Page:The Slippery Slope.djvu/85

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DIETARY SCALES
65

ing youth of nineteen to the chairman one day. The question still remains unanswered.

Another handed in one day, with a low bow, a copy of verses dedicated to the Committee. It began:—


"Who are the powers at
Whose conduct's base and low and mean?— 

Our Guardians.

Who try to crush the very poor?
Who every honest man ignore?—

Our Guardians.

Whose heads are empty as a bladder?
Who couldn't if they tried be madder?—

Our Guardians.

Whose ways are base and dark and mean?
Who do their work with hands unclean?—

Our Guardians.

Who honest ways do not approve,
Who others' goods with care remove?—

Our Guardians.

Whose wicked ways we will not tell,
Who when they die will go to——

Our Guardians."


There had been some difference of opinion with him as to his settlement, which it took nearly two years to ascertain—hence his animus. He was passed to his parish and now some other Board has its laureate. Even if the inmates had nothing to complain of, they liked to have a chat. It was said also that they liked coming before the Committee because they got an extra shave that day.

The dietary scales of different London workhouses vary considerably. One, which is said to be "the best in London," gives those over sixty butcher meat four times a week, bacon or pork the fifth, and meat puddings and meat broth on the other two days. Though this is said to be the best, there are several other Unions in which the scale is practically the same, and the tendency in