New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-24
THE WORING CLASSES or GENOA.

PERHAPS one of the best organized associations of
the working classes in Genoa ia that in the Sada Mad
deleIa called the Mutual Aid Association. About
5000 members are now inscribed on the list; these
constitute the general assembly, which holds weekly
sttings to deliberate on the wants OF the working
classes the condition and ameOration of the differ
ent trades and the advancement of education. Be-
side these ordinary sittings, any ten members can
couvoke a special sitting for any special object.
Each year the council, composed of president vice.
president, and five councillors, is selected by uni
versal suffrage from the general assembly, and Is
charged with the execution of its deliberations.
Women are admitted a. members equal terms
with the men, and are eligible to I'LL any of the
Offices. Members on entering pledge them,
selves TO obey the rules, and 10 lead the life of
industrious and good citizens, to abstain from intem-
perauce dsurdeIly conduct, and from gambling espe-
cialy in the royal lottery The minimum contribution
is d. per week which sum may be doubled by the as
semby From this contribution are exempted all vol
urteers who NAV Join OF independence on behalf
of any oppressed nation, also members laid aside by
illness that does not proceed from drunkenness or other
vices These latter receive not hess than hai franc
for each day that they are disabled from working and
this SUN may be increased 10 two francs according TO
the necessities Of the individual and the funds of the
association.
In case Of any dangerous Illness, the Council ap-
poipts one or more Of the members to assist By turns IN
The care Of the invalid. Members too old for labor,
orphans under fourteen years of age, and widows who
are themselves or whose husbands have been men-
bers for more than year are also entted TO such aid
as they need aud the funds allow Of The spirit of the
Association may be judged Of from the following eX-
tracts from the RtgofdmeBt0:
"AgrIcLE Th. association oIn.ed In the want unyer
sally felt by the working classes Of Intercourse among them
selves and relations with their towo This
solidarity and communion Of the people involved in the preceP
Thou . love thy neghbor myself forms the fundamental
principle Of the association.
Ar The special Object Of the association 70 promote
the the moral aud the material we'll being q
the working by Of mutual aid order that
NAV contribute efficiently ovEd the liberty and cation
their country and through their own country to e,he
nations. &c"
And as far as can yet judge, the members true
10 their programme. Social and material progress il
regarded by them rather meansto an end than in
itself the goal. In the house belonging to the society
are evening schools for tine operatives they are taught
reading writing, arithmetic, history, geography, and
music II was the writing hour when ! visited them
and was much amused to tiny urchins just clear
Of pothooks and hangers scrswlng text hand, Italy
is our country" Until Italy is free we are slaves,
&C. put the question to several Of them, But how
can Italy become freel' 1--WE, her children, mus
fight for her was the substance of all the answers
given as readily a. form OF British school children
would have replied 10 questions in the multiplication
table. Genoa Letter in the London Daily News.