Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-02-12

both food and fuel, The rags are sold to shops
adjacent, for two cents pound foI cotton ana In
en-, and something less for wooden, suitable Tor
carpets.
The bones are sold for thirty cents bushel, af-
ter having been well scraped and boiled to secure
the nutritious portions for food. The bones from
the gutter, after being washed, suffice to provide
for necessities the family proper, including the
canine depend ncies. The food and fuel thus
cured are the emoluments received, over
and above the income from bones and rags, and
are incidental to the main purpose. Tie process
rendered necessary by the transaction of business
so various-all conducted in the apartment used as
kitchen, bed room, sitting, and store room, lin
parts peculiar odor to the atmosphere discernlble
at some distance Itcan easily be imagined that the
unceanly mode of living thus described with un
suitable food and contracted and i'll ventilated ap-
artments are not promotve ofhealth. The chol-
era accordingly, in past years, made fearful hav-
&C among these people.
Notwithstanding the extreme degradation of the
German rag pickers, they appear happy, and ex-
hibit no signs of discomfort. With many, the
Western states is the promised land, and every eff
fort is made to accumulate sufficient funds to en-
able them to emigrate. A colony of three hun
dred persons is mentioned, which occupied single
basement last year. living promiscuously together
with common bone heap, to which all contributed
and from which was derived a portion of their
sustenance. Though seeming to be in utter des-
titution, they all started for the West, last
Spring, to settle on farms.
: Snowstorms are among the worst calamties thai
can befal the rag picker as his means of livelihood
are placed beyond his reach In such emergencies
the girls turn out en- masse to sweep the street
crossings, asking each passenger for "a penny, and
three four shillings per day are often thus real
lied, per head. A mild winter like the present
is blessing they can easily appreciate.
The youth, both males and females, are marked
by an unnatural precocity, resulting partly from
the early age at which they are compelled to as
: sist in gaining livelihood and partly from the
E addictedness to vice. Though young in years
many of them are adopts in vice. Destitutior
gives temptation an unwanted power, and they
early learn to yield to it.
1t is gratifying to know that some benevolen
and philanthropic individuals are interesting them
selves in behalf of this wretched and long neglect
ed population. A mission, established by the MERGE
] street Presbyterian Church, has been for som
time in operation in Avenue d, and other plan
/ are foot having in view the intellectual an,
moral benefit ofthese people, and others like them
Among other things, Sabbath school for bow
n has been established, at which from 100 to eos
0 boys have been in attendance Judge Maso
n superintends it personally, and there is much i
n the enterprise, of an encouraging nature
Capt. Squires is one of the few police officer
e who have interested themselves in movements {
: this kind, though their peculiar duties eminent
It qualify them in many respects, to co operate i
e missionary efforts. 1t is contemplated t
: established kind of work house. in which boy
may be kept from deness and healthful instruc
II ton and discipline be administers d. Journal
e Commerce.