Louisa Twining

“ Are not the entire charge of a sick ward, the kitchen or laundry for many hundred persons, posts of responsibility? And if so, why are they left entirely to the management of pauper inmates, as in so many cases? It is evident that those who framed the poor-law rules contemplated the very possible abuse of power that would ensue; but even all their precautions and warnings have failed to avert the evil.
Instances of such are only too numerous. In one infirmary where no paid nurse is employed, the pauper nurse is continually being changed; she has one helper, and no extra person at night. ”

“ It may be a fact to be lamented that there should be so large a proportion of our countrymen and women who are compelled to resort to charity for assistance, and even maintenance. But if it is a fact, the only question is how to deal with it, so that it should not become still more lamentable by the manner in which it is treated. "The workhouse" has become a by-word for all that is degraded, scorned, and outcast, and seems to imply a loss of self-respect in every one belonging to it. ”

“ The lower, the more hopeless and degraded the class we have to manage and elevate, the more zeal, patience, devotion and courage must there be in the governors, and fore all arguments about the low character of our workhouse population, only go to prove the truth of what is now so strongly and earnestly urged upon the attention of all enlightened and benevolent men, who will not turn a deaf ear to the wants and sorrows, and, I may add, rights of the poor and destitute, and of him who hath no helper. ”

“ We have frequently men and women suffering under diseases, who come to prison for the express purpose of getting that relief, in the way of medicine and nourishing food, which they have sought in vain from the workhouse, their own parish being, perhaps, miles away, and which they cannot themselves afford.
Superintendence of a responsible kind is needed, not only in the infirmary, but in every department of the house; in the kitchen more especially. I have just seen a proof of this in an account of proceedings in one of our large London workhouses, which ended in the dismissal of the cook. ”

“ It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that the chaplain should have some other cure, which prevents his giving more than one Sunday service in the union; an arrangement as unfair to the chaplain himself, as to those committed to his charge. Imagine a man having to look after his parish Sunday schools, with one whole duty, and sharing two others, having, besides, to officiate at the union, situated more than a mile from the church! ”

“ The chaplain of a prison says, "It is almost heart-breaking to witness the number of poor creatures who come to prison in preference to the union, or because the obtaining what they require from the latter place is beset with so much difficulty and delay. It is not only an anomalous state of things, but highly discreditable to a Christian country, that a poor man should be led, as is frequently the case, to seek necessary food and shelter in a prison. ”

“ It is only from some such reason that I can account for the very prevalent state of feeling with regard to workhouses and their inmates. The simple fact that every country has, ever has had, and I suppose ever must have, a certain portion of poor, helpless and unable to maintain themselves from a variety of causes, is surely too widely acknowledged to be doubted. If so, the fact is equally clear that they must be helped. And we do help them, it is true, and boast of the system by which no one in this Christian land can die of want. ”

“ Having very recently collected all the information I could obtain in the form of a pamphlet on the subject of Workhouses and their management, I hardly thought it likely that I could offer any new suggestions for the consideration of the present meeting. I have found, however, such a generally-awakened interest in the cause, and so many persons ready to furnish facts and observations from their own experience, that I am not without a hope that these remarks may prove of some value to the important subject of the treatment of our poor under the present poor-law system. ”

“ If there was more time for discrimination and individual knowledge on the part of the matron, there would he many of the aged found able to do small jobs of work, who are not able to go into the work-room. In one London union the master kindly and judiciously employs the men in doing all the work of repairs, &c., required in the house, such as painting, white-washing, carpentering, and a large expense is thus saved to the parish.
It seems to be always considered a virtue that all are treated alike in workhouses, without distinction of classes or individuals. ”

“ Every union ought to have a chaplain entirely to itself, and not, as is too often the case, share one with a neighbouring parish. The miserable stipend which is offered by the guardians renders it impossible for any man to devote his whole time to the paupers. ”

“ Lastly, if each union had a resident chaplain, gentlemen as guardians, ladies as authorized visitors, and a master with a higher salary, much good might be brought to pass. I should, besides, like to see it ordered that the master and matron had their meals in the hall with the inmates. This would effect a change both in regard to the conduct of the poor, and condition of the food. If some useful employments were introduced among the more infirm, and even some innocent games, puzzles, &c., it would tend to relieve the tedium and monotony of their lives. ”

“ Persons often come for admission to the hospital who are quite suitable for the union, but some say they would rather die than go there. We may be quite sure that persons will never sham illness to be taken into the union infirmary, therefore there, at least, there can be no fear of making things "too comfortable;" as it is, there is no lack of inmates; let there, at least, in all cases, be one responsible and paid nurse placed over them. ”

“ In many London workhouses a better arrangement is earnestly desired, but is impossible from want of space. The following is the desire of the Poor-law Commissioners on this point: "It is desirable that females of dissolute and disorderly habits should be separated from those of a better character, inasmuch as it is the duty of the guardians to take all reasonable care that the morals of persons admitted into the house be not corrupted by intercourse with inmates of this description." ”

“ Such persons are here and there fortunate enough to obtain admission into almshouses, some of which are of a very superior description, but the few only can hope for this refuge for their last days. As it is not considered a crime in those who accept the charity of an almshouse, why should not some better treatment be reserved for those of the same class who are reduced to accept the charity of a workhouse, and who have in their turn contributed to the support of the poor in their parish? ”

“ In such a cause truth and love will prevail; and while taking every care to train our youth of both sexes in the strictest principles of economy and prudence, we may at the same time believe that as long as the world lasts, there will ever be the unavoidable cases of poverty and suffering, and old age, which may claim a tenderer treatment from a Christian nation than they at present receive. ”

“ In one workhouse the warm garments of the inmates are taken away, without others being supplied; an old man of eighty was deprived of flannel, and when his old mistress supplied him with new, that was taken away. One dying woman sat up in bed constantly, with no covering on her shoulders, and when something was given her for this purpose, it was taken away by the matron. ”

“ Political Economists and Poor-Law Commissioners call it "meddling" when any voice is raised in behalf of this neglected class, and we are told that we know nothing of the matter. But it remains to be seen if such is the general feeling of Englishmen, and Englishwomen, many of whom probably know as much of the poor, and their needs and habits, as a few gentlemen of the upper classes who have had little or no personal intercourse with them. ”

“ Passionate temper and abusive language, there is every reason to believe, is a common style of behaviour towards the paupers, and all the rules and injunctions in the world will prove quite ineffectual to guard against such abuses of power, if persons from a vulgar and uneducated class continue to be selected for such posts of responsibility, where "temper and discretion and integrity are required for the judicious discharge of its duties." ”

“ Another believes that "workhouses are as much 'habitations of cruelty' as any other recesses where unlimited power prevails, and where the victims have no friends. The officials hate inspection and interference, and every difficulty will be thrown in the way. A good, sustained system of visitation would produce most happy effects." Another says, "You have grappled with an evil which most sorely needs a remedy, and the remedies proposed by you are the only ones which will be effectual." ”

“ The searching of the inmates is carried on in the most offensive manner, frequently (of the women) in the presence of the master. They are allowed to possess nothing; the nurses are paid sixpence a week, and when they go out with any savings in their pockets it is taken from them. The master gives his own version of everything to the guardians, who will not listen to the poor themselves. ”

“ Several poor creatures have said to me that they were weary of their lives, they had nothing to live for, they even hoped they might not live to see me again on my return from a short absence, and they longed for death to release them from their trials. ”

“ The habits of many of the inmates will often be coarse and depraved, but the conduct of every officer of such an establishment should correspond with what those habits ought to be, rather than with what they actually are." One of the master's duties is "to take care that no pauper at the approach of death shall be left unattended, either during the day or night." How often all these rules are broken or evaded, every one must be aware who believes all that has been said of the interiors of workhouses. ”

“ The humblest school-boy and girl look down upon the "workhouse" child. The poorest women object to certain kinds of clothing for their children, because it is like the "workhouse dress." Some persons think this all very right, and desirable that it should be so. ”

“ With respect to the use of pauper servants, they require the strictest superintendence on the part of the master and other officers. The employment of paupers in offices of trust is inexpedient, inasmuch as it tends to impair the discipline of the house. In offices of mere labour, which can he performed under trustworthy superintendence, paupers may he useful. Where responsibility is involved, paid servants should be engaged. ”

“ Some difference of treatment and more liberty, might be given with advantage to the old and infirm. That the place should be made as uncomfortable as possible to the young and able-bodied may be necessary, but to those who are well-nigh worn out, it should surely be a resting-place! yet even for the younger inmates the union should be at least as comfortable as the county gaol. ”

“ The present nurse has a bad leg, which has disabled her from hospital work; she is continually grumbling at her occupation and situation, and says she would never stay if she could do anything else.
One poor old woman has been bedridden for years, and her hands are nearly useless, and the fingers bent inwards. ”

“ The following words, written with regard to prison management, are equally applicable to that of workhouses, and till the truth they inculcate be heeded, all our hopes of reform will be in vain. "Fallen men, to be elevated and humanized, must be dealt with as men and brothers, not as brutes and slaves. ”

“ The mother of the lawful child, and the mother of the illegitimate one, are confined side by side, which is as injurious to the one as the other. The honest mother feels somewhat of the disgrace, and the other loses all sense of shame. Visitors entering the ward regard them both as mothers of a child of shame. ”

“ The master of a union, a good and conscientious man, who enters into his work with some intelligence, tells me he cannot understand the reason for wishing to incur the far greater expense of entire maintenance rather than bestow partial relief ”

“ When this is the case, and public feeling is once aroused and expressed, there is much ground for hope that such suggestions will be adopted and carried out. Some few have indeed confessed that they feared the difficulty was an insurmountable one, and the problem insoluble, to make kindness and humanity and comfort compatible with the strict economy which is necessary when charity is granted and bestowed by law. ”