The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-08
The British Farm Laborer.

ear.
The British Farm Laborer.
On the lowest round of England j
social ladder-if indeed on it at all-is
the Farm Laborer Politically. as So
cially, he has no status whatever; neither
any in an economic sense, his pay being
the least in the land, and barely enough
to keep body and soul together. Yet he
is often manly, noble fellow, morally
and Intellectually the equal of those who
employ him; aye, often their superior.
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 edu-
cation, refinement and manners which
the possession of means might be sup
posed to bestow are not marked charac-
teristics of those who in the social scale
stand Immediately above the farm
laborer; while in practical 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
shillings a week, or scant three dollars
his wages in most parts of the country
laying by as much as single sixpence
would be problem to puzzle a miser
For be it understood that they. are
aboard 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 the
tax-gatherer, nor exempt from his period
ical visitations. In giving twelve shil-
hngs 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 favored
ones if he can secure con-
tract for it throughout the whole
year. Unless first-rate hand, that he
isnot always able to do; and in many
districts ten shillings or even nine is a
common scale of payment where it is
permanent; less still if he be aged, or
otherwise not up to his work. Consid-
ering that beef is rarely under twenty
cents pound, mutton about the same,
and other sorts of fresh meat still dearer;
that bacon of good quality is eighteen
cents, and flour usually over two dollars
the bushel; that his cottage of two or
three rooms stands him in rent twenty
to twenty-five dollars 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.
tTha,., h<.1 ax- r>T
unfrequently a week of it-when his
wages cease, and want enters his cot
tage. Or he may be LAID up with 81 ok
ness 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
nelghborhood, comparatively prosper
Gus one, | hear of them almost every
day, and too well know them to exist.
Yet this is the merry, happy England of
Chauvinistie newspaper writers and
Dragging 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 con-
dition of farm or other laborer is of slight
concern, and little care they whether he
be merry or sad.
The labor he gives in return for the
above petty wage is great out of all pro-
portion. His regular hours of work are
from six am. till six p. M, a half hour
being allowed him for breakfast and
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 eart-shed,
barn or other outbuilding. AS to his
sitting down to spread table inside the
farmers house, even the kitchen of it,
that is an occasion of the rarest, and
eating at the farmer own table thing
unknown to him. Poor is the
fare he subsists on, the very commonest
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; often having to fall
back upon ..bloater'' (salt herring1.
eaten cold too. But of all the food com
modities purchasable by him, cheese is
bis chief staple and standby. 1t goes
further for the amount of money ex-
pended, and many farm laborer both
for breakfast and dinner has naught but |
this to kitchen his bread with. Tea |
ne can only get on his return home after |
MS task is done; and of this he is fond: |
Tor Notwithstanding the tax on it, it is /
possibly the most economical and GER
.ainly the most luxurious of his meals.
Captain Mayne Reid, in N. Y. Tribune.
Very Much Exercised.