The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-08
FREE TRADE FANCIES.
LIFE IN "MERaIE" ENGLAND.
cobdsn's ThsOrl.s-A Tale of Suffering aud Dis
tr,a Unfoldsd that Ought to Harrow up the
Narrow Ia any HANS Bonss-Irsland Land
Of Plenty, and America . Paradise.

1arroWln any Mans bonts-lreiAna Lana
Of Plenty, and America Paradise.
Darlington and Stockton (Eng.) Times. Feb II.
Yesterday the Skerne Works, Albert
Hill, again ceased to work. Last week q
number Of furnaces were started, but
already the work in hand has been got
through, and the bulk OF the men engaged
as laborers there are practically destitute.
That large employers like these have a
weighty responsibility no one will deny.
It does seem, too, that in cases like the
present II they have little work, itwould
be more advisable TO give each Of the men
a turn, instead OF keeping one lot engaged
and others idle. None butthose who have
been brought face to face with the extreme
poverty OF scores OF willing workers are in
a position to rightly estimate the condition
Of things brought about by this cessation
Of work. Not only at Albert Hill-where
there are streets OF starving families-but
in most OF the other parts Of the town
numerous palates are becoming strange to
the taste OF bread. 0fcourse, In times like
the present when some sudden change
forces large numbers OF persons into the
ranks OF starving, to distinguish between
the deserving and the undeserving, be-
comes O most difficult and anxious task.
CHARITY IN ALL THINGS.
But when famine stricken wretch sinks
helpless and starving on our door step, we
should not tax him with his misdeeds in
prosperous days. II in relieving We seize
the opportunity to teach him better way
for the future, wo should not do it in the
brutal fashion which is favored by one of
our much vaunted charity dispensing
officers. The pressures on the sources OF
relief is just now very great. There is
large increase in the applications to the
relieving Officer and to the Charity 0rga.
nization Society, and the impotency Of
those sources TO adequately deal
with the extreme distress is shown by
the army OF beggars which has suddenly
sprung up. Special arrangements were
made by the society TO meet the cases of
the men who have lost their employment
at the Skerne Works. Private charity has
been very plentiful, and special fund has
been collected for the purpose OF granting
bread TO the most necessitous cases caused
by this stoppage. Unfortunately, however,
so many men, ,ironworkers' laborers, thrown
out OF employment, causes competition in
and deficiency OF other kinds OF work.
And Jobs, which at one time were left for
the snapper up OF unconsidered tribes, are
now eagerly sought alter by dozen Of
eager bread winners, whose famished chill.
dren spur them to continued effort.
WIDESPREAD SUFFERING.
Thus among every branch Of unskilled
laborers there is widespread and deplorable
suffering. 1t should be remembered that
for many months before the actual stop.
page there was no regular work for the
men. They earned perhaps lSs in good
week, more often considerably below that
sum; and when the work was really lost
the only intermediary. between the lss
week struggle and absolute destitution,
was that offered by a sale OF their homes.
Then came rich harvest for the pawn
brokers, the secondhand clothes dealers,
the furniture brokers, and, finally, the rag
man. First went little articles Of luxury,
then home comforts; then clothes, utensils,
furniture, and bed, leaving miserable
home OF four bare walls and three.legged
stool. Those who have preserved their
bed and table are fortunate. The writer
will conduct any one who is charitably
curious to see dozen homes OF British
workmen, within q stones throw Of
the Town Hall, where bare floors and
walls, and heap OF straw in
one corner constitute the owners stock
Of worldly goods. Nay, there arc cases
where the children have been stripped Of
their clothing, and because everything
pawnable Is gone, the wretched garments
have been sold for rags And the crusts of
bread, dry and unpalatable, which they
have bought have served for the family
meal. Dozens OF other children, who, by
rare good fortune, happening to be Cath
olics, have still their clothes left, and are
glad to escape from the dreary home to the
school to which they go breakfastless and
faint. The kindly Sisters Of Mercy, whose
name is received with pious expressions Of
gratitude wherever the poor do congregate,
have daily task in feeding the little starv-
ing scholars who attend the catholic School.
These ladies have done and are doing much
good in the town, by relieving the distress
and tending the sick. ~ ....
A MOVING TALE OF WOE AND WANT.
Yesterday we determined to make
personal inspection Of the condition Of the
men whose cases appear to call for relief.
We sought not so much those who were
destitute, for almost all the wretched ten
emeRts penetrated by us were destitute,
but those whose claims TO the category
observing" were sufficient. One descrip-
ton applies to all these rooms, but no pen,
however graphic, could convey the desola-
ton OF the novels which 30 many OF our
townsmen cling to for shelter, and strive
60 hard to preserve from the communicating
influences OF pauperism. In one corner,
then, Is some straw, rolled not untidily up
in thin piece Of canvas. On one side Of
the fire CRATE Is q low stool, on which sit
the pinched, pale, hungry children. A
brick, box or basket Is the seat placed
on the other side Of the hearth, on which
crouches the haggard mother. There isno
kettle nor pan. Such conveniences are
long since gone; but instead old preserved
meat or biscuit tins are used. In the
cupboard, into which we presumptuously
pry, are one or two pots, but not yestige
Of food, neither Q crust nor o bone. A
bowl, In which to bake or wash, is the only
other utensil worth the name. The walls
are bare; the floor Is washed in preference
to being swept, because, maybe, the brush
has long since been converted into food.
The clothes OF the occupants hang loosely
about them, showing that they wear no
underclothing. In spite Of all, however,
the people are mostly very clean, and