Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 426: Volume 17, New Series, February 28, 1852Various
History
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 426: Volume 17, New Series, February 28, 1852
Various
Periodicals
It is often said, that the operative classes shew an unfortunate
indisposition to advance onwards, and abandon their uniform routine of
toil: the answer to this is--try them. They have adopted the means at
their command in other countries. Mr Davis, an American gentleman,
gave the select committee an animated view of the ambitious workmen of
the New England states, where, he said, 'nobody is contented with his
present condition--everybody is struggling for something better.' Now,
to be discontented with one's condition, in the shape of folding the
arms, and abusing the fate that has not sent chance prosperity, is a
bad thing; but the discontent--if such it can be justly called--which
incites a man to rise in the world by honest exertions, is in every
way a good thing. Mr Davis said, he has been told that, in Lowell,
some of the young women hold stock in the mills in which they work.
Imagine a factory-girl holding stock in a mill!
We believe that unlimited responsibility was really founded on the old
prejudices against usury or interest; and as these prejudices are fast
disappearing, we may hope speedily to see this relic of their
operation removed. Towards this end, let the operatives everywhere
meet to consider this question, so important to their interests; and,
as we believe they will generally see the propriety of furthering a
law to establish commandite partnerships, let them petition the House
of Commons accordingly. Whether the classes with capital will move in
the matter, is doubtful; for they are not the parties to be chiefly
benefited. The best way is not to trust to them on the subject; but
for the working-classes to take the thing into their own hands, and
spare no exertion to procure an act of parliament of the kind we speak
of. We feel assured, that such an act would do more to inspire hope
among artisans, and to put them in the way of fortune, than any other
law that could be mentioned.
RECENT FIRE-PANICS.
The panic created by a cry of fire in theatres, churches, and other
public buildings, may be said to cause a considerably greater number
of deaths than the flames themselves. Few persons, indeed, are burnt
to death, means of escape from conflagration being usually found;
whereas, the number suffocated and bruised to death by mere panic, is
lamentably large. The following is the account of a most disastrous
fire-panic, which we gather from a paper in an American Journal of
Education.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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