ime； I hope； get the better of their pride； and avail themselves of these advantages。
To render this establishment for the Poor at Munich perfect； something is still wanting。The house of industry is too remote from the center of the town； and many of the Poor live at such a distance from it； that much time is lost in going and returning。 It is situated； it is true； nearly in the center of the district in which most of the Poor inhabit； but still there are many who do not derive all the advantages from it they otherwise would do were it adjacent to their dwellings。 The only way to remedy this imperfection would be； to establish several smaller public kitchens in different parts of the town； with two or three rooms adjoining to each； where the Poor might work。They might then either fetch the raw materials from the principal house of industry； or be furnished with them by the persons who superintend those subordinate kitchens； and who might serve at the same time as stewards and inspectors of the working rooms； under the direction and control of the officers who are placed at the head of the general establishment。 This arrangement is in contemplation； and will be put in execution as soon as convenient houses can be procured and fitted up for the purpose。
In large cities； these public kitchens； and rooms adjoining to them for working； should be established in every parish； and； it is scarcely to be conceived how much this arrangement would contribute to the comfort and contentment of the Poor； and to the improvement of their morals。 These working rooms might be fitted up with neatness； and even with elegance； and made perfectly warm； clean； and comfortable； at a very small expence； and； if nothing were done to disgust the Poor； either by treating them harshly； or using FORCE to oblige them to frequent these establishments； they would soon avail themselves of the advantages held out to them； and the tranquillity they would enjoy in these peaceful retreats； would； by degrees； calm the agitation of their minds；remove their suspicions；and render them happy；grateful； and docile。
Though it might not be possible to provide any other lodgings for them than the miserable barracks they now occupy； yet； as they might spend the whole of the day； from morning till late at night； in these public rooms； and have no occasion to return to their homes till bed…time； they would not experience much inconvenience from the badness of the accommodation at their own dwellings。
Should any be attached with sickness； they might be sent to some hospital； or rooms be provided for them； as well as for the old and infirm； adjacent to the public working rooms。 Certain hours might also be set apart for instructing the children； daily； in reading and writing； in the dining…hall； or in some other room convenient for that purpose。
The expence of forming such an establishment in every parish would not be great； in the first outset； and the advantages derived from it would very soon repay that expence； with interest。 The Poor might be fed from a public kitchen for LESS THAN HALF what it would cost them to feed themselves；they would turn their industry to better account； by working in a public establishment； and under proper direction； than by working at home；a spirit of emulation would be excited among them； and they would pass their time more agreeably and cheerfully。 They would be entirely relieved from the heavy expense of fuel for cooking； and； in a great measure； from that for heating their dwellings； and； being seldom at home in the day…time； would want little more than a place to sleep in； so that the expence of lodging might be greatly diminished。It is evident； that all these saving together would operate very powerfully to lessen the public expence for the maintenance of the Poor； and； were proper measures adopted； and pursued with care and perseverance； I am persuaded the expence would at last be reduced to little or nothing。
With regard to the lodgings for the Poor； I am clearly of opinion that it is in general best； particularly in great towns； that these should be left for themselves to provide。 This they certainly would like better than being crowded together； and confined like prisoners in poor…houses and hospitals； and I really think the difference in the expence would be inconsiderable； and though they might be less comfortably accommodated； yet the inconvenience would be amply compensated BY THE CHARMS WHICH LIBERTY DISPENSES。
In Munich； almost all the Poor provide their own lodgings； and twice a year have certain allowances in money； to assist them in paying their rent。Many among them who are single； have indeed； no lodgings they can call their own。 They go to certain public…houses to sleep； where they are furnished with what is called a bed； in a garret； for one creutzer； （equal to about one…third of a penny；） a…night； and for two creutzers a…night they get a place in a tolerably good bed in a decent room in a public…house of more repute。
There are； however； among the Poor； many who are infirm； and not able to shift for themselves in the public…houses； and have not families； or near relations； to take care of them。 For these； a particular arrangement has lately been made at Munich。 Such of them as have friends or acquaintances in town with whom they can lodge； are permitted to do so； but if they cannot find out lodgings themselves； they have the option； either to be placed in some private family to be taken care of； or go to a home which has lately been purchased and fitted up as an hospital for lodging them＇14＇。
This house is situated in a fine airy situation； on a small eminence upon the banks of the Isar； and overlooks the whole of the town；the plain in which it is situated；and the river。 It is neatly built； and has a spacious garden belonging to it。 There are seventeen good rooms in the house； in which it is supposed about eighty persons may be lodged。 These will all be fed from one kitchen； and such of them who are very infirm； will have others less infirm placed in the same room with them； to assist them； and wait upon them。The cultivation of the garden will be their amusement； and the produce of it their property。 They will be furnished with work suitable to their strength； and for all the labour they perform； will be paid in money； which will be left at their own disposal。They will be furnished with food； medicine； and clothing； gratis； and to those who are not able to earn any thing by labour； a small sum of money will be given weekly； to enable them to purchase tobacco； snuff； or any other article of humble luxury to which they may have been accustomed。
I could have wished that this asylum had been nearer to the house of industry。 It is indeed not very far from it； perhaps not more than 400 yards； but still that is too far。Had it been under the same roof； or adjoining to it； those who are lodged in it might have been fed from the public kitchen of the general establishment； and have been under the immediate inspection of the principal officers of the house of industry。 It would likewise have rendered the establishment very interesting to those who visit it； which is an object of more real importance than can well be imagined by those who have not had occasion to know how much the approbation and applause of the public facilitate difficult enterprizes。
The means of uniting the rational amusement of society； with the furtherance of schemes calculated for the promotion of public good； is a subject highly deserving the attention of all who are engaged in public affairs。
CHAPTER。 IX。
Of the means used for extending the influence of the institution for the poor at Munich； to other parts of Bavaria。 Of the progress which some of the improvements introduced at Munich are making in other countries。
Though the institution of which I have undertaken to give an account； was confined to the city of Munich and its suburbs； yet measures were taken to extend its influence to all parts of the country。 The attempt to put an end to mendicity in the capital； and to give employment to the Poor； having been completely successful； this event was formally announced to the public； in the news…papers； and other towns were called upon to follow the example。 Not only a narrative in detail； was given of all the different measures pursued in this important undertaking； but every kind of information and assistance was afforded on the part of the institution at Munich； to all who might be disposed to engage in forming similar establishments in other parts of the country。
Copies of all the different lists； returns； certificates； etc。 used in the management of the Poor； were given gratis to all； strangers as well as inhabitants of the country； who applied for them； and no information relative to the establishment； or to any of its details； was ever refused。 The house of industry was open every day from morning till night to all visitors； and persons were appointed to accompany strangers in their tour through the different apartments； and to give the fullest information relative to the details； and even to all the secrets of the various manufactures carried on； and printed copies of the different tables； tickets； checks； etc。 made use of in carrying on the current business of the house； were furnished to every one who asked for them； together with an account of the manner in which these were used； and of the other measures adopted to prevent frauds and peculation in the various branches of this extensive establishment。
As few manufactures in Bavaria are carried on to any extent； the more indigent of the inhabitants are； in general； so totally unacquainted with every kind of work in which the Poor could be most usefully employed； that that circumstance alone is a great obstacle to the general introduction throughout the country of the measures adopted in Munich for employing the Poor。 To remove this difficulty； the different towns and communities who are desirous of forming establishments for giving employment to the Poor； are invited to send persons properly qualified to the house of industry at Munich； where they may be taught； gratis； spinning； in its various branches； knitting； sewing； etc。 in order to qualify them