essays-1-第33章
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ed； nor even urged to work；if there are in the room several persons who are busily employed in the cheerful occupations of industry； and if implements and materials for working are at hand； all the others present will not fail to be soon drawn into the vortex； and joining with alacrity in the active scene； their dislike to labour will be forgotten； and they will become by habit truly and permanently industrious。
Such is the irresistible power of example！Those who know how to manage this mighty engine and have opportunities of employing it with effect； may produce the most miraculous changes； in the manners； disposition； and character； even of whole nations。
In furnishing raw materials to the Poor to work； it will be necessary to use many precautions to prevent frauds and abuses； not only on the part of the Poor； who are often but too much disposed to cheat and deceive whenever they find opportunities； but also on the part of those employed in the details of this business：but the fullest information having already been given in my First Essay； of all the various precautions it had been found necessary to take for the purposes in question in the House of Industry at Munich； it is not necessary for me to enlarge upon the subject in this place； or to repeat what has already been said upon it elsewhere。
With regard to the manner in which good and wholesome food for feeding the Poor may be prepared in a public kitchen； at a cheap rate； I must refer my reader to my Essay on Food； where he will find all the information on that subject which he can require。 In my Essay on Clothing； he will see how good and comfortable clothing may be furnished to the Poor at a very moderate expence； and in that on the Management of Heat； he will find particular directions for the Poor for saving fuel。
I cannot finish this Essay； without taking notice of a difficulty which frequently occur in giving employment to the Poor； that of disposing to advantage of the produce of their labour：This is in all cases a very important object； and too much attention cannot be paid to it。A spirit of industry cannot be kept up by making it advantageous to individuals to be industrious； but where the wages which the labourer has a right to expect are refused； it will not be possible to prevent his being discouraged and disgusted。He may perhaps be forced for a certain time to work for small wages； to prevent starving； if he has not the resource of throwing himself upon the parish； which he most probably would prefer doing； should it be in his option； but he will infallibly conceive such a thorough dislike to labour； that he will become idle and vicious； and a permanent and heavy burden on the public。
If 〃a labourer is worthy of his hire；〃 he is peculiarly so； where that labourer is a poor person； who； with all his exertions； can barely procure the first necessaries of life； and whose hard lot renders him an object of pity and compassion。
The deplorable situation of a poor family； struggling with poverty and want；deprived of all the comforts and conveniences of lifedeprived even of hope； and suffering at the same time from hunger； disease； and mortifying and cruel disappointment； is seldom considered with that attention which it deserves； by those who have never felt these distresses； and who are not in danger of being exposed to them。 My reader must pardon me； if I frequently recall his attention to these scenes of misery and wretchedness。 He must be made acquainted with the real situation of the Poorwith the extent and magnitude of their misfortunes and sufferings； before it can be expected that he should enter warmly into measures calculated for their relief。 In forming Establishments； public or private； for giving employment to the Poor； it will always be indispensably necessary to make such arrangements as will secure to them a fair price for all the labour they perform。 They should not be OVER…PAID； for that would be opening a door for abuse；but they ought to be generously paid for their work； and； above all； they ought never to be allowed to be idle for the want of employment。 The kind of employment it may be proper to give them will depend much on local circumstances。 It will depend on the habits of the Poor； the kinds of work they are acquainted with；and the facility with which the articles they can manufacture may be disposed of at a good price。
In very extensive Establishments； there will be little difficulty in finding useful employment for the Poor； for where the number of persons to be employed is very great； a great variety of different manufactures may be carried on with advantage； and all the articles manufactured； or prepared to be employed in the manufactures； may be turned to a good account。
In a small Establishment； circumscribed and confined to the limits of a single village or parish； it might perhaps be difficult to find a good market for the yarn spun by the Poor； but in a general Establishment； extending over a whole country； or large city； as the quantity of yarn spun by all the Poor within the extensive limits of the institution will be sufficient to employ constantly a number of weavers of different kinds of cloth and stuff； the market for all the various kinds of yarn the Poor may spin will always be certain。 The same reasoning will hold with regard to various other articles used in great manufactories； upon which the Poor might be very usefully employed； and hence the great advantage of making Establishments for giving employment to the Poor as extensive as possible。 It is what I have often insisted on； and what I cannot too strongly recommend to all those who engage in forming such Establishments。
Although I certainly should not propose to BRING TOGETHER； under one roof； all the Poor of a whole kingdom； as； by the inscription over the entrance into a vast hospital began； but not finished； at Naples； it would appear was once the intention of the government in that country； yet I am clearly of opinion that an institution for GIVING EMPLOYMENT TO THE POOR can hardly be too extensive。
But to return to the subject to which this Chapter was more particularly appropriated； the relief that may be afforded by private individuals to the Poor in their neighbourhood； in case it should not be possible to get over all the difficulties that may be in the way to prevent the forming of a general Establishment for the benefit of the Poor； individuals must content themselves with making such private arrangements for that purpose as they may be able； WITH SUCH ASSISTANCE AS THEY CAN COMMAND； to carry into execution。
The most simple； and least expensive measure that can be adopted for the assistance of the Poor will be that of furnishing them with raw materials for working。 Flax； hemp； or wool； for instance； for spinning； and paying them in money； at the market price； for the yarn spun。 This yarn may afterwards be sent to weavers to be manufactured into cloth； or may be sent to some good market and sold。 The details of these mercantile transactions will be neither complicated nor troublesome； and might easily be managed by a steward of house…keeper； particularly if the printed tickets； and tables； I have so often had occasion to recommend； are used。
The flax； hemp； or wool； as soon as it is purchased； should be weighed out into bundles of one or two pounds each； and lodged in a store…room； and when one of these bundles is delivered out to a poor person to be spun； it should be accompanied with a printed spin…ticket； and entered in a table to be kept for that purpose； and when it is returned spun； an abstract of the spin…ticket itself； should be bound up with the bundle of yarn； in order that any frauds committed by the spinner； in reeling； or in any other way； which may be discovered upon winding off the yarn； may be brought home to the person who committed them。 When it is known that such effectual precautions to detect frauds are used； no farther attempts will be made to defraud； and a most important point indeed will be gained； and one which will most powerfully tend to mend the morals of the Poor； and restore peace to their minds。 When； by rendering it evidently impossible for them to escape detection； they are broug
