HOW BEGGARY WAS ABOLISHED IN BAVARIA BY COUNT
RUM FORD.
Count Rumford was an American officer who served with considerable distinction in the Revolutionary War in that country, and afterwards settled in England. From thence he went to Bavaria, where he was promoted to the chief command of its army, and also was energetically employed in the Civil Government. Bavaria at this time literally swarmed with beggars, who were not only an eyesore and discredit to the nation, but a positive injury to the State. The Count resolved upon the extinction of this miserable profession, and the following extracts from his writings describe the method by which he accomplished it :—
" Bavaria, by the neglect of the Government, and the abuse of the kindness and charity of its amiable people, had become infested with beggars, with whom mingled vagabonds and thieves. They were to the body politic what parasites and vermin are to people and dwellings — breeding by the same lazy neglect."'
—(Page 14.)
" In Bavaria there were laws which made provision for the poor, but they
suffered them to fall into neglect. Beggary had become general."
—(Page 15.)
" In short," says Count Rumiord, " these detestable vermin swarmed everywhere ; and not only their impudence and clamorous importunity were boundless, but they had recourse to the most diabolical arts and the most horrid crimes in the prosecution of their infamous trade. They exposed and tortured their own children, and those they stole for the purpose, to extort contributions from the charitable." — (Page 15.)
" In the large towns beggary was an organised imposture, with a sort of government and police of its own. Each beggar had his beat, with orderly successions and promotions, as with other governments. There were battles to decide conflicting claims, and a good beat was not unfrequently a marriage portion or a thumping legacy." — (Page 16.)