DUTCH CURE FOR LAZINESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 47, 22 November 1890, Page 2

DUTCH CURE FOR LAZINESS.

During a morning walk, a merchant, who was detained by business in Amsterdam, came to a group of men who were standing around a well, into which a strongly built man had just been let down. A pipe, whose mouth was at the top of the well, had been opened, and a stream of water from it was flowing down into the well and beginning gradually to fill it. The fell >w below had quite enough to do, if he did not w ant to be drowned, to keep the water out by means of a pump which was at the bottom of the well. The merchant, pitying the man, asked for an explanation of what seemed a heartless, cruel joke. ‘ Sir,’ replied an old man standing near, ‘ that man is healthy and strong. I have myself offered him work twenty times, nevertheless he always allows drunkenness to get the better of him, and will make any excuse to beg his bread from door to door, though he might easily earn it himself by work if he liked. We are now trying to make him feel that he can work. If he uses the strength which is in his arms, he will be saved ; if he lets them hang idle, he will be drowned. But look,’ continued the old Dutchman, as he went to the edge of the well, ‘ the fellow finds out that he has got muscles ; in an hour we shall let him out with better lesolutions for the future.’ Such was the case and the cure was effectual.