prove of general utility.
That class of labourers whose earnings are the least profitable,
generally earn more in the summer than in the winter, while their
expenses during the latter season are always the greatest. It is then
during the former period that the prudent labourer would lay by to meet
the increased demands at the latter time. If a person can only get
twelve shillings per week during the winter months, and fourteen
shillings per week during the summer, since he can live much better on
twelve shillings per week in summer than on fourteen shillings per week
in winter, he would act wisely to lay by two or three shillings weekly
at the one time, and thus provide for the deficiencies of the other. But
he may ask, how is this to be effected?--he has no “district society” in
his neighbourhood--no kind visiting friend to remind him of the
propriety of saving, and to receive his small deposits. The savings’
bank is at some distance--it is inconvenient to send there--it requires
time, and is therefore expensive to be constantly going there
himself--in short, a thousand reasons will always suggest themselves as
excuses for not doing at all what is not done with hearty good will. But
to save money it must be put as much beyond our reach as possible--it
will burn in our pockets, and will be got rid of somehow or other. What
then is to be done? We remember when we were young possessing a small
earthenware pot with only a slit in it for an opening, and so
constructed that whatever was put in could not be got out again without
destroying the pot. This was the receptacle for our spare money, and
whenever any temptation was felt to spend the little savings, the
circumstance of being obliged to break the jar previously to
appropriating its contents, always induced us to pause for reflection.
The result of such deliberation generally showed that the money was
about to have been expended uselessly, and that it would be much better
to leave the pot whole, and to go on putting in instead of taking out.
The benefit of this prudent determination was ultimately reaped, at a
time when it was most acceptable. We would recommend a plan somewhat
similar to this to those who are desirous of constantly making small
savings. A tin box might be made at a very small cost, with a lock and
key to it, and a slit at the top, large enough to put any sized piece of
money into it, and a piece of cloth so placed in the inside as to act
like a valve, affording ingress, but not egress, to the coins. This box
should be locked, and the key intrusted to some one to whom the
possessor would not like to apply on trivial occasions. It should be put
in a safe place, but where it might often meet the eye, and should be
looked upon as a friend who will furnish a supply of extra comforts
during winter time. But as it is not Fortunatus’ purse, which we read of
in fairy tales as abounding with an exhaustless fund, it must receive
its supply from the practice of self-denial, by withholding from oneself
any unnecessary gratifications when the means of procuring them are at
hand, and slipping the money that was to purchase these in the slit of
the box.
This box then may stand in lieu of a visitor of the District Society;
and every time anything is put into it, it may be considered as a friend
ready to afford its assistance in the time of sickness, in the hour of
distress, or during those periods when expenses are greatest and wages
least.
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