Three Years Among the Working-Classes in the United

CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY CO LL E C TION Books of enduring scholarly value History The books reissued in this series include accounts of historical events and movements by eye-witnesses and contemporaries, as well as landmark studies that assembled significant source materials or developed new historiographical methods. The series includes work in social, political and military history on a wide range of periods and regions, giving modern scholars ready access to influential publications of the past. Three Years Among the Working-Classes in the United States during the War James Dawson Burn’s 1865 book endeavours to give a true account of the industrial, social, moral and political state of the working class in America, and is addressed partly to intending emigrants. His study examines the people themselves, as well as the circumstances that influenced their conduct during the Civil War, and draws comparisons between their condition and that of the working class in Europe. Burns, writing from the perspective of an English visitor to the United States, remarks that upon seeing the visible social comfort there, he came to believe that lower-class Americans of the period were far in advance of their peers in his own country. Given that American rights and liberties provided such a strong inducement for the labouring population of Europe to flock to its shores, Burns intended his research to serve as a guide for what they could and could not expect. Cambridge University Press has long been a pioneer in the reissuing of out-of-print titles from its own backlist, producing digital reprints of books that are still sought after by scholars and students but could not be reprinted economically using traditional technology. The Cambridge Library Collection extends this activity to a wider range of books which are still of importance to researchers and professionals, either for the source material they contain, or as landmarks in the history of their academic discipline. Drawing from the world-renowned collections in the Cambridge University Library, and guided by the advice of experts in each subject area, Cambridge University Press is using state-of-the-art scanning machines in its own Printing House to capture the content of each book selected for inclusion. The files are processed to give a consistently clear, crisp image, and the books finished to the high quality standard for which the Press is recognised around the world. The latest print-on-demand technology ensures that the books will remain available indefinitely, and that orders for single or multiple copies can quickly be supplied. The Cambridge Library Collection will bring back to life books of enduring scholarly value (including out-of-copyright works originally issued by other publishers) across a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and in science and technology. Three Years Among the Working-Classes in the United States during the War James Dawson Burn CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSIT Y PRESS Cambridge New York Melbourne Madrid Cape Town Singapore São Paolo Delhi Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108002974 © in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009 This edition first published 1865 This digitally printed version 2009 ISBN 978-1-108-00297-4 This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated. Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the reissue of out-of-copyright books not originally published by Cambridge does not imply any knowledge or advocacy of the reissue project on the part of the original publisher. THREE YEARS AMONG THE WORKING-CLASSES IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE WAR. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A BEGGAR-BOY. LONDON: SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. 1865. {The right of Translation is reserved.'] CONTENTS. PREFACE CHAPTER I. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Mixed Character of the Americans—Want of Stamina—Fast Living— Physiological Peculiarities—Prevalent Causes of Indigestion—Quack Medicines—Food of the Working Classes—Boarding-house System — Hotel Life — Demoralizing Influences — Physique of American Women—Artificial Charms—Gluttons at Work—Defect of Sympathy —Everyone for Himself I CHAPTER II. THE LABOURING POPULATION—IRISH AND GERMANS. Predominance of the Irish and German Element in the Industrial Ranks— Improved Social Position of the Irish — Superior Manners of the Younger Generation — Position of German Immigrants — Irish Parentage of Judge Lynch—Ruffianism and Bombast—The Dignity of Labour in the United States—Its Real Cause—Equality not a Principle—Growing Prevalence of Class Peeling—Influence of Dress — Independence a Fiction — Frequent Change of Employment — Tyranny of Classes—Rarity of Friendship among Americans—Dis- regard of the Home Affections—Savage Dogmatism of Working Men —Character of German Working Men—Contempt of the Younger Generation for their Parents—Freedom of Unmarried Girls—Vulgar Ostentation of the Prosperous 14 IV CONTENTS. CHAPTER IK. THE PRESS—ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE—PUBLIC OPINION. PiGE Sensational Character of the Press in America—Offensive Advertising— Military Correspondence of the Herald—Other Leading Papers of New York—Newspaper Articles the Cause of much Mischief during the War—Promulgation of False News—Inhumanity of American Journalism during the War —The Eeligious Press—Personal Liberty a Misnomer—Ready Resort to Violence—Cheapness of Human Life —Corrupt Administration of the Law by Partisan Magistrates and Judges—Instances of Injustice and Successful Violence—Low Class Appointments to Judicial Offices—American Barristers —111 Con- sequences arising from the Disregard of real Distinctions between Man and Man—Prevalent Self-conceit of Americans—Looseness of Reli- gious Associations—Trading Politicians—American Vanity and Hatred of England — Naturalized Foreigners — Want of a sound Public Opinion—The Devil among the Clergy—Intemperance the Vice of Recent Settlers—Proofs of the Degradation of Judicial Appointments. 31 CHAPTER IV. RELIGIOUS AND MORAL CHARACTERISTICS. Puritanical Pride of the New Englanders—Conservatism of the South— Rationalism of the North—Shrewdness of the Genuine Yankee —Real Character of Religious Freedom in America—Quakerism and the Shaking Quakers—Amusements and Superstitions—Astrological Charlatans and Clairvoyantes—Medical Nostrums and Immoralities —Prevalence of Profane Language—Want of Filial Respect in Young Americans—Evil Consequences of the Boarding System—Instability of the Relations between Employers and Employed — Spasmodic Toadyism of the Mass—Rise of the Codfish and Shoddy Aristocracy. 52 CHAPTER V. THE WOMEN OF AMERICA . Principle of Equality asserted by Women—Dishclout Work done by Men- Looseness of the Matrimonial Tic—Unnatural Practices preventing the Increase of Population—Extravagance of Working Men's Wives —Character of Domestic Servants—" Shure there is no Ladies nor Gintlemin in this Counthry, Ma'm ! "—Young Women in American Workships—Effects of the War upon the Morals of American Women CONTENTS. V PAGE — Gallantry of Americans estimated — Purity of Sentiment in American Women—General Eefinement of Americans—Boosters and Gentlemen Cows—Surprise Parties—Motherless Children and Widows Bewitched—Plain Statement of Women's Rights—Dissipa- tion of Society in general during the War—Resort to Fortune-telling —Use of Love-spells by American Girls 76 CHAPTER VI. THE CITIES OF AMERICA—NEW YORK. Changed Condition of Society and of Social Arrangements in America— Character of the Houses and Furniture—Mode of Heating—Street System of American Towns —• Character of the Warehouses and Public Buildings—Use of Marble—Metropolitan Character of New York—Shop Signs and Awnings—-Telegraph Posts and Rails—Sani- tary Appliances—Dust Middens—Cleanliness of the Streets—The Fire-brigade System—Turbulence and Immorality of the Volunteers —Commercial Taste and Enterprise—Transparent Coffins—Hearses and Burials—Sketch of Broadway, New York—Barnum's Museum —Public Flag-staff—Variety of Character and Nationality in New York—Mr. Greeley and Mr. Bennett—Slums of the City—Rowdyism of Public Men—Scenes in Congress—Violence in the Streets of New York—Beautiful Situation of the City—Sketch of Central Park— Comparison with English Parks—How the People are misled by Trading Politicians and Press Writers 101 CHAPTER Vn. THE STEAMBOAT AND RAILWAY SYSTEM OP AMERICA—STREET TRAFFIC. Magnificence of American Steamboats—Total Absence of Class Distinction among Travellers—Life on board the Great River Steamers—Sketch of a Steamer trading between New York and Albany—Vast Extent and Completeness of the Arrangements — American Railway Car- riages—Superiority of all the Arrangements for the Comfort of Travel- lers—Extent of the Iron Roads—Street Railways and Municipal Jobbery — Carelessness and Independence of American Railway Servants—The American and English Hotel System compared— Pleasant Scene at an American Dinner-table—Private Vehicles and Street Traffic—Superiority of the American Country Waggons—The Itinerant Tradesmen of American Towns — No Tallymen, thank Goodness 131 Ti CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. EDUCATION—THE FREE-SCHOOL STSTEM. PAGE Educational Arrangements of the Early Colonists—Eise of the Free-school System—Organization of the Schools—Qualifications of Teachers— Comprehensive Plan of Instruction—Details of Classes and Studies —Contrasted Condition

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