On this page
-
Text (4)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
balance thief flourishing state , are sufficiently accounted for by sacrifices for the general improvement . The revenue returns attest on a gigantic scale , the prosperity of the country , and the merits of the Free-trade policy . We must not forget , however , that , as we arc having a general election , without the co-operation of the people , so this prosperity is accompanied by an annual flight of 300 , 000 persons or more , to escape from the clutches of inevitable poverty , while the country sustains so vast a burden of pauperism , that , as it has been
calculated , on very sufficient grounds , 3 , 000 , 000 of persons come within the gift of relief during each year . There is popular representation without a people , immense prosperity with inevitable and gigantic pauperism ; neither side of the shield can be denied . So , also , the commerce which is flourishing under the principle , "to buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest , " is , at the same time , developing a diseased appetite to , eat up itself . The Lancet , which has been pursuing its analyses of articles used as food , has been exposing the state of a popular condiment , and gives the following results : —
" That out of the twenty-eight samples of Cayenne pepper subjected to analysis , twenty-four were adulterated ; that out of the above number four only were genuine ; that out of the twenty-four adulterated samples , twenty-two contained mineral colouring matter ; that red lead , often in large and poisonous quantities , was present in thirteen samples ; that Venetian red , red ochre , brick dust , or some other analogous ferruginous earths were contained in seven samples ; that cinnabar , vermillion , or sulphuret of mercury , was detected in one sample ; that six of the samples consisted of a mixture of ground rice , turmeric , and Cayenne , coloured
with either red lead or a red ferruginous earth ; that six samples contained large quantities of salt , sometimes alone , but more frequently combined with rice and a red ferruginous earth or with red lead ; that one of the samples was adulterated with a large quantity of the husk of white mustard seed ; that two contained rice only , coloured with red lead or a ferruginous earth . As is well known , red lead and vermillion , or sulphuret of mercury , are highly deleterious substances , both being characterised by the very peculiar circumstance that they are not , like the majority of other compounds , when received into the system , at once eliminated therefrom , but remain in the body for a considerable time , gradually accumulating , until at length they
occasion the peculiar symptoms which distinguish their presence in largo amount . Thus , however small the dose taken from day to day , the constitution is yet liable , by the repetition of the dose , to be at length brought under the influence of the poison , and to become seriously affected . But the quantity of red load and mercury introduced into the system in adulterated Cayenno pepper is by no means inconsiderable , since it commonly forms a large portion of the article . Some idea of the amount of theHO substances frequently present may be formed from the fact that in : i pinch of cayenne , moistened and diffused over a white plate , or a piece of glass , they may be distinctly seen by the eye ttlonn . "
A man may not only " eat a peck of dirt before he dies , " but if ho patronize the coiTeo formerly analyzed by the Jjancet , he may fulfil that function within a few months , giving to the word dirt its TnoBt literal and nasty interpretation . If lie indulges in " tho juico that makes the Briton bold , " in the modern version , sold under the principle " to buy in the cheapest , " &c , he will deaden his Bense to the deglutition of the filth in the coffee , by the habitual taking of narcotics and other physics . Now if , appears , should bin
digestive powers flag under burdens and operations so exhaustive , and nhould he seek recourse- to that celebrated stomachic stimulant , cayenne , be will bo but painting bin inside with the- vermillion oxido of mercury , heaping a lodgment of red lead , and otherwise accumulating those causes of depression which would make him neek the stomachic all the more ? . And if , at last , he rush to the chymistH , as the Jjancct might explain t <> him , for moro direct stomachics , lie will bo put ofl with fictitious drugs that have no virtue .
The people- who commit those crimes arc not only vendors , but consumers , and thin blind worship of the idol Cheapness , in perhaps the most , extraordinary devotion to a Social Juggernaut , ever exhibited . Whoro a man iH a vendor for one thing , he is a purchaser for n hundred ; where he cheats once , he in choatod a hundred times . He connives with his neighbours in a HVBtom by which ouch is to cheat all the rost , and
all are to cheat each . To keep up that system he pretends to breakfast on coffee when the stuff which fumes in the silver coffee-pot is but the refuse of the stable-yard or the grave-yard . He pretends to spice his dinner with the stomachic condiment of the glowing and fragrant West Indies , while he does but paint his mutton with the poison which adorns the handle of his little son ' s sword , and which he forbids that infant to suck . He washes it down with narcotics and other drugs ; and having swallowed drugs and poison in bulk , as food , he goes to the druggist and buys food , or plaster of Paris , or some other inert substance , in very neat little bottles , and to be
neat little folds of paper , and pretends taking physic : he pretends , because it is a way he has , of buying the things which he pretends to receive , but does not receive , " in the cheapest market . " As vendor , he carries his devotion so far that he will not stop short of poisoning , and as purchaser , he consents to be poisoned ; he is the Thug and the victim in one ! And the class which is thus intelligently developing our commerce is the staple of those towns which are henceforth " to govern the country . " Are the most intelligent and influential portion of the class specially selected as trustees for the parliamentary suffrage P
Untitled Article
SCHOOLS FOR WOMEN . How much good may be done if we only set ourselves directly to do it . " Come , " Shelley would say , when anything was proposed , for the benefit of his fellow creatures , " let us begin . " Hundreds , thousands , millions , may be made happier , within the course of a few weeks , if those who know what the word " education" means , would but begin it at once , at their own doors , where they may . We have an example before us . We take a little pamphlet written by " Sarah Crompton , " entitled " Evening Schools for the Education of Women , " and bearing this motto , " The
education of woman is the education of man and woman begun in the right place . "* This pamphlet proposes a plan to teach to women that which they ought to know , in order to be hapirv and the cause of happiness to others , even in the most humble condition . In the progress of civilization , as it is in England , woman has become , for largo portions of our state , no more than a marketable commodity , a part of the vast factory machine ,- not only because patient woman is a cheaper animal than man , but because she has been found peculiarly adapted to a nice performance of a variety of
processes in the finishing of the lighter machine products . Thus , during the week , thousands of females are working together in our factories , and are so closely associated , that each , and all are subjected to whatever influences , be they good or bad , may be exercised over them . Society has provided no institutions for women to afford them the facilities that mechanics' institutions offer to the artisan . Cramped in towns , yet uncultivated by education , the woman has lost the inborn guidance of nature , without acquiring that of knowledge . One fact would suffice to show the frightful extent of this perversion . She poisons her children—with filth , with " soothing nyruv > H , "
with drugs to snatch the burial allowance ! "We are happy to note that the subject , has received special attention in the town of Birmingham , in which resides the loftiest religious spirit wedded to the sweetest influence that can shed tho light , of goodness on the home of the humble and degraded , " making a sunshine in that , shady place . " Less than five years since a party of energetic ladies obtained the loan of a room in a merchant's establishment , ami Micro commenced mi evening . school , with counters for desks , and packing-cancs for sittings . Single women and families
married , Home of them mothers of large ; , were there taught , to read , write , and keep accounts , and to make and repair their apparel . in this room they remained six months , teaching ; the number of the applicants fluctuating ' above and below thirty . They had to combat the prejudices of that ; pauperism of ( he soul , we call ignorance , the hardened opposition to discipline which a life without , hope or stay mistakes for freedom , and many other difficulties , all of which they overcame . They next occupied a room lent them by Messrs . Osier , the makers of the celebrated crystal fountain , and -were furnished by
The fair pioneers who have had the sole management of this school , make it a great point that female influence be especially preserved , as they believe it alone capable of affecting the desired end . There has been no hauteur on the part of the teachers towards the taught ; no vexatious questioning as to unblemished character . The school was opened for the moral redemption of all who lacked the means rather than the desire to become better members of society . The pupils have been trained to love improvement ; whether in their Bible instruction , or in a
those gentlemen with desks and benches : subsequently and at present , the tuition is carried on in the school-room of a neighbouring chapel , three evenings in the week . Another school is opened elsewhere , and others are about to be formed . One paid superintendent is engaged , and one paid teacher . The system of paying assistants is earnestly desired by all those who have had practical experience in this experiment .
dictation lesson , there is a settled earnestness displayed by all ; and an organized system of mutual assistance is now at work amongst them . Sincere attachments have sprung up between the givers and the recipients of" these blessings ; and husbands , wives , mothers , and children , do appreciate the boon which has been thus conferred , from first to last , under a code of morals eminently calculated to insure success in such an undertaking .
Now these schools may be founded elsewhere , and most likely will be founded ; but they may be founded in larger numbers than any yet contemplated . There is no reason why admirable women , like Sarah Crompton ' s friends , should not establish such schools in Manchester , Glasgow , Edinburgh , Bristol , Liverpool , in the score of townswhich compose London , and in all the centres of population scattered so thickly over the United is whthe leaven
Kingdom . There no reason y of enlightened intelligence , re-awakened affections , domestic sympathies , healthy social intercourse , should not be at once imparted to the abandoned outcasts of these populous towns ; within six months the good seed would ripen into a full harvest of beneficent operations , and so many thousands of our bewildered countrywomen be converted from the desolate parents of forlorn children , to the hopeful mothers of hopeful generations .
Untitled Article
* A penny pamphlot , published by Mr . . John Tonka , at tho Town JJuUl Printing-office , in JBirnuughiuu ,
Untitled Article
THE AUSTRALIAN PLUTUS ^ Gold ! The Americans and Australiansjkre full of the word , and what is more ^_ thcy ^ are filling their pockets , or rather their carts , with tho thing . You take a piece of gold ore from California into your hand ; it looks like a lump of rock crystal , of a slightly tavvney colour , liko crystalizcd dogskin gloves—certainly without any appearance of gold to the uninitiated eye . You arc told that it will give " two shillings in tho pound . " A very pretty species of native bankruptcy ! Break that bank , anil it yields you a handsome dividend , without any debt foregoing . Another p iece , of gritty texture , striated with purplish state colour and yellow , looks not unlike a piece of sandstone from ITampstead heath : that will bring threo . shillings in the pound weight . Such are the rocks of California—rocks which it would be a . p leasure to split upon . This is for regular mining ; but there is better than that : the lucky adventurer shall find the gold in great lumps . Australia beats even California ,: the oro rises in mountains , and the clay is so rich at Ballarat , that two tin dishes of it , about twenty inches in diameter , yielded , says Licutcnant-Governor Latrobe , " no less than eight poutulri weight of pure gold . " The accounts from Australia , represent all Hociefy as disorganized—lawyers , officials , shopmen , labourers , clerks ,
policemen , HoIdierH , and sailors , all o ( l" to the " diggiiiH . " Discreet men were alarmed ; but they began to see that affairs must noon right tlicinsclvcH ; very . shortly affairs did follow that sagacious conclusion , and began to l'igl f t themselves ; but the discovery of so much wealth at first gave tho Australians " quite a turn . " The community felt like a boy with his first birthday ten-pound note in his pocket , hardly able to tell what to do with it , how to keep it safe , or how to confront the portentous vicissitudes which such a possession implies . Could we not have taught them in this country P ! low many things might wo do if we had Homo of the Australian dross heroP Think of it , for example , at a . tixao of a gcnoruJ , election ; how
Untitled Article
660 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), July 10, 1852, page 660, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1942/page/16/
-