The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-28


delightful study, for there is no more inter-
esting character of his class in existence
than the English peasant as you find him at
home, stolid though he may be. He gen.
orally has pleasant surroundings. His wife
is neat, tidy and Industrious, while his chill
dren are cleanly. polite, pretty, and above
all, healthy. His wife is a good house
keeper, too, not only in the economies but
in the decoration of his home, and no mat
ter how unsightly or old his house may be,
it is always made attractive by pretty white
curtains at the windows and boxes of flow
ers On the lodges. In fact, posies are every
where There is always an attractive little
flower garden in front and a vegetable patch
behind the abode Of the hum blest peasant
who Is willing to work. and dirt and un-
tidiness are practically unknown where
toward making life pleasant, and its thorni-
est paths comparatively cheerful.
just at this moment l am surrounded by
one OF the richest and most beautiful stretches
OF farming country | have ever seer. tbs
south Of London in Essex. one of the prime
agricultural counties of England The only
acres In fertility, beauty of landscape and
perfect culture that can compare with it lie
between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. in
the counties of Chester and Lancaster. along
the line Of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ii
the farms in that garden spot were smaller,
the homes of the rich larger and more beau
ifully surrounded with flowers and shrub
berry and the Ioadways lined with the pretty
little homes OF the .workingmen one might
readily mistake tire one for the other. But
rich as is that single section of the United
States mall that makes agricultural life
worth the living, 1t furnishes no such evil
dence OF comfort for its farm laborers as
does this and indeed most other sections of
England where the land is titled at a profit.
Romford Is beautiful little town, quaint
and old, where 10000 people live VITA as
much satisfaction as in any place / have ever
seen. Quiet and contentment reign, aud it
is SO secluded IN its rural dignity that almost
all of the real typical conditions of English
countryside life, high and low, can be found
within easy reach OF it. l have been travel
ing over the magnificent roads which lead
out OF it in every. direction for week.
mingling with the peasantry in the fields and
at their own homes, and cannot possibly
reconcile what l see on every hand and hear
from nearly every lip with the romances of
poverty and sadness that l have so often
heard at home and read in our newspapers.
All seem perfectly contented with this
condition OF affairs and not in the least dis
turbed by class exactions. The classes are
in layers through all the subStrata of exist
ence, from the worthless loafer without
place to the head of the nation. Each of
the lower grades is as tenacious of its rights
on the farm and in the village as those at
the right hand Of the throne. Therefore, on
the manor, whether they toll for the lord or
Tor the gentleman farmer, who rents from
him, the man, the herdsman, tile shepherd,
the stockmen and the drivers are
each classes in themselves, asserting their
prerogatiyes with as much dignity as
duke or prince. The house servants be-
longing to the masters household are
divided into different classes according to
the work they perform each having sepa-
rate authority and distinct duties for
which they are held strictly responsible,
but the memorable caste is still maintained
when the controversy comes.
In agricultural communities all these diff
ferent grades OF laborers should be classed
under the head of peasantry. although the
coachman and the higher grades of farm
fa6orers would be indignant TO- the bone If
they should be set down with the farm la
borers who live in little homes sometimes
quite distance from the acres upon which
they labor. They hold to the teachings Of
generations that the different grades of
labor In the upward scale carry authority
with promotion and that authority, no mat
ter OF what class, must be respected. What
ever else may be SAID Of this view of life, it
produces good laborers in all branches.
But in these favored agricultural commu-
mites, or 10 the darker places such as may
be found In our country In greater abun-
dance than here, the economics practiced in
the p SAINTS household are entirely un-
known } our working people. At many,
II not most seasons of the year, the family
are all producers. Father, mother and chill
0ren, ii tney are large enough, add TO the
family store. Children are not allowed to
labor until after they are 10 years of age and
know how to read, write and cipher, and even
then only at certain intervals and at certain
kinds Of work. The Government gives
them good English education and it com
pels them to receive il, or does its best to
keep them at school until they have ample
opportunity to fit themselves for the duties
national habit affects the rich and the
poor alike. and one of the most interesting
things about PEASANTS career is the man
ner In which he follows as nearly as possible
IN the customs OF those who can live at their
leisure No one here likes to get up early in
the morning, and no one cares about break
fast The peasant is no exception to the
rule. DE gets up early, leaving the folks IN
bed, takes piece OF bread, glass of beer or
milk or cold tea. and goes off to his TOLL Ii
he Is far away he takes his breakfast and
lunch with him, consisting of bread, bacon,
bottle OF beer or something else to drink
Between and 10 he stops half hour, eats
and drinks whatever he has. and this to him
Is the same as the rich peoples late break
last ABOUT he stops again, eats the bal
ance Of what he has with him, IL too far
away from home for his wife to send one Of
the children to the fields with something
fresh. he then resumes his work, to return
home at night to find ready for him sub
stantial meal OF meat, vegetables, bread, and,