essays-1-第13章
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cularly distinguished themselves； was soon looked upon as an honourable mark of approved merit； and served very powerfully to excite emulation among the competitors； I doubt whether vanity； in any instance； ever surveyed itself with more self…gratification； than did some of these poor people when they first put on their new dress。
How necessary is it to be acquainted with the secret springs of action in the human heart； to direct even the lowest and most unfeeling class of mankind！The machine is intrinsically the same in all situations；the great secret is； FIRST TO PUT IT IN TUNE； before an attempt is made to play upon it。 The jarring sounds of former vibrations must first be stilled； otherwise no harmony can be produced； but when the instrument is in order； the notes CANNOT FAIL to answer to the touch of a skilful master。
Though every thing was done that could be devised to impress the minds of all those； old and young； who frequented this establishment； with such sentiments as were necessary in order to their becoming good and useful members of society； （and in these attempts I was certainly successful； much beyond my most sanguine expectations；） yet my hopes were chiefly placed on the rising generation。
The children； therefore； of the poor； were objects of my peculiar care and attention。 To induce their parents to send them to the establishment； even before they were old enough to do any kind of work； when they attended at the regular hours； they not only received their dinner gratis； but each of them was paid THREE CREUTZERS a day for doing nothing； but merely being present where others worked。
I have already mentioned that these children； who were too young to work； were placed upon seats built round the halls where other children worked。 This was done in order to inspire them with a desire to do that； which other children； apparently more favoured； more caressed；and more praised than themselves； were permitted to do； and of which they were obliged to be idle spectators； and this had the desired effect。
As nothing is so tedious to a child as being obliged to sit still in the same place for a considerable time； and as the work which the other more favoured children were engaged in； was light and easy； and appeared rather amusing than otherwise； being the spinning of hemp and flax； with small light wheels； turned with the foot； these children； who were obliged to be spectators of this busy and entertaining scene； became so uneasy in their situations； and so jealous of those who were permitted to be more active； that they frequently solicited with the greatest importunity to be permitted to work； and often cried most heartily if this favour was not instantly granted them。
How sweet these tears were to me； can easily be imagined！
The joy they showed upon being permitted to descend from their benches； and mix with the working children below； was equal to the solicitude with which they had demanded that favour。
They were at first merely furnished with a wheel； which they turned for several days with the foot； without being permitted to attempt any thing further。 As soon as they were become dexterous in the simple operation； and habit had made it so easy and familiar to them that the foot could continue its motion mechanically； without the assistance of the head；till they could go on with their work； even though their attention was employed upon something else；till they could answer questions； and converse freely with those about them upon indifferent subjects； without interrupting or embarrassing the regular motion of the wheel； then；and not till then；they were furnished with hemp or flax； and were taught to spin。
When they had arrived at a certain degree of dexterity in spinning hemp and flax； they were put to spinning of wool； and this was always represented to them； and considered by them； as an honorable promotion。 Upon this occasion they commonly received some public reward； a new shirt；a pair of shoes； or perhaps the uniform of the establishment； as an encouragement to them to persevere in their industrious habits。
As constant application to any occupation for too great a length of time is apt to produce disgust； and in children might even be detrimental to health； beside the hour of dinner； an hour of relaxation from work； （from eight o'clock till nine；） in the forenoon； and another hour； （from three o'clock till four；） in the afternoon； were allowed them； and these two hours were spent in a school； which； for want of room elsewhere in the house； was kept in the dining…hall； where they were taught reading； writing； and arithmetic； by a school…master engaged and paid for that purpose＇11＇。 Into this school other persons who worked in the house； of a more advanced age； were admitted； if they requested it； but few grown persons seemed desirous of availing themselves of this permission。 As to the children； they had no choice in the matter； those who belonged to the establishment were obliged to attend the school regularly every day； morning and evening。 The school books； paper； pens； and ink； were furnished at the expence of the establishment。
To distinguish those among the grown persons that worked in the house； who showed the greatest dexterity and industry in the different manufactures in which they were employed； the best workman were separated from the others； and formed distinct classes； and were even assigned separate rooms and apartments。 This separation was productive of many advantages； for； beside the spirit of emulation which it excited； and kept alive； in every part of the establishment； if afforded an opportunity of carrying on the different manufactures in a very advantageous manner。 The most dexterous among the wool…spinners； for instance； were naturally employed upon the finest wool； such as was used in the fabrication of the finest and most valuable goods； and it was very necessary that these spinners should be separated from the others； who worked upon coarser materials； otherwise； in the manipulations of the wool； as particles of it are unavoidably dispersed about in all directions when it is spun； the coarser particles thus mixing with the fine would greatly injure the manufacture。 It was likewise necessary； for a similar reason； to separate the spinners who were employed in spinning wool of different colours。 But as these； and many other like precautions are well known to all manufacturers； it is not necessary that I should insist upon them any farther in this place； nor indeed is it necessary that I should enter into all the details of any of the manufactures carried on in the establishment I am describing。 It will be quite sufficient； if I merely enumerate them； and others； who were employed in carrying them on。
In treating this subject it will however be necessary to go back a little； and give a more particular account of the internal governments of this establishment； and first of all I must observe； that the government of the Military Work…house； as it is called； is quite distinct from the government of the institution for the poor； the Work…house being merely a manufactory； like any other manufactory； supported upon its own private capital； which capital has no connection whatever with any fund destined for the poor。 It is under the sole direction of its own particular governors and overseers； and is carried on at the sole risk of the owner。 The institution for the poor； on the other hand； is merely an institution of charity； joined to a general direction of the police； as far as it relates to paupers。 The committee； or deputation； as it is called； which is at the head of this institution； has the sole direction of all funds destined for the relief of the poor in Munich； and the distribution of alms。 This deputation has likewise the direction of the kitchen； and bake…house； which are established in the Military Work…house； and of the details relative to the feeding of the poor； for it is from the funds destined for the relief of the poor that these expences are defrayed： the deputation is also in connection with the Military Work…house relative to the clothing of the poor； and the distribution of rewards to those of them who particularly distinguished themsel
