essays-1-第10节
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of a number of new and very interesting experiments relative to the economy of fuel； will be annexed to this work； I shall add nothing more now upon the subject； except it be the certificate； which may be seen in the Appendix； No。 IV； which I have thought prudent to publish； in order to prevent my being suspected of exaggeration in displaying the advantages of my economical arrangements。
The assertion； that a warm dinner may be cooked for 1000 persons； at the trifling expence of four…pence halfpenny for fuel； and that； too； where the cord； five feet eight inches and nine…tenths long； five feet eight inches and nine…tenths high； and five feet three inches and two…tenths wide； English measure； of pine…wood； of the most indifferent quality； costs above seven shillings； and where the cord of hard wood； such as beech and oak； of equal dimensions； costs more than twice that sum； may appear incredible； yet I will venture to assert； and I hereby pledge myself with the public to prove； that in the kitchen of the Military Academy at Munich； and especially in a kitchen lately built under my direction at Verona； in the Hospital of la Pieta； I have carried the economy of fuel still further。
To prevent frauds in the kitchen of the institution for the poor at Munich； the ingredients are delivered each day by the store…keeper； to the chief cook； and a person of confidence； not belonging to the kitchen； attends at the proper hour to see that they are actually used。 Some one of the inspectors； or other chief officer of the establishment； also attends at the hour of dinner； to see that the victuals furnished to the poor are good； well dressed； and properly served up。
As the dining…hall is not large enough to accommodate all the poor at once； they dine in companies of as many as can be seated together； （about 150）； those who work in the house being served first； and then those who come from the town。
Though most of those who work in their own lodgings send for their dinners； yet there are many others； and particularly such as from great age or other bodily infirmities are not able to work； who come from the town every day to the public hall to dine； and as these are frequently obliged to wait some time at the door； before they can be admitted into the dining…hall；that is to say； till all the poor who work in the house have finished their dinners；for their more comfortable accommodation； a large room； provided with a stove for heating it in winter； has been constructed； adjoining to the building of the institution； but not within the court； where these poor people assemble； and are sheltered from the inclemency of the weather while they wait for admittance into the dining…hall。
To preserve order and decorum at these public dinners； and to prevent crowding and jostling at the door of the dining…hall； the steward； or some other officer of the house of some authority； is always present in the hall during dinner； and two privates of the police guards； who know most of the poor personally； take post at the door of the hall； one on each side of it； and between them the poor are obliged to pass singly into the hall。
As soon as a company have taken places at the table； （the soup being always served out and placed upon the tables before they are admitted；） upon a signal given by the officer who presides at the dinner； they all repeat a short prayer。 Perhaps I ought to ask pardon for mentioning so old…fashioned a custom； but I own I am old…fashioned enough myself to like such things。
As an account in detail will be given in another place； of the expence of feeding these poor people； I shall only observe here； that this expense was considerably lessened by the voluntary donations of bread； and offal meat； which were made by the bakers and butchers of the town and suburbs。 The beggars； not satisfied with the money which they extorted from all ranks of people by their unceasing importunity； had contrived to lay certain classes of the inhabitants under regular periodical contributions of certain commodities； and especially eatables； which they collected in kind。 Of this nature were the contributions which were levied by them upon the bakers； butchers； keepers of eating…houses； ale…house keepers； brewers； etc。 all of whom were obliged； at stated periods；once a…week at least；or oftener； to deliver to such of the beggars as presented themselves at the hour appointed； very considerable quantities of bread； meat； soup； and other eatables； and to such a length were these shameful impositions carried； that a considerable traffic was actually carried on with the articles so collected； between the beggars； and a number of petty shop…keepers； or hucksters； who purchased them of the beggars； and made a business of selling them by retail to the indigent and industrious inhabitants。 And though these abuses were well known to the public； yet this custom had so long existed； and so formidable were the beggars became to the inhabitants； that it was no means safe； or advisable； to refuse their demands。
Upon the town being cleared of beggars； these impositions ceased of course； and the worthy citizens； who were relieved from this burthen； felt so sensibly the service that was rendered them； that； to show their gratitude； and their desire to assist in supporting so useful an establishment； they voluntarily offered； in addition to their monthly subscriptions in money； to contribute every day a certain quantity of bread； meat； soup； etc。 towards feeding the poor in the Military Work…house。 And these articles were collected every day by the servants of the establishment； who went round the town with small carts； neatly fitted up； and elegantly painted； and drawn by single small horses； neatly harnessed。
As in these； as well as in all other collections of public charity； it was necessary to arrange matters so that the public might safely place the most perfect confidence in those who were charged with these details； the collections were made in a manner in which it was EVIDENTLY IMPOSSIBLE for those employed in making them to defraud the poor of any part of that which their charitable and more opulent fellow…citizens designed for their relief。And to this circumstance principally it may； I believe； be attributed； that these donations have for such a length of time （more than five years；） continued to be so considerable。
In the collection of the soup； and the offal meat at the butchers' shops； as those articles were not very valuable and not easily concealed or disposed of； no particular precautions were necessary； other than sending round PUBLICLY and at a CERTAIN HOUR the carts destined for those purposes。 Upon that for collecting the soup； which was upon four wheels； was a large cask neatly painted with an inscription on each side in large letters； 〃for the 〃Poor。〃 That for the meat held a large tub with a cover； painted with the same colours； and marked on both sides with the same inscription。
Beside this tub； other smaller tubs； painted in like manner； and bearing the same inscription； 〃for the Poor；〃 were provided and hung up in conspicuous situations in all the butchers' shops in the town。 In doing this； two objects were had in view； first the convenience of the butchers； that in cutting up their meat they might have a convenient place to lay by that which they should destine for the poor till it should be called for； and secondly； to give an opportunity to those who bought meat in their shops to throw in any odd scraps； or bones； they might receive； and which they might not think worth the trouble of carrying home。
These odd pieces are more frequently to be met with in the lots which are sold in the butchers' shops in Munich than in almost any other town； for the price of meat is fixed by authority； the butchers have a right to sell the whole carcase； the bad pieces with the good； so that with each good lot there is what in this country is called the zugewicht； that is to say； an indifferent scrap of offal meat； or piece of bone； to make up the weight； and these refuse pieces were very often thrown into the poor's tub； and after being properly cleaned and boiled； served to make their soup much more savoury and nourishing。
In the collection of the daily donations of bread； as that article is more valuable； and more easily concealed and disposed of； more precautions were used to prevent frauds on the parts of the servants who were sent round to make the collection。
The cart which was employed for this purpose was furnished with a large wooden chest； firmly nailed down upon it； and provided with a good lock and key； and this chest； which was neatly painted； and embellished with a inscription； was so contrived； by means of an opening in the top of a large vertical wooden tube fixed in its lid； and made in the form of a mouse…trap； that when it was locked； （as it always was when it was sent round for the donations of bread；） a loaf of bread； or any thing of that size； could be put into it； but nothing could be taken out of it by the same opening。 Upon the return of the cart； the bread…chest was opened by the steward； who keeps the key of it； and its contents； after being entered in a register kept for that purpose； were delivered over to the care
