The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-10-09
Aational gepnblitau.
A Pleasant Place on the Swiss Bor.
der - How Workpeople are
made Happy.


ION the Boulevards," by W. Blanchard
Jerrold, contains the following fresh in
teresting information concerning the char
tiles Of Mulhausen, the great manufactur-
ing town on the borders OF Switzerland;
with M. Jean Dollfus for its leading bene-
factor The following passages tell how
married factory women, as we'll as other
needy folk, are cared for:
EVERY factory woman is allowed, by NJ.
Dollfuss system, her full wages during six
weeks after her confinement, dating from
fifteen days after her laying-in. The only
condition imposed upon them is that they
shall remain at home to regain their
strength and attend to their infant. M.
Dollfus saw that the poor women we're so
anxious to get back to the factory that
they could not be persuaded to wait until
they had regained their strength. The conse-
quence was that their health was destroyed
and their infant was neglected. The in.
FAINT mortality was alarmingly great. The
Dollfus plan has proved SO successful-its
economy being as clear as its humanity
that an association has been lately formed
among the Mulhausen manufacturers for
securing in common the comfort and
health Of their female operatives after
childbirth. This association secures to
them medical attendance, and gives the
mother her full wages while she remains
at home sucking her offspring. NJ DOLL
fus, in Justly liberal spirit, extends his
plan to unmarried mothers-holding that
the child has paramount claim. This
is no encouragement to immortality, be it
observed. There is no gain to the mother;
her child is left to be kept by her. Only
the child is benefited by the opportunity
given to the mother Of giving it motherly
attention on its first appearance in the
world. On the other hand, strong induce
ments ore held out to the young hands t
legitlmatize their union. NJ. Bourcart, fol
instance, gives to every factory girl who
has worked FIVE years in his factory thu
sum of one hundred francs on her mar
riage.
French manufacturers, indeed, and es
pecially Of the district Immediately under
notice, closely tax their ingenuity to helr
their operatives, without degrading then
by destroying their independence or in
dividual energy. They have devised many
plans which have failed, and have candidly
acknowledged their failure, and have prof
tied by their experience. Some Of them
specially retain the service Of doctor fol
all their hands. Dollfus, Meg d Co. pay
1000 francs q year for factory doctor
and keep carriage for him to make the
round OF his patients. In another factory
old hands are cared for thoroughly in sick
ness, and receive half their wages. In NJ
Bourcart's establishment any workman
who is injured at his work receives medi
cal attendance at the cost of the firm, ant
is paid full wages throughout his illness
In one establishment there is daily din
ner Of twelve couvertS for convalescent
workmen. The varieties of kindly helE
are almost infinite. There is one factory
where the employers reward their young
workmen Of good conduct by paying theii
exemption from military service.
"Men of enlightened charity, like these
Mulhausen manufacturers, were sure t
have charitable wives and daughters
Madame Nicolas Koechlin established al
orderly system Of visiting the poor through
out the city. The city was regularly di
vided into six divisions. For each division
there is separate visiting society ofladies
with doctor and sister deaconess, VIII
superintends the pharmacy. The object {
these visiting societies is to help thos
who are on the point Of falling The oil
ject is to prevent families who are
trouble from falling into chronic state {
mendicancy. This is done by domiciliar
visits paid by the ladies Of the auvre, VIII
make a report to the committee on eac
case. The six visiting societies Of Mulha,
sen spend thousand year on their poo
but they do more than this. Each visito
takes one or two families under her supe
intendence, and gives the comforts {
kindness and advice, as we'll as food an
money. Be it said, 70 the honor Of th
rich folks Of Mulhausen, who are all, G
nearly all, Protestants, that they distribut
their charity in no narrow sectarian spiri
Indeed, did they not give to all, withou
distinction of creed, their charity woul
be very restricted, since three-fourths G
the working population are Roman Catt
Ollie"
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