The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-11

AGRICULTURAL LABoRERS IN ENGLAND.-1he COM
mssioners appointed to investigate the condition OF
agricultural aborers in England have made reports,
which give some idea of the rural districts. Much OF
the lighter work is done by women and boys. In the
noble county of Warwickshire women get from six
pence to tenpence day, and the Irishwomen are
said to be very efficient laborers. Boys get from
shilling and siXpence to three shilings week. With
board, boys wages begin at thirty shillings-seven
dollars and half in gold-a year. The cottages are
mserably unhealthy and demoralizing. In Worces-
tershire laborers get small wages-nine shings to
thirteen shilhngs week-and are only found in
cider, OF which they drink from two to six quarts
day. Nearly all the men are drunken, and men drunk
on cider generally abuse their wives The cider also
said to be OF the prevailing rheumatism. In
siXty-three parishes in Stafordshire twenty-five
per cent. of the cottages had only one bedroom,
land nine per cent. contained family with three
children, or more, living in that one bedroom" In
Shropshire the cottages are described as Infamous.
TumbedOwn and runous, not Water-tight, very de-
hcient in bedroom accommodation and in decent
sanitary arrangements. On some estates the labor
ers herd in the open villages; while on many others
cottages to be found belonging to the owner Of
the SOIL which are disgrace to any civilized coun-
try. With regard to education, it is reported that
large numbers Of children who need instruction are
left without it, partly it may be, from lack OF school
accommodation, but still more from lack OF proper
interest on the part OF the parents. The condition
vi peaSantIy, Ill no part very
plorably low In the hill country OF the southwest
Wages are low, the hours of labor are long, agree
ments between employers and laborers are uncer-
tain, and the system OF privileges and OF part pay
ment in beer and cider prevails. And there, writes
correspondent, the rich central counties or Eng
land where the country is one great garden of
beauty and the land pays immense revenues TO its
lordly proprietors The following paragraph from
recent number OF the London Times shows how some
OF the people OF Devonshire live:-
'The head OF the family is an old man, and he is
the owner OF thirty OF land On this property
he has no house. but In barn, without windows or
DOORS he his wife, his son, three daughters, unmar
red and a numerous progeny reside. Tnere Is
scarcely vestige of furniture in this dapidated
building and the manner In which those people live
ts OF the rudes coarsest, and even saVage-ke char
acter pit dug In the centre OF the barn serves for
the dormitory in which the members OF the family
sleep, with the exception OF TWO OF tnem These
two are daughter and her FRIEND ana they sleep in
hayTick in an adjacent field To the clergymen OF
the parish the neghbOrs they behave IN the most
shameful manner. They sing obscene songs Wnen
| the reverend gentleman passes; tney perform the
most disgusting and nameless acts when ne Is In the
company OF ladies': and those who are obnoxious TO
them they pelt with stones and muu as they go by
| their wretched domicile In the summer they may
be seen in the fields at work almost III state OF
nudity. Depredations in the neighborhood are ire-
quent. Gates and gate posts, and other objects OF
utility, often disappear, and threats oil violence are
| common. We may add that members OF the FAMILY
have been several times convicted or onenses And
vet these people continue their savage habits 10 the
annoyance and disgust of their nelghb0rs treating
the Temonstrances of the clergyman with m0okery,
rbadry and obscenity, and setting the rules of civil
| lized life at defiance"
Thomas Brand of Efiingham H.. put some
powder in his stove 70 blow the SCOT out Of the
| pipe. Since then he has been bGud