The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-23


It's common saying that history
repeats itself. General Booths propo-
sition I'm Darkest England" to found
factories and labor colonies for the
relief ot the English poor is a leaf
taken out OF the German system Of
establishing labor colonies, which is
But the Idea did not originate with the
German founders OF those institutions.
They simply extended il, by not only
putting to work all who applied for
relief, but also by seeking employ
ment outside for those who were
worthy to be trusted. One hundred
years ago Benjamin Thompson Rum
ford, an American, born at Woburn,
Mass, devised scheme OF getting rid
of the beggars and tramps which
swarmed at that time in Bavaria. The
last number of the Churehman tells
the story OF his success. Rumford,
though u tory during our revolution
airy war, was man of genius. His
scientific researches on heat, In optics
and magnetism made him favorably
known abroad and obtained for him u
position in the British colonial office
and the honor Of being made Fellow
of the Royal Society.
During the revolution he returned
to New York and raised regiment of
loyalists called the Kings American
Dragons" OF which he became lieu
tenant-colonel. At the close of the
war he drifted back to England and
from thence to Bavaria, where he ell
tered the service OF the Elector, and
by his tact and ability rose by degrees
to be minister of war and Count of the
Holy Roman Empire. The reforms he
introduced in military training, In
methods of agriculture and in the
practice OF the mechanic arts made
him q favorite with the Elector, whose
privy counsellor he became. It was
in 1890, with the cordial consent and
substantial assistance OF the Elector,
he undertook TO extirpate beggary
throughout Bavaria. He bought In
Munich, first of all, an immense fac
tory building and equipped it as n
military workhouse.
He was now ready for work. 'Tn
Munich and throughout Bavaria New
Years Day was emphutically beRgars'
day, for on that day 1t was au imme-
mortal custom for the beggars to
make a general round for aims, which
the citizens never refused. IL was on
New Years Day, therefore. that the
Count made his first and, as it proved,
his only attack on the established sys-
tenn OF mendicancy. Early in the
morning he assembled at his private
lodging the chief officers of the army
and the chief magistrates of the city,
explained to them what he was about
TO do, begged their cordial assistance,
and told them that, by his orders, OIL
GERS and non-commissioned officers
had been posted in all the streets of
the city. They willingly agreed to go
with him, and then out they went, two
aud two, magistrate and military
officer, linked arm in arm, with the
Northumberland himself at their
head"
The first capture was made by Rum
ford himself. Others speedily fol
lowed, He let 1t be known that no
begging would be allowed in future,
that work would be provided for all
but the incapable, but that food and
shelter and work must go together.
In the course of one week two thou
sand six hundred beggars were ar
rested in Munich alone, and ten thou
sand more in other parts of the coun-
try, When they resisted, strong meas
ures OF compulsiOn were used. When
taken to the factory they were sub
iected to military regulations. Order
and method were eXacted i'll every de-
partment of the building. Weekly
allowances of money wero made. At
first the people were employed in
making army clothing and military
supplies but every one was put to
do something. 1.-THE particular work
at hand for them to do was to make
cloth. At first they We're set to work
on hemp; afterwards, as they gained
skill, they were promoted to flax, wool
and cotton.
Teasing, spinning, weaving they
were gradually taught to do all, and
In that factory no one was idle. Even
the old women who could do nothing
else were set to winding spool-yarn.n
At IA somewhat later time the children,
In the intervals of schooling, were
allowed TO assist in the lighter work.
1.-THE workhouse from the start was u
success. The capital invested In il at
first was l50, 900 forms, but was soon
increased to 250,0Oo. In six wears it
had paid n profit of 100000, and in it's
sixth year ii filled orders to the amount
of 500, 000.' BY this rough but elIec-
tive means mendicaney was every
where stamped out in Bavaria. indus
trial habits established, and the people
whom RumfOrd had taken from the
streets and highways and rescued
from their degradation We're so CRATE
full that when he was dangerously i'll
they went to church in u body to pray
fn1 his