The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-20

4
Communication is effected BY staircases apc
balconies. Each siory Is provided with
fountains Of pure water in great abundance
Every arrangement is made to secure neat
mean, purity, and convenience. The in
hab'tants Of the & Familistere" has bis ser
wants, like the rich man. Fifty five person,
are constantly employed to keep the build
lngs IN order and every day The courts
the STAIR cases, the balconies, and all tbf
aPartnssts, whether for enjoyment or utility
are swept and clsaued BY them. The salsrie,
OF these persons are paid by the general
administration. When the workman and
his wife returns from their labors thew find
large kitchens at their service, from which
they can procure food, procured BY expert.
enced cooks, at prices as low as if they had
cooked themselves. Wine, beer, and cider
are always fresh. Every desirable article
Of food IL found in the common storebonse
and Of the best quality. Each dav tbe
physician takes, at the bureau, the names
q the sick. Extensive bathing privileges
are accessible to all, when portable baths are
sent to the invalids. ParIOrs, lecture-roOms
Play-rooms, and library are at the public
disposal. Gardens, bowers, walks, and the
tranquil waters of the Ouse surround the
buildings, and furnish the tenants with walk
ing, fishing, and boating; while whoever
wishes can cultivate some chosen Mat Of
ground.
The feature Of the g Familistere. . that
has recommended it chiefly to its inhabitants
is the training and education It furnishes
gratis for their children. Cribs are 40 ar
ranged so as to be accessible night ard day
to the mothers, and good nurses are provid-
ed for their !, when the mothers find Il
necessary to ave them. AT six wears AZ
age the child is expected to know how to
spell, to count hundred, to add on the
counting frame, and to draw upon the slate.
He then passes into the second class. where
he learns to read and cipher, but at intervals
be returns to the former stage to take part
in the preliminary exercises. The use Of
corporal punishment is supplanted By the re-
creations. the degree, the rewards, distinc-
tons and compliments, and the publicity of
these testimonials. Honorable distinctions
ars awarded upon the principle of noting the
assiduity and progress of each week, not the
degree Of knowledge acquired. The crown
Of 6rt merit can even fall upon the feeblest
Of the class. Every day the children are
seen, with their little spades and rakes, ar
ranging the garden paths, and keeping every
thing neat around the buildings, one Of their
own number preserving order. The gar
dens have never yet paid their expenses /;
but the assistance of capable man inspired
with the same sentiment as the founder.
would give strong impulse to horticultural
industry.
Two councils, composed Of II members
each, suPerintend the FqmiIistere. Both
are elected BY secret ballot, one from among
the men, the other from the women. Every
person of 15 years of age is entitled to vote
and is also eligible for Office, The council
Of men is particularly occupied With orpaniz-
ing insurance institutions, with questions Of
cooperation, and the distribution Of the
funds, which are often examined and dis
cussed in open conference. 1t sustains or
der, prepares the festivals, gives its opinion
upon works in progress, takes cognizance Of
the various services and their results. and
decides upon the employment ef the profits
realized. The council Of women occupies
itself more particularly with all that relates
to domestic affairs-cleanliness, ventilation,
the quality of the provisions, the care and
education of the children, in short, every-
thing that concerns internal order and tran
quilitys
Such IS the moral side Of the " Familis-
tere." It's material side we have vet 10 con-
sider. In April, 1858, the foundations Of
this "palace for the people" were laid. In
1861, 800 persons lodged there; the second
part Of the establishment being began in
1852 and occupied in 1865. The buildings
are elegant and solid carefully constructed
in every detail, and have returned a fair
rate OF interest on the capital invested. The
land (about 16 acres) cost GO, 900 francs
81, ,OOO-and the buildings and property
connected, fixtures, &c, $4,000. The
total rent received is So ,936, or A per
cent. All the suites of rooms are equally
commodious, but differ in price according to
the height Of the story. Each chamber is
provided with press in the wall or
bureau. The walls are we'll plastered with
gray-colored lime. The ground floor is
rented at little less than three cents a
square yard, the first story at three cents,
the second the same as the ground floor,
and the third at two and half icents., a
fifth Of the rent is added to the cost Of every
square yard for those outside apartments
which overlook the country. The buildings
themselves rent for 1867 the rest is for or
chards and gardens This low rent was
determined by the prices of the wretched
bowels in which the laborers previously
lived, which ranged from 81 to - per
month.