Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-17
City and Country Compared.

The proportion or pauperS III LONDON Is
| not so large In comparison with the prov
inces as one would naturally expect. The
tendency in the country. 1 am told. is to
''codde' those who are inclined to accept
public charity, while in the city it is the
reverse. Iil-advised and indiscreet people
| of benevolent dispositions are said to be
| "coaxing the poor into the almshoUses."
! In London charity is more systematized
| than in the country. Benevolences of all
kinds have been reduced to a business basis,
although charges Of etravagance are con-
| tinually being made against the poor
| guardians" the officials who have super
| vision OF charities are called In the
| country at large about one-thir0 of the
paupers are segregated in public institu-
| tons, while in London nearly two-thirds
| are taken care of in that way. The
| tendency through the country, however, is
to segregate. although experts claim that
| 1t Is really more expensive, because of g
| enormous amount OF money invested in
| lands and buildings. There are many
| kinds OF institutions for the needy and the
| destitute: they require large number Of
! physicians. nurses. attendants and other
| employees In some Of them 1t Is charged
| that there Is an average OF one employe
| for every six inmates. The officials are
| constantly introducing Innovations and re-
forms that may be suggested by science,
| but are not conducive to economy.
| The expenditures Of the government for
| the care OF the poor are enormous. Last
1
| public treasury to take care of 7S2. 422 pau
| pers an average of SS0.52 each. This does
| not include private or church charities or
| relief FURNISHED by benevolent associa-
| tons, mutual insurance companies. labor
| unions, clubs and other organizations for
| such purposes, which are more numerous
| In England than in any other part of the
world; nor the compensation given by en-
| ployers to workrnen who have been sick
| or disabled / am dealing with the public
expenditures only.
Encouragement Of Pauperism.
The increase In the expenditures annually
has been very marked. This Is due to more
| expensive homes, larger numbers of en-
| ployes, a greater variety and better quail
ties of food and the Introduction OF greater
| comforts for the benefit OF the aged. the
| afflicted and friendless. There is always
| an agitation in favor of some charity; to
| compel the guardians OF the poor to fur
| nish toys for the children In the warehouses;
| and lemonade. cakes and confectionery on
| holidays and concerts. readings and other
| amusements for the adults the women
must have q better quality of tea and an
the discontinue OF microbes must be
| adopted antiseptics must be applied In the
| Kitchens. the dormttories and the laun-
dries: rocking chairs are demanded for the
| almshouses. and pipes and tobacco for the
| aged inmates. There Is always an inquiry
| going on in parliament about such matters
and the dckle public invariably approves
| any and every form Of relief and COM
fort that may be administered until the bill
comes In and the poor rates have to be In
| creased to meet It. Then the agitation Is
| reversed. The ''guardians'' are charged
with extravasanca and are accused Of en-
couraging pauperism by making the poor
houses and asyiums 80 comfortable and
| giving their inmates so many uxuriea.
/ saw q curious illustration OF this char
acteristic the other day. When an Ensi1sh-
| man has complaint to make he always
writes o ietfer TO the London Times. This
relieves his mind and gives him the salts
faction Of having performed . public duty,
| whether anything comes Of II or not Hence
every morninG In that venerable Journal