Of the means used for the relief of those poor persons who were
not beggars.
Of the large sums of money distributed to the poor in alms.
Of the means used for rendering those who received alms industrious.
Of the general utility of the house of industry to the poor,
and the distressed of all denominations.
Of public kitchens for feeding the poor, united with establishments
for giving them employment; and of the great advantages which
would be derived from forming them in every parish.
Of the manner in which the poor of Munich are lodged.
In giving an account of the Poor of Munich. I have hitherto
confined myself chiefly to one class of them,--the beggars; but I
shall now proceed to mention briefly the measures which were
adopted to relieve others, who never were beggars, from those
distresses and difficulties in which poverty and the inability to
provide the necessaries of life had involved them.
An establishment for the Poor should not only provide for the
relief and support of those who are most forward and clamorous in
calling out for assistance;--humanity and justice require that
peculiar attention should be paid to those who are bashful and
silent.--To those, who, in addition to all the distresses arising
from poverty and want, feel, that is still more insupportable to
their unfortunate and hopeless situation.
All those who stood in need of assistance were invited and
encouraged to make known their wants to the committee placed at
the head of the institution; and in no case was the necessary
assistance refused.--That this relief was generously bestowed,
will not be doubted by those who are informed that the sums
distributed in alms, IN READY MONEY to the Poor of Munich in FIVE
YEARS, exclusive of the expences incurred in feeding and clothing
them, amounted to above TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND FLORINS[13].
But the sums of money distributed among the Poor in alms was not
the only, and perhaps not the most important assistance that was
given them.--THEY WERE TAUGHT AND ENCOURAGED TO BE INDUSTRIOUS;
and they probably derived more essential advantages from the
fruits of their industry, than from all the charitable donations
they received.
All who were able to earn any thing by their labour, were
furnished with work, and effectual measures taken to excite them
to be industrious.--In fixing the amount of the sums in money,
which they receive weekly upon stated days, care was always taken
to find out how much the person applying for relief was in a
condition to earn, and only just so much was granted, as,
when added to these earnings, would be sufficient to provide the
necessaries of life, or such of them as were not otherwise
furnished by the institution. --But even this precaution would
not alone have been sufficient to have obliged those who were
disposed to be idle, to become industrious; for, with the
assistance of the small allowances which were granted, they might
have found means, by stealing, or other fraudulent practices,
to have subsisted without working, and the sums allowed them would
have only served as an encouragement to idleness.--This evil,
which is always much to be apprehended in establishments for the
Poor, and which is always most fatal in its consequences,
is effectually prevented at Munich by the following simple
arrangement:--A long and narrow slip of paper, upon which is
printed, between parallel lines, in two or more columns, all the
weeks in the year, or rather the month, and the day of the month,
when each week begins, is, in the beginning of every year, given
to each poor perform entitled to receive alms; and the name of
the person,--with the number his name bears in the general list
of the Poor;--the weekly sum granted to him,--and the sum he is
able to earn weekly by labour, are entered in writing at the head
of this list of the weeks.--This paper, which must always be
produced by the poor person as often as he applies for his weekly
allowance of alms, serves to show whether he has, or has not
fulfilled the conditions upon which the allowance was granted him;--
that is to say, whether he has been industrious, and has earned
by his labour, and received, the sum he ought to earn weekly.--
This fact is ascertained in the following manner: when the poor
person frequents the house of industry regularly, or when he
works at home, and delivers regularly at the end of every week,
the produce of the labour he is expected to perform; when he has
thus fulfilled the conditions imposed on him, the column, or
rather parallel, in his paper, (which may be called his
certificate of industry,) answering to the week in question,
is marked with a stamp, kept for that purpose at the Military
Work-house; or, if he should be prevented by illness, or any
other accident, from fulfilling those conditions, in that case,
instead of the stamp, the week must be marked by the signature of
the commissary of the district to which the poor person belongs.--
But, if the certificate be not marked, either by the stamp of the
house of industry, or by the signature of the commissary of the
district, the allowance for the week in question is not issued.
It is easy to be imagined how effectually this arrangement must
operate as a check to idleness.-- But, not satisfied with
discouraging and punishing idleness, we have endeavoured, by all
the means in our power, and more especially by rewards and
honorable distinctions of every kind, to encourage extraordinary
exertions of industry. Such of the Poor who earn more in the
week than the sum imposed on them, are rewarded by extraordinary
presents, in money, or in some useful and valuable article of
clothing; or they are particularly remembered at the next public
distribution of money, which is made twice a year to the Poor,
to assist them in paying their house-rent: and so far is this from
being made a pretext for diminishing their weekly allowance of
alms, that it is rather considered as a reason for augmenting them.
There are great numbers of persons, of various descriptions,
in all places, and particularly in great towns, who, though they
find means just to support life, and have too much feeling ever
to submit to the disgrace of becoming a burthen upon the public,
are yet very unhappy, and consequently objects highly deserving
of the commiseration and friendly aid of the humane and generous.--
it is hardly possible to imagine a situation more truly deplorable
than that of a person born to better prospects, reduced by
unmerited misfortunes to poverty, and doomed to pass his whole
life in one continued and hopeless struggle with want, shame,
and despair.
Any relief which it is possible to afford to distress that
appears under this respectable and most interesting form,
ought surely never to be withheld.--But the greatest care and
precaution are necessary in giving assistance to those who have
been rendered irritable and suspicious by misfortunes, and who
have too much honest pride not to feel themselves degraded by
accepting an obligation they never can hope to repay.
The establishment of the house of industry at Munich has been a
means of affording very essential relief to many distressed
families, and single persons in indigent circumstances, who,
otherwise, most probably never would have received any assistance.
--Many persons of distinguished birth, and particularly widows
and unmarried ladies with very small fortunes, frequently send
privately to this house for raw materials,--flax or wool,
-- which they spin, and return in yarn,--linen for soldiers
shirts, which they make up, etc. and receive in money, (commonly
through the hands of a maid-servant, who is employed as a
messenger upon these occasions,) the amount of the wages at the
ordinary price paid by the manufactory, for the labour performed.
Many a common soldier in the Elector's service wears shirts made
up privately by the delicate hands of persons who were never seen
publicly to be employed in such coarse work;--and many a
comfortable meal has been made in the town of Munich, in private,
by persons accustomed to more sumptuous fare, upon the soup
destined for the Poor, and furnished gratis from the public kitchen
of the house of industry. Many others who stand in need of
assistance, will, in time, I hope, get the better of their pride,
and avail themselves of these advantages.
To render this establishment for the Poor at Munich perfect,
something is still wanting.--The house of industry is too remote
from the center of the town, and many of the Poor live at such a
distance from it, that much time is lost in going and returning.
--It is situated, it is true, nearly in the center of the
district in which most of the Poor inhabit, but still there are
many who do not derive all the advantages from it they otherwise
would do were it adjacent to their dwellings. The only way to
remedy this imperfection would be, to establish several smaller
public kitchens in different parts of the town, with two or three
rooms adjoining to each, where the Poor might work.--They might
then either fetch the raw materials from the principal house of
industry, or be furnished with them by the persons who superintend
those subordinate kitchens; and who might serve at the same time
as stewards and inspectors of the working rooms, under the
direction and control of the officers who are placed at the head
of the general establishment. This arrangement is in
contemplation, and will be put in execution as soon as convenient
houses can be procured and fitted up for the purpose.
In large cities, these public kitchens, and rooms adjoining to
them for working, should be established in every parish; and,
it is scarcely to be conceived how much this arrangement would
contribute to the comfort and contentment of the Poor, and to the
improvement of their morals. These working rooms might be fitted
up with neatness; and even with elegance; and made perfectly
warm, clean, and comfortable, at a very small expence;
and, if nothing were done to disgust the Poor, either by treating
them harshly, or using FORCE to oblige them to frequent these
establishments, they would soon avail themselves of the
advantages held out to them; and the tranquillity they would
enjoy in these peaceful retreats, would, by degrees, calm the
agitation of their minds,--remove their suspicions,--and render
them happy,--grateful, and docile.
Though it might not be possible to provide any other lodgings for
them than the miserable barracks they now occupy, yet, as they
might spend the whole of the day, from morning till late at
night, in these public rooms, and have no occasion to return to
their homes till bed-time, they would not experience much
inconvenience from the badness of the accommodation at their own
dwellings.
Should any be attached with sickness, they might be sent to some
hospital, or rooms be provided for them, as well as for the old
and infirm, adjacent to the public working rooms. Certain hours
might also be set apart for instructing the children, daily, in
reading and writing, in the dining-hall, or in some other room
convenient for that purpose.
The expence of forming such an establishment in every parish
would not be great, in the first outset, and the advantages
derived from it would very soon repay that expence, with interest.
--The Poor might be fed from a public kitchen for LESS THAN HALF
what it would cost them to feed themselves;--they would turn
their industry to better account, by working in a public
establishment, and under proper direction, than by working at
home;--a spirit of emulation would be excited among them,
and they would pass their time more agreeably and cheerfully.--
They would be entirely relieved from the heavy expense of fuel for
cooking; and, in a great measure, from that for heating their
dwellings; and, being seldom at home in the day-time, would want
little more than a place to sleep in; so that the expence of
lodging might be greatly diminished.--It is evident, that all
these saving together would operate very powerfully to lessen the
public expence for the maintenance of the Poor; and, were proper
measures adopted, and pursued with care and perseverance, I am
persuaded the expence would at last be reduced to little or
nothing.
With regard to the lodgings for the Poor, I am clearly of opinion
that it is in general best, particularly in great towns, that
these should be left for themselves to provide. This they
certainly would like better than being crowded together,
and confined like prisoners in poor-houses and hospitals;
and I really think the difference in the expence would be
inconsiderable; and though they might be less comfortably
accommodated, yet the inconvenience would be amply compensated
BY THE CHARMS WHICH LIBERTY DISPENSES.
In Munich, almost all the Poor provide their own lodgings;
and twice a year have certain allowances in money, to assist them
in paying their rent.--Many among them who are single, have indeed,
no lodgings they can call their own. They go to certain
public-houses to sleep, where they are furnished with what is
called a bed, in a garret, for one creutzer, (equal to about
one-third of a penny,) a-night; and for two creutzers a-night
they get a place in a tolerably good bed in a decent room in a
public-house of more repute.
There are, however, among the Poor, many who are infirm, and not
able to shift for themselves in the public-houses, and have not
families, or near relations, to take care of them. For these,
a particular arrangement has lately been made at Munich. Such of
them as have friends or acquaintances in town with whom they can
lodge, are permitted to do so; but if they cannot find out
lodgings themselves, they have the option, either to be placed in
some private family to be taken care of, or go to a home which
has lately been purchased and fitted up as an hospital for
lodging them[14].
This house is situated in a fine airy situation, on a small
eminence upon the banks of the Isar, and overlooks the whole of
the town;--the plain in which it is situated;--and the river.--
It is neatly built, and has a spacious garden belonging to it.
There are seventeen good rooms in the house; in which it is
supposed about eighty persons may be lodged. These will all be
fed from one kitchen; and such of them who are very infirm, will
have others less infirm placed in the same room with them, to
assist them, and wait upon them.--The cultivation of the garden
will be their amusement, and the produce of it their property.
--They will be furnished with work suitable to their strength;
and for all the labour they perform, will be paid in money, which
will be left at their own disposal.--They will be furnished with
food, medicine, and clothing, gratis; and to those who are not
able to earn any thing by labour, a small sum of money will be
given weekly, to enable them to purchase tobacco, snuff, or any
other article of humble luxury to which they may have been
accustomed.
I could have wished that this asylum had been nearer to the house
of industry. It is indeed not very far from it, perhaps not more
than 400 yards; but still that is too far.--Had it been under the
same roof, or adjoining to it, those who are lodged in it might
have been fed from the public kitchen of the general establishment,
and have been under the immediate inspection of the principal
officers of the house of industry. It would likewise have
rendered the establishment very interesting to those who visit
it; which is an object of more real importance than can well be
imagined by those who have not had occasion to know how much the
approbation and applause of the public facilitate difficult
enterprizes.
The means of uniting the rational amusement of society, with the
furtherance of schemes calculated for the promotion of public
good, is a subject highly deserving the attention of all who are
engaged in public affairs.