contended, there are 22,000 children ; and 

 in Illinois, 20,000, who cannot read ; and 

 nearly the same number of full-grown 

 persons in the same situation. New Jer- 

 sey has 11,500 children without any kind 

 of education ; and in Kentucky, in 1833, 

 about one-third of all the children were in 

 the same lamentable condition. 



Public Charities the cause of Pauperism 



and Mendicity "In some countries, 



public charities have become a political 

 curse a social evil of such momentous 

 importance, that illustrious and humane 

 statesmen have declared their conviction, 

 that all provisions by law, for the relief of 

 the poor and suffering, ought to be an- 

 nulled. Pauperism has been nursed and 

 pampered by some of the nations of Eu- 

 rope, until it has got to be ;like a sturdy 

 beggar, demanding alms with a club in 

 his hand, and ready to prostrate the richer 

 class, if it hesitate to grant what is con- 

 sidered, not as charity, but as right. Pub- 

 lic charity has become the curse of 

 England, and one of the greatest impedi- 

 ments in the way of her reform is the 



VARIETIES. 419 



hideous mass of pauperism, which has 

 been fostered and increased by the very 

 means intended to check it. ... In 

 this country we have not yet tasted the 

 bitter fruits of this system ; but its seeds 

 are sown, and we must leave more to 

 private charity, and less to public provi- 

 sion ; we must depend more upon personal 

 and discretional effort, and less upon re- 

 gular establishments, if we would avoid 

 the evils brought upon older countries. 

 Pauperism is rapidly increasing in the 

 United States, and it is a question of 

 serious political import how it shall be 

 treated. Unfortunately, there is but little 

 probability of its being decided aright, 

 for it will not be rightly discussed. The 

 vast majority of persons will treat it as they 

 do every other difficult question dodge 

 it get round it, somehow or other ; and, 

 instead of removing the cause of pau- 

 perism, strive to get the immediate objects 

 out of sight, by thrusting them into alms- 

 houses, infirmaries, hospitals, and houses 

 of refuge." New England Journal* 

 1834. 



Stature and Weight of Men at different Ages. The following Table, a result of 

 observations made on the stature and weight of the inhabitants of Brussels, may serve 

 as an approximation for the Caucasian race in a temperate climate. 



Hence may be drawn the following age, the male is generally heavier than 

 conclusions: 1st. That, at an equality of the female; towards the age of twelve 



