The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-05-10
The English Labarer .

lOtiIAA0NAN-| hA-s
its truth and claiming that it is the
opposite of exaggeration; |
"On the lowest round of Eng
lands social ladder-if indeed on
it at all-is the Farm Laborer.
Politically, as socially, 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 to-
gether. Yet is he often a manly,
noble fellow, morally and intel
iectually 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 ether. 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 i'm
mediately above the farm laborer;
while in practical and useful
knowledge he is more than a par
with them. Money he has none:
nor is he ever likely TO have it.
Out of twelve shillings r week or
scant three dollars-his wages in
most parts OF the country-laying
by as much as single sixpence
would be a problem to puzzle a
miser. For be it understood that
they are ''board wasa=," out Of
which he must maintain himself
and family, feed, clothe and keep a
roof oser their heads, besides pay
ing rates and taxes The poorest
proletarian and humblest house
holder ia England is not beneath
the notice Of the tax -gatherer, nor
exempt from his periodical vista
tions. In giving twelve shillings
as the weekly wage of farm la
horer, | 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 sechre a
contract for it throughout the
whole year. Unless 4 irst.rate
hand, that he is not always ablo to
do; and in many districts ten shil-
lings or even nine Is common
scale of payment where it is per-
manent: less still il ne be aged, Or
otherwise not mp to his work.
Considering That beef il rarely un-
der 20 cents It pound, mutton
about the same, and other sorts OF
fresh meat still dearer; that bacon
of good quality is IS cents, and
-four usually over So tho bushel:
that his cottage Of two or three
rooms stands him in rent 500 to
s25 per snnum, it needs little
arithmetic to figure up the amount
of life's luxury possible to his DO
sition. Enough of life's misery is
there in it, however, and more than
enough, for the worst is not vel
told: There may be days OF rain,
and are,-not unfrcquently week
of it,-when his wages cease, and
want enters his cottage. Or he
may be laid up with sickness, &
heightened spell; then the wan,
comes nearer to what might be
called famine-a diet of bare
bread and water, even in stinteC
allowance at that! Such cases art
by no means rare. In my owl
neighborhood, comparatively +,
prosperous one, l hear Of them al
most every day, and too well know
them TO exist.
The labor he gives in return fo
the above petty wage is great,
out of proportion. His regular
hours OF work are from 6 A. NJ. til
6P. NJ, half hour being allowed
him for breakfast and whole on,
for dinner. Unless his cottag,
chance to be close at hand he doe
not go home for either meal, tn,
time not permitting it. They ar,
brought with him in his little ba,
or ''pail," and eaten by the ditol