Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-02-22
rrsE DAYS OF FAMINE.


From Sweden, Finland, Northern and
Eastern Russia, Eastern Prussia, Tunis, and
Algeria. we have accounts of the people per-
ishipp for want of food. In some parts of
France and Spain the scarcity is also great.
In Tunis, so many are the deaths that buri-
ais are made in trenches, as after battle,
or during the height of Indignant pcsti-
fence. In the colder regions bark and buds
of trees, in the warmer, blossoms and tender
vegetation, are consumed for food. In Eng
land the destitution is greater than has been
known for many years. The London Star
says "Men aud women die in the streets
every day of starvation. One is afraid not
to relieve the professional beggar, knowing
that yesterday one who looked like him lay
down in his rags on the spot where you are
now solicited, aud died of sheer starvation
Whole districts are sinking into one vast,
squalid, awful condition OF helpless, hope
less destitution." This has more particular
application 10 the East End of London; but
the distress in many country places is ex-
trcmc. In what has been called years of
plenty, there have been thousands who al
ways received relief: and so small are the
wages of the laborer that after he has pass
ed his tiftieth year, or is incapable of labor,
the poorhousc is his only refuge. During
| the last six months there has been a con-
stant flow of poor laboring people from the
country into cities and towns. In London,
| 81 in one week, mostly of this class, were ar
rested, and all the money on their persons
was one penny. The women staggered with
exhaustion, aud some had no other clothing
than old sacks. One of the prisoners, man
81 years of age, who had been sentenced to
81 days in Jail as bcggar, died in few
hours of starvation, though he had been
giver piece of bread and some cruel.
Meanwhile, great anxiety is felt regarding
the wheat crop now in the ground. Last
year, before the harvest, the wheat had never
promised so bountifuly, and yet, to othe sur.
prise of every one, it was sadly deficient
now it is alleged that, through long cultiva-
ton, this grain has been struck with dis
ease analogous to the potatoc rot. This is o
fancitul fear, and would be scarcely worth
repeating did it not show how great is the
need for an abundant harvest, and how
much suffering would follow another veal
of disaster. Hitherto, America has been {
ncver-failing resource: but now, owing tc
our own difficulties, prices in New York arc
higher than in Liverpool. Not only Eng
lish statesmen, but intelligent men of every
class, are discussing the causes and the re
me6y of their deplorable condition. Various
reforms-somc of so radical character a
to call into question the laws of land tenure
and prim ogeniture-are proposed; but th'
plan most generally urged is u system o
education which shall give instruction to th
children of the laboring classes. Not one
half of the children have any instruction
and when young people are morried, onl.
about so per cent. can write their Eames.
In :he United States, suffering for want o
, food is by no means noticeable still, witt
the dearth of employment, and the higl
c price of provisions, there arc many throug
\ our whole country who do not know whic
r way to turn. Beggars push out for the prin
cipal Atlantic cities in swarms, and ask a
every house for bread. Some are in the re
gular profession; but often one sees amon
: them respectable men who, being out @
c work, know not what else to do. In til
Southern States plenty of grain was rails
: ed, but owing to the short cotton crop TO
g two years, or, we should say, for six years
and to general disorganization, so little mo
t ney is in circulation. that food cannot
= bought in sections where it is plentiful AM
= moved to those where it is deficient ; an,
c the poor whites and timorous freedmen arc
t in many cases, in want, though perhaps ac
.ual famine nowhere exists. We may saiel
predict that next year will witness dccid
! ed Improvement, for it cannot be that wit
: so much land capable of producing food, tn
people will neglect the means by which lif
: ls to be sustained Tribune