The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-14
THE ENGLISH FARM LABoRER.
nj. Mavne Reid. in n. Y. Tribune,

social IaddeF-If indeed on 1t at all
the farm laborer. Politically, as socia
| ", he has no status whatever neitht
any IN an economic sense, his pay bein
the least in the land, and barely enoug
to keep body and soul together. Ye
he is often manly, noble fellow, MOI
ally and Intellectually the equal of thos
who employ him aye, often their sup,
rior. Between him and them there
little or no difference in breed or blood
only the accident of some money on on
side with none at all on the other. Blu
the education, refinement and manner
which the possession of means might b
supposed to bestow are not marke,
characteristics of those who in the Sc
cial scale stand Immediately above tn
farm laborer; while in practical ant
useful knowledge he is more than on
par with them. Money he has none
nor is he ever likely to have it. Gu
of II shillings week, or scant s3-hi
wages in mosh parts of the country
laying by as much as a single sixpenct
| would be a problem to puzzle a miser
For be it understood that they art
"board wages" out of which he mus
maintain himself and family, feed
clothe and keep roof over their heads
besides paying rates and taxes. The
poorest proletarian and humblest house,
holder in England is not beneath the
notice of the tax-gatherer, nor exempt
from his periodical visitations. In Civ
ing II shillings as the weekly wage of a
farm laborer, / put it at its maximum
in most parts of the country; for in
most places is he only too glad to get
this, and thinks himself among the fa-
vored ones if he can secure contract for
it throughout the whole year. Unless
a frst-rate hand, that he is not always
able to do; and in many districts 10
shillings or even 8 is common scale of
payment where it is permanent; less
still if he be aged, or otherwise not up
to his work. Considering that beef is
rarely under 20 cents a pound, mutton
about the same, and other sorts of fresh
meats still dearer; that bacon of good
quality is Is cents, and -four usually
about 50 the bushel; that his cottage
of two or three rooms stands him in rent
$40 to $25 per annum, it needs little
arithmetic to figure up. the amount of
life's luxury possible to his position.
Enough of life's misery is there in it,
however, and more than enough, for the
worst is not yet told. There may be
days of rain, and are-not unfrequent-
ly week of it-when his wages cease
and want enters his cottage. Or he may
be laid up with sickness, a heightened
spell; then the want comes nearer to
what might be called famine-a diet of
bare bread and water, even in stinted
allowance at that Such cases are by
no means rare. In my own neighbor-
hood, comparatively prosperous one,
l hear of them almost every day, and
too well know them to exist. Yet this
is the merry, happy England cf Chau
whistle newspaper writer's and brag-
ging orators-men who know as much
about the reality of her rural life as
they do of that in the moon, or, know
ing, falsely represent. To them the
condition of farm or other laborer is of
whether he be merry or sad.
The labor he gives in return for the
above petty wages is great out of all
proportion. His regular hours of work
are from 6 a. m. to 6 p. M, a halfhour
being allowed him for breakfast, and a
whole one for dinner. Unless his cot
tage chance to be close at hand, he does
not go home for either meal. the time
not permitting it. They are brought
with him in his little bag or ''pail, and
eaten by the ditch-side even in winter
or, if working about the farmstead, the
repast will be made in the cart-shed,
barn, or other out-building. As to his
sitting down to spread table inside the
farmers house, even the kitchen of it,
that is an occurrence of the rarest, and
eating at the farmers own table thing
unknown to him. Poor is
the fare he slbsists on-the very COM
monest and cheapest to be procured at
best, only bread and boiled bacon, cold,
Of course. He deems himself well off
with this, and cannot always get it, hav-
ing to fall back upon a s'bloater" (salt
herring), eaten cold, too; but of all the
food commodities purchasable by him,
cheese is his chief staple and standby.
It goes farther for the amount of money
expended, and many farm laborer,
both for breakfast and dinner, has
naught to kitchen" his bread with.
Tea he can only get on his return home
after his task is done, and Of this be is
fond, for, Notwithstanding the tax on
t, it is possibly the most economical
ind certainly the most luxurious of his
meals.
True, In addition to his wages, he has
! daily allowance of beer, or in the ap.
shires Of cider. But this
counts for nothing in the way Of econo-
ny, and it is in truth rather a loss than
, gain to him, as it tends towards hab-
Is Of dissipation. In haymaking and |
harvest time, If not under annual en-
his pay is somewhat better
IS he then works By the sspiece" or job.
Moving he undertakes BY the acre
1Wo Or more banding together to do the
work. The terms are about 81 an acre
Or cutting meadow grass, and some
Fhat less for clover. This includes
rink, which the scythemen provide for
themselves. H they did not, and drank I
i they customarily do. 4 very large
eduelion would have to be made ii the
rice Of their piece work. almost
lesitate to name the quantity Of beer
i cider which an English mower viii I
lest my statement be deemed /
j exaggerati0n. Still It should be
made, and / can trnthfnlly affirm that
many 81 them drink each fKo gallons
'er diem, and some even more.
Such being the condition of The Eng
ish farm laborer, Il may Be- asked Why
Is submits 70 i, With wonder st his net
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