essays-1-第5章
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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 upon man； that it extends even to his moral character。 Virtue never dwelt long with filth and nastiness； nor do I believe there ever was a person SCRUPULOUSLY ATTENTIVE TO CLEANLINESS who was a consummate villain＇7＇。
Order and disorderpeace and warhealth and sickness； cannot exist together； but COMFORT and CONTENTMENT the inseparable companions of HAPPINESS and VIRTUE； can only arise from order； peace； and health。
Brute animals are evidently taught cleanliness by instinct； and can there be a stronger proof of its being essentially necessary to their well…being and happiness？But if cleanliness is necessary to the happiness of brutes； how much more so must it be to the happiness of the human race？
The good effects of cleanliness； or rather the bad effects of filth and nastiness； may； I think； be very satisfactorily accounted for。 Our bodies are continually at war with whatever offends them； and every thing offends them that adheres to them； and irritates them；and through by long habit we may be so accustomed to support a physical ill； as to become almost insensible to it； yet it never leaves the mind perfectly at peace。 There always remains a certain uneasiness； and discontent； an indecision； and an aversion from all serious application； which shows evidently that the mind is not at rest。
Those who from being afflicted with long and painful disease； suddenly acquire health； are best able to judge of the force of this reasoning。 It is by the delightful sensation they feel； at being relieved from pain and uneasiness； that they learn to know the full extent of their former misery； and the human heart is never so effectually softened； and so well prepared and disposed to receive virtuous impressions； as upon such occasions。
It was with a view to bring the minds of the poor and unfortunate people I had to deal with to this state； that I took so much pains to make them comfortable in their new situation。 The state in which they had been used to live was certainly most wretched and deplorable； but they had been so long accustomed to it； that they were grown insensible to their own misery。 It was therefore necessary； in order to awaken their attention； to make the contrast between their former situation； and that which was prepared for them； as striking as possible。 To this end； every thing was done that could be devised to make them REALLY COMFORTABLE。
Most of them had been used to living in the most miserable hovels； in the midst of vermin； and every kind of filthiness； or to sleep in the streets； and under the hedges； half naked； and exposed to all the inclemencies of the seasons。 A large and commodious building； fitted up in the neatest and most comfortable manner； was now provided for their reception。 In this agreeable retreat they found spacious and elegant apartments； kept with the most scrupulous neatness； well warmed in winter； well lighted； a good warm dinner every day； gratis； cooked and served up with all possible attention to order and cleanliness； materials and utensils for those who required instruction；the most generous pay； IN MONEY； for all the labour performed； and the kindest usage from every person； from the highest to the lowest； belonging to the establishment。 Here； in this asylum for the indigent and unfortunate； no ill usage； no harsh language； is permitted。 During five years that the establishment has existed； not a blow has been given to any one； not even to a child by his instructor。
As the rules and regulations for the preservation of order are few； and easy to be observed； the instances of their being transgressed are rare； and as all the labour performed； is paid for by the piece； and not by the day； and is well paid； and as those who gain the most by their work in the course of the week； receive proportional rewards on the Saturday evening； these are most effectual encouragements to industry。
But before I proceed to give an account of the internal economy of this establishment； it will be necessary to describe the building which was appropriated to this use； and the other local circumstances； necessary to be known； in order to have a clear idea of the subject。
This building； which is very extensive； is pleasantly situated in the Au； one of the suburbs of the city of Munich。 It had formerly been a manufactory； but for many years had been deserted and falling to ruins。 It was now completely repaired； and in part rebuilt。 A large kitchen； with a large eating…room adjoining it； and a commodious bake…house； were added to the buildings； and such other mechanics as were constantly wanted in the manufactory for making and repairing the machinery were established； and furnished with tools。 Large halls were fitted up for spinners of hemp；for spinners of flax；for spinners of cotton；for spinners of wool；and for spinners of worsted； and adjoining to each hall a small room was fitted up for a clerk or inspector of the hall； （spin…schreiber）。 This room； which was at the same time a store…room； and counting…house； and a large window opening into the hall； from whence the spinners were supplied with raw materials；where they delivered their yarn when spun；and from whence they received an order upon the cashier； signed by the clerk； for the amount of their labour。
Halls were likewise fitted up for weavers of woollens； for weavers of serges and shalloons；for linen weavers； for weavers of cotton goods； and for stocking weavers； cloth shearers；dryers；sadlers；wool…combers；knitters； sempstresses； etc。 Magazines were fitted up as well for finished manufactures； as for raw materials； and rooms for counting…houses； store…rooms for the kitchen and bake…house；and dwelling…rooms for the inspectors and other officers who were lodged in the house。
A very spacious hall； 110 feet long； 37 feet wide； and 22 feet high； with many windows on both sides； was fitted up as a drying…room； and in this hall tenters were placed for stretching out and drying eight pieces of cloth at once。 The hall was so contrived as to serve for the dyer and for the clothier at the same time。
