The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-22

empire, begging from town to town. de-
moraizinr and. In many instances, tcrri-
fying the rural communities. The support
Of this army OF tramps is computed to have
cost the people. In aims and food. $i5.ooo.oOo
per aunum. Moreover, the money scent
brought no permanent relief. the vagrant
horde growing larger and more menacing
day by day. 1t was against this Rrievous and
rapidly increasing evil that society COM
bined. and managed. In the course OF years.
TO develop tho thoroughly efficient system
which we now find in operation throughout
the whole OF Germany. except Bavaria and
Asace:Lorralne.
The first step taken was to organize In
towns and villages anti-beggary socie-
tics, the members Of which paid GER
tain yearly fee to the society treasury.
and agreed to give nothing TO beg
gars who should apply at their doors.
A small metallic disk, bearing the
name OF tho society, is fastened at the
front door OF each members house. This
tells the beggar that his appeal for aims
will be denied. and that he will be referred
to the Office OF the society. where his case
will be carefully investigated before relief
Is granted. Tho society provides relief
station. which Is placed near the principal
entrance to the town-in the case OF q large
city there may be several Of these stations
outside it's suburbs-where. by a few
hours work. the destitute wayfarer may
earn q ticket which will entltle him to food
and lodging at the "Herberge." or lodg-
ing house. This house Is established and
supported by tho municipal or communal
government from the public funds. 1t is
plain country boarding house. where
wholesome food and clean beds can be OBJ
tanned. but no liquor. Its maintenance Ia
the price which the community pays for
exemption from the tramp nuisance.
After passing night and obtaining meals
at the herberge. the vagrant Ia provided
with ticket inscribed with his name. age.
birthplace, and the route that he intends to
take In search OF work. II he wanders far
from that route. he is liable to arrest by the
first rural policeman whose precinct he en-
ters. in which case his card Is taken away.
and he is locked up for season. to be dis
missed with reprimand and another card
which will pass him to the nearest herberge
in the direction that he desires to follow.
II he arrives there not later than 2
o'clock in the afternoon, he will receive his
dinner. his afternoon work. supper. bed.
and the next morning his breakfast,
together with new card that will
pass him on to the next herberge. allowing
time to seek for work along tho way
and yet arrive by o'clock. Should he
reach the lodging house later than that
hour, he will. unless he can prove that he
was detained by accident or some other
good reason. get nothing. and must shift
for himself during the night. In this
way, q man can walk over almost the
whole OF Germany without ever being dos
titute OF food or shelter and without ever
having money enough to buy dram OF
liquor. The statistics Of 1890 show that
there were In that year 1857 relief stations
and 1854 herberges in operation In Germany.
at which 1.662.606 breakfasts. .972.49O din
ners. 1.s71.59l suppers. and 2,22s.OO0 lodg-
ings were provided.
There is no doubt that this part OF the
German machinery Of organized charity
performs the work for which 1t was devils
ed. 1t relieves the towns and villages from
the drain and menace Of vagrant mendi-
cancy: keeps the vagabond class under po-
lice surveillance: forces them to earn their
lOOu anu louSiHS, Ut ~ WlIHout UoIus hnu,
by keeping them constantly moving from
station to station, prevents aggregation In
gangs. The monotony and enforced regu-
larity Of each forenoon's walk soon render
the life stale and wearisome. and the tramp
eagerly seeks work as a means OF regaining
his independence and escaping the con-
slant supervision to which his ticket ex-
poses him.
Speaking OF tho effect Of this system Of
depressing vagrancy. as he has observed it
in Frankfort and the vicinity. Mr.. MASON
says that there is practically no indiscrim-
mate distribution Of aims, and few or no
beggars or peddlers. except some MANNED
or deformed persons who, under certain re-
strictions. are permitted to sell matches on
the street. In that portion Of Germany
there are apparently no tramps. either In
the urban or the rural districts. and this
notwithstanding generally depressed con-
dition Of most Industries.