The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-28

We have for several years experienced
pretty hard times in this country. and many
families that formerly enjoyed aillucnce are
now suffering the trials Of actual poverty.
Everybody who has a wide acquaintance can
call To mind instances Of this sort, and some
of them of a very painful kind. Stocks
which ten years ago paid handsome divi-
dcnds. and were regarded as investments
which might safely be chosen by the mana
gers Of the funds Of widows and orphans.
now yield nothing TO their owners. The list
OF false trustees who have robbed the estates
they were selected to guard is very long.
and, unfortunately, few Of them are in State
prison.
The case with MS, however, is not worse
than it is in Great Britain. Indeed 1t is not
SO bad. Mr. ALsAGER HAY HILL. barrs-
ter, contributes to the Uniuersiy Magazine
Of London very suggestive article on
Middlc-Class Dcstitution" His purpose
l. to show that the area If pauperzation is
steadily enlarging in England and taking
in people hitherto not included in il. He
starts out 10y defining pauper as one who
owes his continued existence To the charity
OF others; and he finds that there are many
paupcrs in what is known AS the middle
class Of England, that is, the people who
rank between the nobility at the top and the
workingmcn at the bottom. We have no such
social distinction in this republic. though
there are snohs who would like to make II.
Nearly everybody here works for his living,
and whereas IN London the fashionable clubs
are full Of luafcrs in the daytime, in New
York they are almost empty until nightfall.
Nj AsTOR keeps as busy as the masOns who
put up his houses, and Mr.. MOSES TAYLOR is
50 closely occupied that he cannot save time
to leave the island for recreation. Both of
these milionaircs would be likely TO feel dis
grlccd If they were seen promcnadng the
Firth avenue at high noon, and they could
not be induced TO Join the little throng Of
luaicrs who stare at ladies from club win
dows in the day time. They have more
serious work TO do, and it is well for us that
they are not idle
one Of the facts presented by Mr. HILL in
his very interesting article Is quito signli-
can't Examining the census returns Of the
United Kingdom he finds that Of the total
population as given III 1871, 81 ,Sj733S per-
sons, the professional class numbered
l,76s, 800, and the commercial was about
100000, These figures would seem to indi-
!
pie Of England undertake TO make their
! living by professional pursuits. Though we
have not the figures at hand, we fear that
there is the Same dspropOrtion here. our
medical colleges, Theological Summaries, and
law schools are yearly turning out gradu-
atcs in such great numbers that the rank
81 the so-called learned professions must be
more than filled. The bishops Of the Method
list Church report that they have far moro
applicants Tor places in its ministry than
they have need Of, and our supply Of physi-
caus aud lawyers seems to exceed the de-
uanl
MI. Hull refers to the fact that thousands
OF applicants, from generals to paymastcgs,
/ tuuus the committee rooms Of London
club,, seeking ,ccretarysIip4 at Sl.2jO u
yct.; and everybody In Now York who ha,
had experience in advertising for clerk of
any sort whatsoever knows that there are
hundreds Of men in this city, of good cduca-
ton AMI OF mature years, who are ready and
''b'i To take subordinate posts which earn
very small salaries. Tho rush for civil
olilc's under the Government for commits
9'o"s III eho army, and for places in the
ohu'eh w''ieh arc thought to be both easy