按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
or wounded； he was carried to some hospital； or the physician； or surgeon of the district was sent for； and a nurse provided to take care of him in his lodgings； If he grew worse； and appeared to draw near his end； the priest was sent for； to afford him such spiritual assistance as he might require； and if he died； he was decently buried。 After his death； the commissary assisted at the inventory which was taken of his effects； a copy of which inventory was delivered over to the committee。 These effects were afterwards sold；and after deducting the amount of the different sums received in alms from the institution by the deceased during his lifetime； and the amount of the expenses of his illness and funeral； the remainder； if any； was delivered over to his lawful heirs； but when these effects were insufficient for those purposes； or when no effects were to be found； the surplus in the one case； and the whole of these expences in the other； was borne by the funds of the institution。
These funds were derived from the following sources； viz。
First； from stated monthly allowances； from the sovereign out of his private purse；from the states；and from the treasury； or chamber of finances。
Secondly； and principally； from the voluntary subscription of the inhabitants。
Thirdly； from legacies left to the institution； and
Fourthly； from several small revenues arising from certain tolls； fines； etc。 which were appropriated to that use＇6＇。
Several other； and some of them very considerable public funds； originally designed by their founders for the relief of the poor； might have been taken and appropriated to this purpose； but； as some of these foundations had been misapplied； and others nearly ruined by bad management； it would have been a very disagreeable task to wrest them out of the hands of those who had the administration of them； and I therefore judged it most prudent not to meddle with them； avoiding； by that means； a great deal of opposition to the execution of my plan。
CHAPTER。 III。
Preparations made for giving employment to the poor。 Difficulties attending that undertaking。 The measures adopted completely successful。 The poor reclaimed to habits of useful industry。 Description of the house of industry at Munich。
But before I proceed to give a more particular account of the funds of this institution； and of the application of them； it will be necessary to mention the preparations which where made for furnishing employment to the poor； and the means which were used for reclaiming them from their vicious habits； and rendering them industrious and useful subjects。 And this was certainly the most difficult； as well as the most curious and interesting part of the undertaking。 To trust raw materials in the hands of common beggars； certainly required great caution and management； but to produce so total and radical a change in the morals； manners； and customs of this debauched and abandoned race； as was necessary to render them orderly and useful members of society； will naturally be considered as an arduous； if not impossible； enterprize。 In this I succeeded； for the proof of this fact I appeal to the flourishing state of the different manufactories in which these poor people are now employed；to their orderly and peaceable demeanourto their cheerfulnessto their industry； to the desire to excel； which manifests itself among them upon all occasions；and to the very air of their countenances。 Strangers； who go to see this institution； （and there are very few who pass through Munich who do not take that trouble；） cannot sufficiently express their surprise at the air of happiness and contentment which reigns throughout every part of this extensive establishment； and can hardly be persuaded； that among those they see so cheerfully engaged in that interesting scene of industry； by far the greater part were； five years ago； the most miserable and most worthless of beings；common beggars in the streets。
An account of the means employed in bringing about this change cannot fail to be interesting to every benevolent mind； and this is what has encouraged me to lay these details before the public。
By far the greater number of the poor people to be taken care of were not only common beggars； but had been up from their very infancy in that profession； and were so attached to their indolent and dissolute way of living； as to prefer it to all other situations。 They were not only unacquainted with all kinds of work； but had the most insuperable aversion to honest labour； and had been so long familiarized with every crime； that they had become perfectly callous to all sense of shame and remorse。
With persons of this description； it is easy to be conceived that precepts；admonitions；and punishments； would be of little or no avail。 But where precepts fail； HABITS may sometimes be successful。
To make vicious and abandoned people happy； it has generally been supposed necessary； FIRST to make them virtuous。 But why not reverse this order？ Why not make them first HAPPY； and then virtuous？ If happiness and virtue be INSEPARABLE the end will be as certainly obtained by the one method as by the other； and it is most undoubtedly much easier to contribute to the happiness and comfort of persons in a state of poverty and misery； than； by admonitions and punishments； to reform their morals。
Deeply struck with the importance of this truth； all my measures were taken accordingly。 Every thing was done that could be devised to make the poor people I had to deal with comfortable and happy in their new situation； and my hopes； that a habit of enjoying the real comforts and conveniences which were provided for them； would in time； soften their hearts；open their eyes；and render them grateful and docile； were not disappointed。
The pleasure I have had in the success of this experiment is much easier to be conceived than described。 Would God that my success might encourage others to follow my example！ If it were generally known how little trouble； and how little expence； are required to do much good； the heart…felt satisfaction which arises from relieving the wants； and promoting the happiness of our fellow…creatures； is so great； that I am persuaded； acts of the most essential charity would be much more frequent； and the mass of misery among mankind would consequently be much lessened。
Having taken my resolution to make the COMFORT of the poor people； who were to be provided for； the primary object of my attention； I considered what circumstance in life； after the necessaries； food and raiment； contributes most to comfort； and I found it to be CLEANLINESS。 And so very extensive is the influence of cleanliness； that it reaches even to the brute creation。
With what care and attention do the feathered race wash themselves and put their plumage in order； and how perfectly neat； clean and elegant do they ever appear！ Among the beasts of the field we find that those which are the most cleanly are generally the most gay and cheerful； or are distinguished by a certain air of tranquillity and contentment； and singing birds are always remarkable for the neatness of their plumage。 And so great is the effect of cleanliness u