A LANCASHIRE LESSON:
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Having seen a letter in your issue of March 23rd attacking the luxury and extravagance of the middle class, I beg to state a few plain facts exposing the prodigality of the working classes of South Lancashire. Let the collier have his sirloin of beef, his recreation, and his honest pleasure, but by all means oppose wilful waste and extravagance. On Friday or Saturday the workmen of this district draw their wages, only to spend them in the public-house during the week- end. On Monday they rush to the pawnbroker to pledge their clothes, and this is the routine of their life throughout the year. In this time of distress many landowners have allowed the unemployed to gather and sell the coal contained in the waste heaps on their laud. The money obtained is spent in the public-house, in spite of the publicans entreating them to go home to their wives and children. Behind the houses of the miners are heaped np the ashes from the fire-place, which contain much good coal, and this waste is not allowed in the houses of the wealthy middle class. I know of a ease where a working man earning 25s. a week has worked overtime and earned £1 a week extra, which was spent at the alehouse bar. I do not deny the fact that there are many thrifty working people just as there are wealthy middle-class people who hate extravagance, but I want to show that the prodigality and waste of the lower classes are proportionate to that of the middle classes. This waste fills the prisons, workhouses, and even asylums, demoralizes the race as a whole, burdens the country with taxation, and finally leads to ruin.—I am, Sir, &c.,
OBSERVER.
Previous page
