The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-18
RELIEF BY WORK.
A Method by Which Beggary Is Re-
duced and the Unfortunate Helped.
ChariIieS ReVleI

OnaTlIleS REVIEW.
Assistance by work in France is not an inno-
walton due 10 the initiative of private indvdu-
ais. From the most remote period OF our his
tory ii has been practiced by the stale toward
mendicants. The National Assembly and the
Convention, thinking that labor Is The only
means by which wise and enlightened nations
can relieve poverty" distributed considerable
sums of money among the departments 10 be
expended in drainage, the clearing of land, the
digging OF canals, etc. Ii would seem as il
such measures ought 10 have exercised
salutary influence upon vagraney aud men
deity ana yet their failure was complete. If
we study tile poor as whole we are coon cen
WINGED that the best argument in f,voT of work
Is that the professional begear breads II most.
Private action makes use OF this very repulsion
10 unmask lmposture and aid the truly unfortu-
nate.
In 1880 Monsieur the Pastor Robin founded
at Belleville, tn most populOus quarter of
Paris, the MaisoR Hospitalere. Here we find
the work ticket which Is in use IN nearly all
French Institutions. work tics CT of from
cent 10 90 cents, torn from sort OF coupon
book. permits the supporters to send the poor
and unemployed to this institution, who here
hnd "a Kind reception, cordial and comforting
words, food, shelter and place In The work
shops, or liberty 10 go out IN the morning 10
LOOK for worN at their own trades" Assisted
persons are employed at making small fagots
called "margOtns." They not paid in
money, but in this way they meet their daily
expenses, and II they are skillful can Law by a
sum against the time OF leaving. They are re-
CURED 10 make nifty m2rgGtInS day, 10 pay
for two meals and their lodging. All that they
make above this number goes TO their credit.
The object which. Pastor Robin has pursued
for Thirteen years Is 10 provide the working
men with an outfit of tools and TO make him
the beneficiary of his own labor. Charles
Robin said of the Maison HoSpfi alere, THE
work Is beautiful, and The idea which 1t realizes
is grand one"
Tie gift Of "a considerable sum enabled an
Institution known as the Genital ONCE for
Charitable Works 10 construct in 1891 some
buildings designed 10 receive the unemployed.
The men, comm g IRON all parts of Paris, soured
by poverty and employed at work OF which
lney are generally lguOrant are separated into
groups OF ten under charge OF OverseeTs, and
make common iuTniture-taDleS, waTdroDes,
SldeboaTd>. which is sold at low price In the
Ia &c stores OF The capital. There aye about
twenty days. Their wages are francs day;
Oh thls they receive portion in Cash in The
morning Tor their food, which Is supplied by
the establishment, and also lodging ticket,
which entities them 10 a lodging out of the
house.
reseryei is made from their wages, which
goes toward defraying their expenses when
I1ey are looking for permanent employment.
lhey are allowed TWO days week for THIS puT-
pose. The central Office has established
regular bureau of information, through which
II obtains knowledge of the shops where there
are vacant places. Tn Sc Institutions ale in
operation all over Paris, and have, without
question, an ameliora,ing effect upon the un-
fortunate. But Their influence upon The stI eet
beggaTs Is not so direct as that OF the ONIONS
d'Assistance"-rellef unious-whose sphere of
activity Is more restricted. These have made
the profession of begging a truly difficult one
by me Us OF the food ticket, which puts a stop
10 indscrimnate charity, aud forces the beggar
jected TO a summary ques iOniDg, which IL is
generally his interest TO avoid.