Saxony, 1882–1887.[344]

Years.Number Convicted of Vagrancy and Mendicity.
First Quarter.Second Quarter.Third Quarter.Fourth Quarter.
Absolute Numbers. Percentage of Annual Total.Absolute Numbers. Percentage of Annual Total.Absolute Numbers. Percentage of Annual Total.Absolute Numbers. Percentage of Annual Total.
1882 6,752 36.1 4,220 22.6 3,181 17.0 4,546 24.3
1883 6,619 36.6 3,934 21.7 2,957 16.5 4,567 25.2
1884 6,641 37.6 3,855 21.8 2,721 15.5 4,462 25.2
1885 6,555 35.9 3,424 18.7 2,872 15.7 5,440 29.7
1886 7,139 41.5 3,507 20.4 2,654 15.4 3,900 22.7
1887 5,787 39.1 3,344 22.6 2,251 15.2 3,411 23.1

These statistics justify the conclusion drawn by Ostwald, from whom I have taken the figures for Hesse. This author is a competent witness, as he tramped as a vagrant for some time himself. He says: “These figures directly contradict the statement that antipathy to regular work forms the principal source of vagrancy and mendicity; especially as there is no inclination to frequent the highways in winter. It is the need that comes of unemployment that drives out these poorest of the poor; and whoever wishes to do away with vagrancy must make the economic existence of the working people secure, instead of visiting the victims of poverty with Draconian punishments.”[345]

Another proof in support of the assertion that unemployment is a cause of mendicity and vagrancy, is to be found in the fact that the figures for vagrancy and mendicity rise considerably at the time of economic crises. The same phenomenon occurs more or less when the price of grain or bread goes up. Then those whose labor is only poorly paid must find some means of increasing their resources; and further when bread is dear less of other things can be bought, which brings about a decrease in production and consequently an increase in forced idleness.

In the first part of this work I have mentioned authors who have shown for different countries that the curve of vagrancy rises or falls as economic conditions become worse or better. I add here the data that I have been able to find elsewhere. [[549]]

England, 1856–1896.[346]

Years.Vagrants Convicted. Years.Vagrants Convicted.
Absolute Numbers.To 100,000 of the Population. Absolute Numbers.To 100,000 of the Population.
1856–57 19,270 99.7 1876–77 22,475 90.9
1857–58 21,473 109.9 1877–78 23,662 94.5
1858–59 16,401 83.0 1878–79 25,790 101.6
1859–60 16,374 82.2 1879–80 30,323 117.5
1860–61 17,496 86.9 1880–81 28,088 107.8
1861–62 20,636 101.4 1881–82 28,729 109.0
1862–63 21,758 105.8 1882–83 28,825 108.2
1863–64 20,414 97.7 1883–84 28,370 105.3
1864–65 20,307 96.7 1884–85 27,467 100.9
1865–66 19,607 91.8 1885–86 26,546 96.4
1866–67 21,071 97.5 1886–87 28,690 103.0
1867–68 24,125 110.2 1887–88 31,380 111.5
1868–69 29,890 134.8 1888–89 28,032 98.5
1869–70 28,367 126.3 1889–90 25,001 86.5
1870–71 24,902 109.4 1890–91 22,577 77.6
1871–72 21,325 92.4 1891–92 23,623 80.3
1872–73 19,433 83.2 1893 24,830 83.3
1873–74 19,582 82.8 1894 25,676 85.4
1874–75 17,692 73.5 1895 23,524 77.4
1875–76 19,841 81.4 1896 25,188 81.9

When we compare these figures with the course of economic events, we find the following: 1856 was a bad year economically, and 1857 and 1858 were still worse; in 1859 the situation improved, to become worse again in 1860, 1861, and 1862. The improvement was restored in 1863, while 1864 and 1865 were fair; in 1866, 1867, and 1868 conditions became worse again, but improved from 1869 to 1874. With 1875 things took a turn for the worse, and this condition lasted till 1879, when there was a slight improvement; 1880, 1881, and 1882 were fair, while 1883 was a passably good year. In 1884 a period of depression began, which lasted till 1888, following which there was an improvement until 1891, with the succeeding years up to 1894 not so good. In 1895 things once more took a turn for the better.[347] [[550]]

With some exceptions the curve of vagrancy rises and falls, then, pretty much as the economic situation grows worse or improves.

Bavaria, 1835–1861.