SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 287 



who has had a great deal of experience among the labor- 

 ing classes, sums up thus the accumulated evils incident 

 to their condition : 



" 'Too early employment — too long employment — too 

 much fatigue — no time for relaxation — no time for men- 

 tal improvement — no time for the care of health — ex- 

 haustion — intemperance — indifferent food — sickness — 

 premature decay — a large mortality.' 



"The same gentleman, in speaking of the laboring poor 

 of the agricultural districts, says that, in his opinion, 

 their state is not more favorable to the preservation of 

 perfect life of body than that of the manufacturing poor. 

 He remarks : 



" 'What I say concerning these poor people, is the re- 

 sult of much observation of them, and I consider it a 

 duty to lift the vail from a subject surrounded by many 

 respectable prejudices. ***** Their extreme poverty, 

 and their constant labor so influence them, that the ma- 

 jority — I am sure I speak within bounds — have never the 

 enjoyment of health after forty years of age. This is 

 the result of bad food — insufficient clothing — wearing 

 toil — and the absence of all hope of any better in this 

 world.' 



" 'The peasant's house is not the abode of joy or even 

 comfort. No "children run to lisp their sire's return," or 

 "climb his knees, the envied kiss to share." The children 

 are felt to be a burden, ill-fed, ill-clothed, and lying on 

 beds worse than the lower animals; they are ragged, or 

 clothed by charity; untaught, or taught by charity; if 

 sick, cured by charity ; if not starved, fed by proud char- 

 ity,' &c. 



"Dr. Kay,^ in his description of the Factory System, 

 says, in speaking of the condition of the artizan : 



'Joseph Kay, born February 27, 1821, at Salford, Lancashire, 

 England. A. B. Trinity College, 1845; M.A., 1849. Spent four years 

 in European countries examining and reporting upon the social con- 

 ditions of the poorer classes. Author of The Education of the Poor 

 in England and Europe (London, 1846) ; The Condition and Edu- 

 cation of Poor Children in English and in German Toums (Man- 



