Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-05-06
LABoRiNG CLASS IN EUROPE.

LABORlNG CLASS IN EUROPE.
The following interesting article from
the North American Review for October,
gives a glowing description of the labor
ing classes in Europe in regard to the
rate of the burthen of taxation, the
means of subsistence the facilities of ed
ucation, and the share, if any, which
these classes have in the government.
1t ought to inspire every citizen of this
free and happy republic to guard with
constant vigilance against any encroach-
ments on the institutions which guaran-
tee the blessings which our brethren
beyond the seas are destitute Of.
In NorwDy the ordinary food of the
peasantry is bread and Cruel, both pre-
pared of oatmeal, with an occasional
mixture Of dried fish. Meat is luxury
which they rarely enjoy.
In Saoeden the dress of the peasantry
is prescribed by law, and is bought and
sold together with the land on which
they labor.
In Russia the bondage of the peasan-
try is even more complete than it is in
Denmark. The mobiles own all the land
in the empire, and the peasantry who re-
side upon it are transferred with the es-
tate.
A great majority have only cottages,
one portion of which is occupied by the
family, while the other is appropriated
to domestic animals. Few, ifany, have
beds-but sleep upon bare boards, or up
on parts Of the immense stoves by which
their houses are warmed. Their food
consists of black bread, cabbage and 9TH
er Vegetables, without the addition of any
butter.
lnPolandthe mobiles are the proprietors
of the land and the peasants are slaves.
A recent traveller says, 81 have trav-
elled in every direction and never saw
a wheaton loaf to the eastward of the
Rhine, in any part Of Northern Germa-
ny, Poland or Denmark" The common
food Of the peasantry of Poland, "the
working men," is cabbage and potatoes,
sometimes, but generally, peak, black
bread and soup, or rather guel without
the addition of butter or meat.
In Austria the mobiles are the propri-
etors of the land, and the peasants are
compelled TO work for their masters du-
ring every day except Sunday. The
cultivators of the soil are in state of
bondage.
In Hungary their state is if possible
still worse. The mobiles own the land,
do not work, and pay no taxes. The la
boring classes are Obliged to rePair all,
the highways aRdgbfidges, are liable at
an fines 70 have soldiers quartered upon
them, and are compelled to pay one
tenth of the produce of their labor to
the church, and one ninth to the lord
whose land they occupy.
OF the people Of France, seven and
half millions do not eat wheat or wheat
en- bread. They live upon barley rye,
buckwheat, chesnuts and a few potatoes.
The common wages OF hired labor
er in France, is $3I oU 1or man, ana
$ls rs for a woman, annually. The tax
es upon them are equal to one fifth Of its
nett product.
In 1871, there were 100000 houses in
Ireland. Ofthese 10000 were occu-
pied by paupers land more than 500,
600 had no hearth. The average wa
ges Of laborer is from nine and half,
to eleven cents day,
Among the laboring classes Of the in
dustrious Scotch, meat, except on Sun
days is rarely used.
In England the price oflabor varies
the Nottingham stocking weavers,as sta
led BY them in a public address, after
working from fourteen to sixteen hours
d day, only earn from four to five shil-
|lings a week, and were obliged to sub.
sist on bread and water, or potatoes and