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most useful。 Each house was provided with a large dining…room and a cooking apparatus sufficient to furnish an economical dinner to every worker。 Teachers were engaged for each kind of labour。 Warmth； light； comfort； neatness； and order； in and around these houses； made them attractive。 The dinner every day was gratis； provided at first by the Government； later by the contributions of the citizens。 Bakers brought stale bread； butchers； refuse meat； citizens； their broken victuals all rejoicing in being freed from the nuisance of beggary。 The teachers of handicrafts were provided by the Government。 And while all this was free； everyone was paid the full value for his labour。 You shall not beg； but here is comfort； food； work； pay。 There was no ill…usage； no harsh language； in five years not a blow was given even to a child by his instructor。
〃When the preparations for this great experiment had been silently completed； the armythe right arm of the governing power； which had been prepared tor the work by its own thorough reformationwas called into action in aid of the police and the civil magistrates。 Regiments of cavalry were so disposed as to furnish every town with a detachment； with patrols on every highway； and squads in the villages； keeping the strictest order and discipline； paying the utmost deference to the civil authorities； and avoiding all offence to the people； instructed when the order was given to arrest every beggar； vagrant； and deserter and bring them before the magistrates。 This military police cost nothing extra to the country beyond a few cantonments； and this expense to the whole country was less than #3；000 a…year。
〃The 1st of January； 1790New Year's Day； from time immemorial the beggars' holiday； when they swarmed in the streets； expecting everyone to givethe commissioned and non…commissioned officers of three regiments of infantry were distributed early in the morning at different points of Munich to wait for orders。 Lieutenant…General Count Rumford assembled at his residence the chief officers of the army and principal magistrates of the city； and communicated to them his plans for the campaign。 Then； dressed in the uniform of his rank； with his orders and decorations glittering on his breast； setting an example to the humblest soldier； he led them into the street； and had scarcely reached it before a beggar approached wished him a 'Happy New Year；' and waited for the expected aims。 'I went up to him； says Count Rumford； 'and laying my hand gently on his shoulder； told him that henceforth begging would not be permitted in Munich； that if he was in need； assistance would be given him； and if detected begging again； he would be severely punished。' He was then sent to the Town Hall； his name and residence inscribed upon the register； and he was directed to repair to the Military House of Industry next morning； where he would find dinner； work； and wages。 Every officer； every magistrate； every soldier； followed the example set them； every beggar was arrested； and in one day a stop was put to beggary in Bavaria。 It was banished out of the kingdom。
〃And now let us see what was the progress and success of this experiment。 It seemed a risk to trust the raw materials of industry wool； flax； hemp； etc。to the hands of common beggars； to render debauched and depraved class orderly and useful； was an arduous enterprise。 Of course the greater number made bad work at the beginning。 For months they cost more than they came to。 They spoiled more horns than they made spoons。 Employed first in the coarser and ruder manufactures； they were advanced as they improved； and were for some time paid more than they earnedpaid to encourage good will； effort； and perseverance。 These were worth any sum。 The poor people saw that they were treated with more than justicewith kindness。 It was very evident that it was all for their good。 At first there was confusion； but no insubordination。 They were awkward； but not insensible to kindness。 The aged； the weak； and the children were put to the easiest tasks。 The younger children were paid simply to look on until they begged to join in the work； which seemed to them like play。 Everything around them was made clean； quiet； orderly； and pleasant。 Living at their own homes； they came at a fixed hour in the morning。 They had at noon a hot； nourishing dinner of soup and bread。 Provisions were either contributed or bought wholesale； and the economies of cookery were carried to the last point of perfection。 Count Rumford had so planned the cooking apparatus that three women cooked a dinner for one thousand persons at a cost though wood was used； of 4 1/2d。 for fuel； and the entire cost of the dinner for 1；200 was only #1 7s 6 1/2d。； or about one…third of a penny for each person！ Perfect order was kept at work； at meals； and everywhere。 As soon as a company took its place at table； the food having been previously served； all repeated a short prayer。 'Perhaps；' says Count Rumford； 'I ought to ask pardon for mentioning so old…fashioned a custom； but I own I am old…fashioned enough myself to like such things。'
〃These poor people were generously paid for their labour； but something more than cash payment was necessary。 There was needed the feeling of emulation； the desire to excel； the sense of honour； the love of glory。 Not only pay； but rewards； prizes； distinctions； were given to the more deserving。 Peculiar care was taken with the children。 They were first paid simply for being present； idle lookers…on； until they begged with tears to be allowed to work。 'How sweet those tears were to me；' says Count Rumford； 'can easily be imagined。' Certain hours were spent by them in a school； for which teachers were provided。
〃The effect of these measures was very remarkable。 Awkward as the people were； they were not stupid； and learned to work with unexpected rapidity。 More wonderful was the change in their manners； appearances and the very expression of their countenances。 Cheerfulness and gratitude replaced the gloom of misery and the sullenness of despair。 Their hearts were softened； they were most grateful to their benefactor for themselves； still more for their children。 These worked with their parents； forming little industrial groups； whose affection excited the interest of every visitor。 Parents were happy in the industry and growing intelligence of their children； and the children were proud of their own achievements。
〃The great experiment was a complete and triumphant success。 When Count Rumford wrote his account of it； it had been five years in operation； it was； financially； a paying speculation； and had not only banished beggary； but had wrought an entire change in the manners； habits； and very appearance of the most abandoned and degraded people in the kingdom。〃（〃Count Rumford；〃 pages 18…24。）
〃Are the poor ungrateful？ Count Rumford did not find them so。 When； from the exhaustion of his great labours； he fell dangerously ill； these poor people whom he had rescued from lives of shame and misery； spontaneously assembled； formed a procession； and went in a body to the Cathedral to offer their united prayers for his recovery。 When he was absent in Italy； and supposed to be dangerously ill in Naples； they set apart a certain time every day； after work hours； to pray for their benefactor。 After an absence of fifteen months； Count Rumford returned with renewed health to Municha city where there was work for everyone； and not one person whose wants were not provided for。 When he visited the military workhouse； the reception given him by these poor people drew tears from the eyes of all present。 A few days after he entertained eighteen hundred of them in the English gardena festival at which 30；000 of the citizens of Munich assisted。〃 （〃Count Rumford；〃 pages 24…25。）
THE CO…OPERATIVE EXPERIMENT AT RALAHINE；
〃The outrages of the 'Whitefeet；' 'Lady Clare Boys；' and 'Terry Alts' （labourers） far exceeded those of recent occurrence； yet no remedy but force was attempted； except by one Irish landlord； Mr。 John Scott Vandeleur； of Ralahine； county Clare； late high sheriff of his county。 Early in 1831 his family had been obliged to take flight； in charge of an armed police force； and his steward had been murdered by one of the labourers； having been chosen by lot at a meeting held to decide who should perpetrate the deed。 Mr。 Vandeleur came to England to seek someone who would aid him in organising the labourers into an agricultural and manufacturing association； to be conducted on co…operative principles； and he was recommended to Mr。 Craig； who； at great sacrifice of his position and prospects； consented to give his services。
〃No one but a man of rare zeal and courage would have attempted so apparently hopeless a task as that which Mr。 Craig undertook。 Both the men whom he had to managethe Terry Alts who had murdered their master's stewardand their surroundings were as little calculated to give confidence in the success of the scheme as they well could be。 The men spoke generally the Irish language； which Mr。 Craig did not understand； and they looked upon him with suspicion as one sent to worm out of them the secret of the murder recently