POVERTY IN EUROPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1753, 30 January 1888, Page 3

POVERTY IN EUROPE

An inquiry recently instituted into the condition of tho Vienna poor attending the elementary schools resulted m appalling disclosures Upwards cf 4 000 chi dren were suffering from the pangs of hunger, some of them being on the verge of starvation. A long list of heartrending caeos came to light, and no doubt was left that not a few of the unfortunate little ones had d edf of inanition. The intelligence, heralded abroad through the local Press, at once beoame sensational, and the starving school children are now the idols of the hour The children, crossexamined by a relief committee, corroborated the evidence already taken. It transpired that their principil food consisted of dry bread, and occasionally a little weak soup or coffee. It is quite true that bouio of them bffirmed that they we-e habitually giv«n a glass of Fpirits to stifle the cravings of their appetite atad to keep out the cold One boy positively stated that his father was a good man, and that when he could not give him anything to eßt he let him drink .as much gin as h-i liked. u Ja, j<i," exclaimed his schoolfellows, " aud that ib why you often come drunk to school." The parents of the starving children are for the moitpart day laborers, though sorn9 undoubtedly belong to a lees respectable class As Boon as the work of relieving the childre i waa tafeen m hand, subscriptions were opened at the editorial offices of the metropolitan Press. Seldom has an appeal to DUblio charity bean more readi'y and more generously responded to. The poor classes have largely contributed The popular newspapers are full of advertise ments from people who cannot spare much money, bat who offer to givo one or two children their daily food Almost all these advertisements add that application can be made without distinction of religion. Ail the hotel and restaurant keepers are feeding a certain number of hungry children every d iy