Connecticut western news., 1882-05-03
THE ENGLISH FARM LABORER.
BY CAPTAIN MAINE REID.
From the New York Tribune

From the New York Tribune]
 On the lowest round of England's social ladder-if indeed on it at all -is the Farm Laborer. Politically, as so- cially, he has no stains whatever; neither any in an economic sense, his pay being the least in tho land, and barely enough to keep body and soul together. Yet is he often a manly, noble fellow, morally and Intellectually the equal of those who employ him aye, often their su- perior. Between him and them there is little or no difference in breed or blood only the accident of some money on one side with none at all on the other. But the education, refinement and manners which the possession of means might be supposed to bestow are not marked characteristics of those who in the social scale stand immediately above the farm laborer, while in prac- tlcai and useful knowledge he is more than on par with them. Money he has none; nor Is he ever likely to have it. Out of twelve shiilings week, or scant three dollars-his wages in most parts of the country-laying by as much as single sixpence would be 8 problem to puzzle 8 miser. For be it under stood that they are 'board wages," out of which he must maintain himself and family, feed, clothe and keep roof over their heads, besides paying rates and taxes. The poorest proletarian and humblest householder in England is not beneath the notice of tho tax gatherer, nor exempt from his periodi- cal visitations. In giving twelve shil- lings as the weekly wages of a farm laborer, I put it at it's maximum in most parts of the country for in most places is he only too glad to get this. and thinks himself among the favored ones If he can secure contract for it throughout the whole year. Unless g first-rate hand, that he is not always able to do; and in many districts ter shillings or even nine is a common scale of payment where it is permanent les. still If he be aged, or otherwi not Il, to his work.
 Considering that beef is rarely unde1 20 cents pound, mutton about tn same, and other sorts of fresh meat stil dearer that bacon of good quality i Is cents, and four usually over g. tn bushel; that his cottage of two or thre rooms stands him in rent $2O to $25 pc annum, it needs little arithmetic to fig ure up the amount of llfe's luxury DOS slble to his position. Enough of life misery Is there in it, however, and nor than enough, for the worst is not ye told. There may be days of ruin, an are-not unfrequently a week of it. when hls wages cease, and want enter ms cottage. Or he may be laid up wit sickness, heightened spell; then tn want comes nearer to what might b called famine "a diet of bare bread an water, even in stinted allowances 2 that Such cases are by no means rare In my own neighbor,hood, comparative ly prosperous one, hear of them a most every day, and too well know the, to exist. Yet this is the merry, happ England of Chauvinistic newspape writers and bragging orators-men wh know as much about the reality of he rural life as they do of that in the moor or, knowing, falsely represent. To ther the condition of farm or other labor, is of slight concern, and little care the whether he be merry or sad.
 The labor he gives in return for u above petty wages is great out of a proportion. His regular hours of wol are from a. m. till 6 p. m., half ho, being allowed him for breakfast and whole one for dinner. Unless his co tage chance to be close at hand he do, not go home for either meal, the tin