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LOCAL TAXATION IN COPENHAGEN. 39 examined, is stamped with a mark, differing in shape for imported and home-killed meat, and in colour, according as the meat is absolutely sound or only safe to use if very thoroughly cooked. Housewives naturally look for the first-class mark on meat bought as thoroughly sound1. Space forbids any attempt to reproduce any of the statistics of this important work of the municipality in proteotion of the health of the citizens, as also of the hospitals which are maintained by compulsory, in place of our voluntary, contributions of citizens. Poor-Law .— This subject is so large that I must severely restrict myself to the most meagre outlines. In 1872 Copen- hagen replaced a system in which voluntary aid was rendered by citizens in the work of poor-relief by an entirely official organisation, having found how unsatisfactory the voluntary dispensers of public alms were. At present the city is divided into three districts, each with an inspector and an assistant- inspector, and into twelve sub-districts, each with a relieving officer and an assistant relieving officer. All but one of the sub-districts has two medical officers, the remaining one but one eucb officer. This official staff, under the direction of the third of the four departments of the magistracy, Controls both poor- relief and the new system of support in old age (old-age pensions) established in 1892. Three workthouses are maintiained. In the first respeotable persons of the not-able-bodied class are lodged. In the second the more respectable of the able-bodied are lodged and employment found for them. In the third the worthless section of paupers find either a workhouse or prison as their case demands. There is attached to it a department for providing temporary house-room for houseless people before it is decided whether they should be sent to one of the three institutions before-named, and while they find opportunity to seek for work if they sincerely desire it. The stay in this department is limited to five days. In its oare of pauper children, Copenhagen adopts the method of boarding-out with respectable foster parents. By far the greater number of such are resident outside the city. This brief sketch of the mode of