The San Francisco call., 1904-04-20
4 PaRberS Paradise.
\ So corres9ondenoe.

y
GARDEN. LONDON. April S.-Poor
law guardians Of the London borough
OF Marylebone have just advertised for
woman TO teach the girls at one
Of their charity schools-its dollars to
doughnuts no American reader would
ever guess v.hat-how TO play golfi
These benevolent officials have estab-
lished the nearest approach to pau
pers' naradise 10 be found anywhere,
and ia consequence Maryle5one has
become a haven Of refuge for folk who
We're -'born tired"
Interpreting in an uncommonly gen
erous spirit the law which requires
that The destitute shall be given food
and shelter, these purveyOrs Of civic
charity provide the dependents on their
bounty with comfort. rest, leisure, re-
creation and a little sport when de-
sired even unto the second and third
generation. Not only are the offspring
of the lazy shiftless and improvident
who come under their care instructed IN
such rudiments OF learning as are
taught the children of the hard-work-
inC classes in the board schools, but
they are instructed also in music ana
other accomplishments calculated 10
insnire them with a fine scOrn for
ANYTHING ike menial toll and drudgery,
escape from which is made easy for
them by emulating the examples OF
their progenitors and living on the
rates"
In Marylebone there has just been
brought TO light a striking illustration
of the natural consequences Of its sys-
tenn of pampering pauperism. In 1881
Patrick Downs, a day laborer, by be-
ing turned out of home for non-pay-
ment Of rent acquired the necessary
statutory qualifications Of desutuuon
which entitled him 10 relief for the
asking and accordingly he entered one
Of the Marylebone workhOuses. There
he has lived ever since freed from the
necessity Of hustling for living and
fncurring no risk Of being evicted. A
few months after his admission his
wife. Catherine. charmed by his re-
ports of the soft snap" he had found,
obtained admission to the same hos
pitable institution and there she has
since resided
Three daughters they had who were
not slow to emulate their parents ex-
ample and profit by MarylebOne's civic
hospitality One Of them, Elizabeth,
brought with her her husband. a man
named Lawes. She died in the work
house. but her four children are being
maintained and educated out ofs the
rates at the Guardians School at
Southal. where accomplishments and
instructions in the art Of golf playing
constitute part Of the curriculum.
The second daughter. Kate. now
about 80 years old, has never encum-
bered herself with a husband, finding
that the workhouse renders such un-
certain aid in the struggle for exist
ence superhrous. Her four Gllegiti-
mate) children were born there. Three
OF them died. The surviving child, a
boy. is now on the SALISBURY training
ship. being trained for a sailor, Ma
lylebone taxpayers meanwhile defray-
ing the expense Of his maintenance.
Most considerate Of the family. Jo-
hanna, the third daughter, has con-
tented herself with only occasionally
burdening the workhouse with the
cost Of hex own keep. At present she
is not a guest there.
i be fairly comfortable, said the
grandfather. when inquiries were
house, fairly comfortable" But he
added after q moment. thinking that
he had conceded too much TO the in
siituiion which had sheltered and
clothed him for thirteen years. things
might be a bit better; yes, they might
be bit better"
Another equally instructive example
is furnished by a family named Glass.
l. -, IL
house some twenty years ago and
there settled down. Their son was
sent TO the pauper school at Southall
and received an education with the
addition OF such frills as are there
deemed necessary TO fit the scions of
the lazy to become future ornaments
Of society. IN due time young Glass
was turned loose on the world TO shift
for himself He got married and then
with his wife shifted 10 the workhouse
where misguided benefcence solves
the problem Of existence for him and
relieves him Of the necessity of work
ing for a living.
DIR. Rayner- the medical officer to
the institution. stated that the samples
OF hereditary pauperism cited were by
no means exceptional An intimate
ACQUAINTANCE Win Nhe inner Ire OF
workhouses," he said. reveals many
things which can only be described as
grotesque."
The Narylebone workhouse is spot
lessly clean. All its rooms are COM
fortably heated by steam. 1t is equip
ped with all the latest up-to-date i'm
provemenfs in the matter OF Ventila-
ton and sanitation. IL has now near
~ 1000 inmates.
we are always full up here" said
one OF the attendants 70 the writer.
And we shall continue 10 be as long
as the guardians make the workhouse
what il is nova refuge from work.
At the Church Army shelters every
applicant for relief who is not physic-
ally incapacitated must earn a
meal before he receives it. II the
same system were introduced here we
should Immediately get rid OF one-half
OF our able ho6ipd r,a1DprSn -