The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-14 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN CENSUS.

The following letter has been addressed to the editor of the
New York Tribune :

Sir,—The papers have had much to say of late con-
cerning the census, and the difficulties and trials of the
census-taker, which arise from the ignorance and ob-
stinacy of people who will not be counted ; and we
have, on the other hand, been told of terrible plots and
conspiracies to overcount the inhabitants of the
counties of the metropolitan district with direful
political intent. But the trials of myself and family
are of a different nature. In fact, we all complain of
being overlooked and neglected. Think how small it
must make one feel to hear on all sides of the inquiries
of the inquisitive enumerator and then to be passed
over as though one's own age and circumstances,
height, and the colour of his eyes and hair are of no
account whatever in a State's statistics. But my
case is even worse. Here am I to-day, forty-six years
of age—if I can trust the family record—and yet to
the best of my knowledge and belief I have never yet
been counted. Forty-six years gone and not counted
yet! Census after census has rolled over my head;
counter after counter has gone by ; statistics have been
piled upon statistics, and yet I have never so much as
served to swell the grand sum total of information.
What shall I do about it? Am I to go down to the dark
and lonesome tomb without the poor consolation of
having ever counted one in the great mass of humanity?
My innocent wife and tender children, are they, too,
to be ignored? Is their existence to count for nothing?
For, sir, my wife and I have-obeyed the Bible precept,
and Heaven has blessed our humble efforts, so that we
have increased and multiplied, and done our share in
replenishing the earth. Oh! why is it that I have
never been classified as an infant, or under ten, or as a
student, or a single man, or as married, or as a lawyer,
or a teacher, or a broker, or independent, or as an
insurance agent, or as a real estate broker, or as a
cultivator of the soil? To all these divisions of
humanity have I belonged. Is it right or just that an
individual who is so numerous should never have been
enumerated?

One consolation only is left to ns, and that is the
great one of companionship in misery. Many of our
neighbours are in the same uncounted condition. I

have seen the statement that the census of our island
has been completed, and here are a number of most
worthy persons willing and anxious to increase the
figures of the census, yet living this hapless life,
"remote, tuafriended, melancholy, slow, uncounted
men ! "
We know, sir, that you have not too much love for
our island, that you look askance upon our ferries, and
still entertain erroneous opinions upon the subject of
malaria and mosquitoes, things unknown to a true
Staten Islander; yet, sir, I beg of you to take pity
upon our unhappy condition. Look upon us from the
Tribune tower, turn in this direction a discriminating
glance; discern the cause and tell us why we alone of
all the State are left to die—uncounted. And, sir, that
the children to the third and fourth generation may
rise up and call you blessed shall be the prayer of
AN UNENUMERATED MAN.
New Brighton, 8. 1., July 19, 1875.