the Poor m Bavaria. 257 



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 demeanor ; to their cheerfulness ; to 

 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 suffi- 

 ciently express their surprise at the air of happiness 

 and contentment which reigns throughout every part 

 of this extensive establishment, and can hardly be per- 

 suaded 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 miser- 

 able 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 encour- 

 aged 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 bred up from their very infancy in that profes- 

 sion, and were so attached to their indolent and dis- 

 solute 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 punish- 



voi„ IV. 17 



