The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-15

CuT6Q.
Laws Against Vagrancy.
In any particular region, however,
this habit can be broken up by severe
laws we'll enforced; or even by milder
system steadily followed for years, as
was done in 1790-95, by Count Rum
ford, Massachusetts philanthropist
transplanted to Bavaria. AS the record
OF this suppression Of vagrancy in Mu-
Mich and its neighborhood, though often
mentioned, is very we'll known, l will
cite from the London edition of Rum.
ford's essays in 1897 reprinted in Bos-
ton in 1881 the counts exact words. It
will be remembered that, as Benjamin
Thompson, he was born in Woburn near
Boston, established himself in Concord,
N. H., (then called Rumford), where he
married and became Colonel Thompson;
in l775, at the opening of the Revolution,
went abroad, and ten years after was in
the service of the Elector of Bavaria,
who gave him his title of nobility, taken
from the New England town, where he
nrst married. He says:
Beggars in Bavaria.
"In Bavaria beggary had become so gen.
eral that extraordinary measures and
the most indefatigable exertions were
necessary to put stop to the evil The
number of itinerant beggars, of both
sexes and all ages. who strolled about
the country. levying contributions from
the industrious inhabitants, stealing
and robbing, and leading life of indo-
lence and the most shameless debauch-
cry, was quite incredible. They not
only infested all the streets, public
walks and public places, but they even
made a practice of going into private
houses, where they never failed to steal
whatever fell in their way; and the
churches were so full of them that it
was quite nuisance. People at their
devotions were continually interrupted
by them. In short, these detestable
vermin swarmed everywhere. The
children in every country village, and
those even of the best farmers, made
constant practice of begging from all
strangers who passed; and one hardly
ever met person on foot upon the road,
particularly woman, who did not hold
out her hand and ask for charity. In
the four years Immediately succeeding
the introduction of the measures for
clearing the country of beggars, thieves,
robbers. ETC., above 10000 of these vaga-
bonds, foreign and native, were arrested
and delivered over to the civil magis-
trates."
1t will thus be seen that the mischief
was greater in the neighborhood of Mu-
Mich than it has ever been in any Ameri.
can city,-the population in 1890 being
about 10000 in that town and it's sub.
urbs. The first step to abate it was to
canton four regiments of cavalry
throughout Bavaria, in order to arrest
such persons as the magistrates wished
to dispose of. This done, arrangements
were Systematically made to relieve all
actual poverty and to furnish relief in
exchange for work. The city was divid-
ed into sixteen districts, with an average
of less than 1000 people in each and
commissary of the poor, assisted by q
priest, physician. surgeon and an
apothecary, took charge of each district.
These almoners attended to all applica-
tions from the poor and saw that aid
was rendered in proper form, without
waste or delay. Then came the arrest
of the beggars and their commitment to
workhouse to earn their own living by
work. This took place New Years day,
1790, and was managed with the aid of
the officers of three infantry regiments
and the principal magistrates of Munich.
Count Rumford says:
Count Rumford's Views.
1--WE Immediately sailed out into the
streets-myself accompanied by the chief
magistrate, and each of the field officers
by an inferior magistrate. We had
hardly got into the street when we were
accosted by beggar. | went up to him
and laying my hand gently on his
shoulder, told him that from thenceforth
begging would not be permitted in Mu-
mich; that if he really stood in need of
assistance it should certainly be given
him, and if he was detected in begging
again he would be severely punished. l
then delivered him over to an orderly
sergeant, who was following me, with di-
rections to conduct him to the Town
Hail. Then, turning to the officers and
magistrates who accompanied me, |
begged they would take notice that |
had with my own hands arrested the
first beggar we had met, and requested
them to follow my example by arresting
all the beggars they should meet with.
These gentlemen dispersed into different
parts of the town, and, with the assist
ance of the military, in less than an hour
the town was so thoroughly cleared of
beggars that not one was to be found in
the streets"
This was summary work. Those ar
rested were registered at the Town Hall
and then sent home, but with directions
to come next day to the Military Work
house. where they would find warm
rooms, warm dinner. and work for all
who could work. They were further
notified that their needs should be in
quired into and weekly allowances in
money be given to such as really had
need for it. These measures were fol-
lowed up, day by day. and the business
OF tramping was soon made improbable
CONCORD. Mass.