New worlds for old: A plain account of modern socialismWells, H. G. (Herbert George)
General
New worlds for old: A plain account of modern socialism
Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
Socialism
"196. A filthy, dirty house. The most elementary notions of
cleanliness seem disregarded. The father's earnings are not
large, and the house is insanitary, but more might be made of
things if there were sobriety and thrift. There does not,
however, appear to be _great_ drunkenness, and five small
children must be difficult to bring up on the money coming in.
There are two women in the house. The eldest child dirty and
fleabitten. Housing: seven in two rooms. Evidence from Police,
Club, Employer, School-mistress and School Officer.
"197. The parents are thoroughly drunken and dissolute. They
have sunk almost to the lowest depths of social degradation.
There is no furniture in the house, and the five children are
neglected and starved. One boy earns a trifle out of school
hours. All accounts agree as to the character of the father
and mother, though they have not been in the hands of the
police. Second child has rickets, bronchitis, slight glands
and is bow-legged. Two children have died. Housing: seven in
two rooms. Evidence from Police, Parish Sister, Employer and
School-mistress.
"198. This house is fairly comfortable, and there is no
evidence of drink, but the surroundings have a bad and
depressing effect on the parents. The children are sent to
school very untidy and dirty, and are certainly underfed. The
father's wages are very small, and only one boy is working;
there are six altogether. The mother chars occasionally. Food
and clothing is given to school-children. The man is in a
saving club. The eldest child fleabitten; body unwashed. The
second, glands; fleabitten and dirty; cretinoid; much
undergrown. Two have died. Housing: seven in two rooms.
Evidence from School Charity, Factor, Police and
School-mistress.
"199. The house was fairly comfortable and the man appeared to
be intelligent and the wife hard-working, but the police
reports are very bad; there are several convictions against
the former. He has consequently been idle, and the burden of
the family has rested on the wife. There are six children, two
of them are working and earning a little, but a large amount
of charity from school, church and private generosity keeps
the family going. The children are fearfully verminous. There
is a suggestion that some baby farming is done, so many are
about. Eldest child anæmic; glands; head badly crusted; lice
very bad. Second child, numerous glands; head covered with
crusts; lice very bad. Four have died. Housing: eight in two
rooms. Evidence from Police, Teacher, Church, Parish Sister
and Factor.
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