West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-08-21

also klNurlCS lie drinks prOllgiOus
quantities of inferior cotlc, and bad rye
brandy. which Is very cheap |, must
br admitted. however. that The Walloons
are better fed than the Flcmmgs. a
great deal of existing misery can mn
douhtcdly hc traced 60 mtcmpcran e.
Yet in spite of all this. hy economy
such as American workers have NO COM
ccptou OF, the better class of lwlgiau
lanorcr not only provides for his family
but sometimes saves enough tn buy
little house. iu which hC live. lie wears
generally trousers of 60 ton check. "a
rcd flannel shirt. over which Is "a cloth
shirt, and which, Joined to un ordinary
vest, forms a kind of slcCVcd wui,t.ott
which serves for a working costume
tie wear, oNcrall- to go To the shop con-
factory i'm. Wooden SHOES are almost
universally worn. costing from sj\t, to
eighty CruumcS (twclNc aud a hnltto ui.
tccn CrntS) a pair They generally have
a hest suit for Sundays and tvtC daNs.
OF underneath garments both m9lv and
female workers are almost absolutely
destitute. and they are rarely CHANGED
frequently enough for dcCCuUN I'm the
matter of houses IL would bC necessary
TO d iuguiSh between the country and
the towns bctwc'n Flemish and Wal
looms The houses of Belgian worlmru
are fairly we'll kept though i'm this rr-
spcct they do not rank with thc.r ucigh-
bor-, the Dutch. The furniture is uru-
orally scantv and dilapidatcd. hui woll
kept, il il happens that the wife doe.
not work i'm the field or shop When
we take into cons dcration how mauy
women are obliged TO labor the same as
men in the field. minc, workshop ur
factory, the wonder is that the homes
arc as decent rs they are OF late years
numerous building societies have sought
To furnish more comfortable homes for
tho working classes and i'm this kind ui
work nearly all the provinces have been
engaged
Tho Belgian workmou, II has nccu
truly said, are generally slow bul lH-
borious, puticnt and industrious They
arc excellent i'm certain industries.
Ihus. the marblc-cuttcrS do their work
admirably. Tho lace makers maintain
the old reputation and the wood cary
crS and the furniture makers are not inn
icriOr TO their ancestors, who cNhiuiiud
consummatc skill Layolloc who hls
made "a careful study of their character
isiIcs, thinks their greatest defect is nat
ural apathy. Then, too, quality has
been sacrificed to chcapncss There is
lack OF finish in Belgian workman
/ ship, especially when compared with
/ that Of Franco. THOR greatest vie, g.
drunkenness, and the consumption oi
alcohol has doubled in forty years.
They, as we have seen, live poorly, arc
not particularly sober. and preserve tIr
old customs and games, especially when
they afford an excuse for getting drunk
I'm the evening tho coffee ho srs and
taycrn5 are crowded with men whu
/ pass the evening i'm smoking and drn
/ ing. Like the Gcrmans and The French.
all classes dance, aud Opcn-nr bah
and concerts form no moons dpruble
| part of their amuscmcnts. SHOOTING
with bow is also "a diversion. Some
OF the most eminent writer's ON the So
clal condition OF the Belgian wors man
agree that the system Of public charity,
rs organized, il uufavOrablc To the
working classes and ha drlclcriou-
| influence. They rely too much upon
the thought o. bcncvOlcucc to aid those
in want Imagine 300, 900 out of J.5OO.
/ 600 inhabitants of country being
placed upon the list to Lo publicly a.
sisted! One out of every six Of The pop
ulation. IL is enough TO undermine The
Independence of any country, and the
wonder is that the Bcl0ians, under such
n sysicm. are. upon the whole a7 indus
trous and thrifty as 1 have shown them
TO be in many Of tho manufacturing dis
tricts. Ltege (Bc'gwm) cor. sun
/ FrdHciscO Chronicle.