essays-1-第29节
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th part of the fuel will be sufficient for cooking； which would be required were the kettle to be boiled over an open fire。To strengthen this portable furnace； it may be hooped with iron hoops； or bound round with strong iron wire：but I forget that I am anticipating the subject of a future Essay。
Much good may also be done to the Poor by teaching them how to prepare various kinds of cheap and wholesome food； and to render them savoury and palatable。The art of cookery； notwithstanding its infinite importance to mankind； has hitherto been little studied； and among the more indigent classes of society； where it is most necessary to cultivate it； it seems to have been most neglected。No present that could be made to a poor family could be of more essential service to them than a thin； light stew…pan； with its cover； made of wrought； or cast iron； and fitted to a portable furnace； or close fire…place； constructed to save fuel； with two or three approved receipts for making nourishing and savoury soups and broths at a small expence。
Such a present might alone be sufficient to relieve a poor family from all their distresses； and make them permanently comfortable； for the expences of a poor family for food might； I am persuaded； in most cases be diminished ONE HALF by a proper attention to cookery； and to the economy of fuel； and the change in the circumstances of such a family； which would be produced by reducing their expenses for food to one half what it was before； is easier to be conceived than described。
It would hardly fail to re…animate the courage of the most desponding；to cheer their drooping spirits； and stimulate them to fresh exertions in the pursuits of useful industry。
As the only effectual means of putting an end to the sufferings of the Poor is the introduction of a spirit of industry among them； individuals should never lose sight of that great and important object； in all the measures they may adopt to relieve them。But in endeavouring to make the Poor industrious； the utmost caution will be necessary to prevent their being disgusted。Their minds are commonly in a state of great irritation； the natural consequences of their sufferings； and of their hopeless situation； and their suspicions of every body about them； and particularly of those who are set over them； are so deeply rooted that it is sometimes extremely difficult to sooth and calm the agitation of their minds； and gain their confidence。 This can be soonest and most effectually done by kind and gentle usage； and I am clearly of opinion that no other means should ever be used； except it be with such hardened and incorrigible wretches as are not to be reclaimed by any means； but of these； I believe； there are very few indeed。I have never yet found one； in all the course of my experience in taking care of the Poor。
We have sometimes been obliged to threaten the most idle and profligate with the house of correction； but these threats； added to the fear of being banished from the House of Industry； which has always been held up and considered as the greatest punishment； have commonly been sufficient for keeping the unruly in order。
If the force of example is irresistible in debauching men's minds； and leading them into profligate and vicious courses； it is not less so in reclaiming them； and rendering them orderly； docile； and industrious； and hence the infinite importance of collecting the Poor together in Public Establishments； where every thing about them is animated by unaffected cheerfulness； and by that pleasing gaiety； and air of content and satisfaction； which always enliven the busy scenes of useful industry。
I do not believe it would be possible for any person to be idle in the House of Industry at Munich。 I never saw any one idle； often as I have passed through the working…rooms； nor did I ever see any one to whom the employments of industry seemed to be painful or irksome。
Those who are collected together in the public rooms destined for the reception and accommodation of the Poor in the day…time； will not need to be forced； nor even urged to work；if there are in the room several persons who are busily employed in the cheerful occupations of industry； and if implements and materials for working are at hand； all the others present will not fail to be soon drawn into the vortex； and joining with alacrity in the active scene； their dislike to labour will be forgotten； and they will become by habit truly and permanently industrious。
Such is the irresistible power of example！Those who know how to manage this mighty engine and have opportunities of employing it with effect； may produce the most miraculous changes； in the manners； disposition； and character； even of whole nations。
In furnishing raw materials to the Poor to work； it will be necessary to use many precautions to prevent frauds and abuses； not only on the part of the Poor； who are often but too much disposed to cheat and deceive whenever they find opportunities； but also on the part of those employed in the details of this business：but the fullest information having already been given in my First Essay； of all the various precautions it had been found necessary to take for the purposes in question in the House of Industry at Munich； it is not necessary for me to enlarge upon the subject in this place； or to repeat what has already been said upon it elsewhere。
With regard to the manner in which good and wholesome food for feeding the Poor may be prepared in a public kitchen； at a cheap rate； I must refer my reader to my Essay on Food； where he will find all the information on that subject which he can require。 In my Essay on Clothing； he will see how good and comfortable clothing may be furnished to the Poor at a very moderate expence； and in that on the Management of Heat； he will find particular directions for the Poor for saving fuel。
I cannot finish this Essay； without taking notice of a difficulty which frequently occur in giving employment to the Poor； that of disposing to advantage of the produce of their labour：This is in all cases a very important object； and too much attention cannot be paid to it。A spirit of industry cannot be kept up by making it advantageous to individuals to be industrious； but where the wages which the labourer has a right to expect are refused； it will not be possible to prevent his being discouraged and disgusted。He may perhaps be forced for a certain time to work for small wages； to prevent starving； if he has not the resource of throwing himself upon the parish； which he most probably would prefer doing； should it be in his option； but he will infallibly conceive such a thorough dislike to labour； that he will become idle and vicious； and a permanent and heavy burden on the public。
If 〃a labourer is worthy of his hire；〃 he is peculiarly so； where that labourer is a poor person； who； with all his exertions； can barely procure the first necessaries of life； and whose hard lot renders him an object of pity and compassion。
The deplorable situation of a poor family； struggling with poverty and want；deprived of all the comforts and conveniences of lifedeprived even of hope； and suffering at the same time from hunger； disease； and mortifying and cruel disappointment； is seldom considered with that attention which it deserves； by those who have never felt these distresses； and who are not in danger of being exposed to them。 My reader must pardon me； if I frequently recall his attention to these scenes of misery and wretchedness。 He must be made acquainted with the real situation of the Poorwith the extent and magnitude of their misfortunes and sufferings； before it can be expected that he should enter warmly into measures calculated for their relief。 In forming Establishments； public or private； for giving employment to the Poor； it will always be indispensably necessary to make such arrangements as will secure to them a fair price for all the labour they perform。 They should not be OVER…PAID； for that would be opening a door for abuse；but they ought to be generously paid for their work； and； above all； they ought never to be allowed to be idle for the want of employment。 The kind of employment it may be proper to give them will depend much on local circumstances。 It will depend on the habits of the Poor； the kinds of work they are acquainted with；and the facility with which the articles they can manufacture may be disposed of at a good price。
In very extensive Establishments； there will be little difficulty in finding useful employment for the Poor； for where the number of persons to be employed is very great； a great variety of different manufactures may be carried on with advantage； and all the articles manufactured； or prepared to be employed in the manufactures； may be turned to a good account。
In a small Establishment； circumscribed and confined to the limits of a single village or parish； it might perhaps be difficult to find a good market for the yarn spun by the Poor； but in a general Establishment； extending over a whole country； or large city； as the quantity of yarn spun by all the Poor within the extensive limits of the institution will be sufficient to employ constantly a number of weavers of different kinds of c
