New-York tribune., 1910-01-02
HE SLEW BEGGARY
THOMPSON MADE NEW
CITY OF MUNICH.
Statue of Bay State Reformer
and Warrior Stands in Be-
g.arian Metropolis.


THOMPSON. Graf Won Pumford. IL you ask
almost any inhabitant OF Munich who hs
was YOU will receive the answer that h
vas an Englishman who did away with
beggary and unemployment. and gave 70
the city 'the English Garden: and. except
by the few. this IS all that IS remembered
o. nan who sd more for Esavria ard
for Munich than any other man
That he was an Engiishman Is only -
far true Born at WOburn. in MsssachH-
setts. in f753. before the Declaration Of r.
dependence he was subject Of the British
crown. Moreover. as he grew TO mans
estate and the rebellion broke out. all his
symrathies lay with the mother country.
and he was unable to see that the colonies
were justified in going TO war over their
grievances
Fleeing from the country he took services
with the EIector of Bavaria. who made
him colonel Of a cavalry regiment and his
aide-de-camp. The condition OF the army
was deplOrable. II was not only subjected
TO pedantic and antiquatsd routine OF no
earthly advantage. but IL was wholly in-
efficient The Minister Of War. Coun-
Wnderbusch. had directed all his efforts
20 the reduction Of the cost OF the army
the discipline was bad. and IL was neither
we'll armed nor well fed or clothed. arf
was tEOrOuSlIN unpopular a. pEOLSSSlpsl-
The state OF affairs was go 6eplOrabie that
the Elector required Thompson to investi-
gate into it's condition and 20 suggest
remedies. This he did. and sent in his re-
port on February Z. 17ss
Carl TheOdOr at once raised him TO ths
rank Of major general and appointed him
Minister Of War. Thompson had now a
free hand TO carry out his reforms. His
great aim was 10 make OF every soldier
patriotic citizen and of every citizen =
possible soldier. He did away with hest
of abuses; he raised the soldiers pay, hs1
him we'll clothed. well housed and well fcsi.
and allowed him as much liberty as was
consistent with discipline.
There was a wide tract OF deSolare land.
rubble and marsh along the Isar's bank.
wholly proftless and impracticable for az
rtcuIturaI purposes At Thompson's 6esifs
some five miles OF It was secured for tls
town. drained, laid out, planted, and trans
formed into what is now the beautiful
English Garden. perhaps the most extsn-
sive park possessed by any capital.
The EIector at this time possessed four
cavalry regiments. They were distributed
over the land. that n every village
there should be five OF At least three men,
who were 10 patrol the counsry rTom OLE
station TO another; and nothing was 10 la
eXacISQ from Ile peasants ENL 10 mouse
these men. Forage for the horses and
food for the men would be paid for Ths
object OF this measure was 20 insure tas
arrest of every beggar and ioafer in ths
land.
For the relief of the needy Thompson Re-
lied on a contribution from the Eiector and
en- pooling the charitable offerings Of the
citizens. But that was not ak In the
FaubOurs OF Au. beyond the Isar, was
ruinous factory. Thompson bought II. -e-
built and enlarged IL, and converted IL into
a wOrkhouse supplied with all sorts OF
workshops for every kind OF trade. and
over the door was inscribed in large let
tiers. NO aims given here
When all was ready. on New Lear'S DAY.
17eO. the officers OF the n rec infantry resf-
ments stationed in Munich took Up their
appointed positions in the streets 20 await
further orders Thompson had assembled
in his own house the field officers and Tho
heads OF the city magistracy, and desired
their assistance in carrying into execution
the plan he had devised All promised
help in effeeting the arrest OF every beggar
and unemployed man loahng IN the streets.
and in distributing them-the strong and
able to be sent TO his wOrkhouse, the help
less and really needy to oe assisted with
aims. He then left with the burgomastsr,
the field officers and magistrate
He had not got half dozen steps along
the street before he met a beggar, sturdy
fellow whining for charity Thompson put
his hand on the mans shoulder and said:
From this hour there shall be no r1ors
begging in Munich" He handed the Beg
gar over to sergeant. and he wss
marched of 10 the workhouss. This Went
on throughout the city.
All were hustled together into the Town
Hall and there sorted out-who we're 70
so TO TIE workhouss and who were to re-
Ceive assistance in their homes. In Jhs
workhouse the inmates aad warm quarters
ana warm food, and were promised pay
for their work. And 10 work they were
set Those who would not work We're LEFT
without their meals
ThcmpsOn's scheme succeeded admirably
His wCrkhOuse provided the clothing for
the Bavarian army. and m one year rem
dered clear profit OF 10000 gllden. o.
about $3.50.
In comparatively short tirne he BAD
transformed set OF miseraole social para
sites into industrious and eontentsd men
He himself was devoid Of sentiment. and
did not notice, what was observed ~
others. the eyes full OF reverence and at
fection that were turned on him when he
visited the institution.
Once. and once only, was he stirred. az
far aS could be perceived. at an exhibition
OF gratitude and recognition OF his wcrS-
He was lying dangerously III in the cry.
when hs heard a tramp OF feet in measured
tread so by in the street. and he raised
himself in his bed 70 know what II meant
He was told that all his workers fr0n to
Institution for the unemployed were goi's
in procession 10 the Frauenkirche. tho
present cathedral 10 pray for his recovery
His lip quiVered. and he turned his faes
hastily To the wall.
The latter's part Of ThcmpSons. or HuTfi-
ford's. life was spent in France, IA faii-
ing health. and he died at lis residcree AZ
AuJeuil ON August II. iSl4
His scientific discoveries have been
superseded. his inventions improved; bus
his great achievement of finding employ
ment for the unemployed and clearing
Munich of begsars has lasted 10 the pres
ent day. 1t is now "A city without hes-
sar in IL and where scarce a man Is %
be found who has not work ready 20 hs
hand. and a hand ready To his work. for X
Is compulsory for all boys who are pass
ing out OF the seventh class OF the primary
schools to spend three years at one OF tas
divisional continuation schools or trads