the Poor in Bavaria. 243 



bility, and to extort the contributions of the humane 

 and charitable. 



Some of these monsters were so void of all feeling as 

 to expose even their own children, naked and almost 

 starved, in the streets, in order that by their cries and 

 unaffected expressions of distress they might move 

 those who passed by to pity and relieve them ; and, 

 in order to make them act their part more naturally, 

 they were unmercifully beaten when they came home, 

 by their inhuman parents, if they did not bring with 

 them a certain sum which they were ordered to collect. 



I have frequently seen a poor child of five or six 

 years of age, late at night, in the most inclement season, 

 sitting down almost naked at the corner of a street, and 

 crying most bitterly. If he were asked what was the 

 matter with him, he would answer : " I am cold and hun- 

 gry, and afraid to go home. My mother told me to bring 

 home twelve kreutzers, and I have only been able to beg 

 five. My mother will certainly beat me if I don't carry 

 home twelve kreutzers." Who could refuse so small 

 a sum to relieve so much unaffected distress ? But 

 what horrid arts are these, to work upon the feelings of 

 the public, and levy involuntary contributions for the 

 support of idleness and debauchery ! 



But the evils arising from the prevalence of men- 

 dicity did not stop here. The public, worn out and van- 

 quished by the numbers and persevering importunity 

 of the beggars, and frequently disappointed in their 

 hopes of being relieved from their depredations, by the 

 failure of the numberless schemes that were formed and 

 set on foot for that purpose, began at last to consider the 

 case as quite desperate, and to submit patiently to an evil 

 for which they saw no remedy. The consequences of 



