The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-12-12 00:00:00

THE LABOITRER AND HIS COTTAGE.

The first meeting of the winter session of the
3felplaish Farmers' Club took place on Wednesday at the
Greyhound hotel, Brid port, T. Golfox, Esq., the
Mayor of Bridport, presided, J. Pope, Esq., occupied
the vice-chair, and there were alio present: W. Colitis,
Fag.. N. hi. Leggin, Esq., hon. secretary, Mr. W.
Elswood, Mr. Hussey (Bradpole), Mr. A. J. l'itfield,
Mr. G. rancid, Mr. W. Way, jun., Mr. A. Banister,
Mr. Hussty (Denhay), Mr. Hussey (Belshay), Mr.
Lenthall, Ben., ,Mr. Lenthall, jun., Mr. Bishop, Mr.
Salisbury, Mr. It. Tucker, Mr. W. Elliott, Mr. Clent,
Mr. S. Tucker, &0., &c.

The PRESIDENT briefly introduced Mr. H. N. Cox,
who read the following able paper on; the subject indi-
cated at the head of this article :

Whenl, last year, promised to introduce this subject,
I had no idea that oiroumstances would have arisen be
render it so peculiarly interesting as it is at this time, '
and I confess that bad I foreseen the passing of the
Union Chargeability Act, which has so much to do with
the labourers home, and, moreover, that, owing ton de-
cision of the Wimborne Bench of Magistrates, the
oondition of the Dorset labourer has been one of the
chief topics of the London press, I would not have
selected it, as I have no doubt that in speaking my
mind freely on the subject of cottages and wages, I
shall say that which will be annoying to some gentle.
men present, although my sentiments will be endorsed
by others; but as we ace met for discussion and mutual
improvement, I ask you, at once, not to permit the
difference of opinion to mar our friendship, and if on
this one matter, I might say something distasteful to a
few, I trust my open confession will `not in any way
disturb the kindly feelings which se have borne towards
each other now nearly 20 years that I have attended the
meetings of this society. I am happy indeed that the
intelligent members of the Melplaish Farmers' Club
meet so closely after the publioation of the sarcastic
oensnise of the. Daily Telegraph and other papers, in
order that they may, if po-sihle, show, through the
Medium of the preen, that the Dorset labourer is not
Use ill-paid, ill-fed man they describe him, and that
although instances of bad homes do wear they may be
the exception B.nd not the rule.

TB i LABOU SER.

I will first speak of the labourer, and I feel proud to
say, that, throughout the world, no class of labourers can
be found equal to the English—but there are such a
variety of labourers. But I will now only allude to the
agricultural. And let us remember that these men Sr.
people of like passions, feeling, and matter with our-
selves, brethren descended from one common stock, and
differing from us only in the eocial scale which places
sts grade above grade higher in human estimation. A
wise Providence has ordained that there should be
"hewer. of wood and drawers of water," in every com-
munity, and that "The poor should ever be infour land ; '
,but poor though they be, they eon feel gratitude for
lgood treatment and disgust for evil, and I believe that
Ino clam of men in England are so much neglected by all
lother classes above them as the agricultural labourer.
"he mechanic considers biro far beneath his notice--
441ns of every grade consider they are a degree
;in the social scale, and ant in accordance with
notion. But why should it be thus? The hard-
-v farm labourer is not really beneath the village
r or blacksmith, excepting in the method of
6, and this leads me to the first subject I shall
on you to discuss, namely the education of your
--- Within the past fortnight this district has
_ A with such terrific gales that many of you
trembled lest the rain should follow and ptfnetrate
corn stacks, which had been deprived of their
' roofs. There„waa „work enough in every
o be done at once, which would occupy your
. a fortnight, for you very well know that few
, have • labourer who can do any thatching, and
y a whole parish depends on the single pair of
.4 a man eminently noted for his love of "a lettle
.0 o' drink," and wanting it, too, just at the busiest
item, Why has not every farmer his own thatcher?
Iris nothing so difficult in the art but that it may be
../..learnt, but 'tis not every one who likes to find reed
vipers with which a novice might practise, and they
"!,on the district thatcher. Again, bow useful on
is a man who hasa knowledge of rough carpentry,
, many pounds a year might he save a master,
f n may say it is very well to talk of the utility of
fow
Men, but how are we to get them? Why I you
.61 with the young children, you must educate
.. But you may say "what have reading, writing
arithemetict to do with thatching, carpentry, hoeing,
shing,'and the host of other things on the farm."
A they have very little to do with them, but every'
-should learn them, and whilst be is obtaining •
- - • of these be should likewise study the various
' labour, as well. Your vlllagn schools are
.at they should be, but we are going on, on,
-towards what I propose, we shall have them, is
and that is
INDUESTIr
A philanthropic lady of Bridport, whose name will
lye for ages, though she now sleeps with the departed,
me years since established an Industrial sehool for
's in that town. Now these girls are taught all the
• of the house—cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing,
• and a host of etceteras besides a good English
t. At fifteen or sixteen they are fitted for a
as house servant, and many people have
N establishment, what is now'
__ . domestic servant. Now we
similar Monti...me in country villages, for
• of both sexes, and I am happy to say there are
-.-t•A already, vls., at Henley-on-Thames,
.. • -
in Herefordshire,
___-- I esenot find time I
t schools are worked, but I i
IL of the Bath and VVest ,f!
__...., where, in a paper written by
the schools are fully described. It
entletnen,_to teach children to be
' good Christians, but you must
; more, how to be Rood and expert
_ 18811 to do their duty in the sphere
4 they may hereafter be placed.
()OTTAWA , , , ' , ;,•• 4.• •
I emit relactently lea,-
-
mellow
farms

SCHOOLS.