Carrol Cox wrote:
> "Poorhouse" does not mean "welfare office." Historically it was a quite
> literal designation in early 20th century u.s. (probably going back to
> the 19th c.) -- it was a literal *house* maintained by the county government
> to commit paupers to. I'm not sure when the literal institution disappeared,
> but at least in the late 1930s to which my memory stretches when people
> spoke of fearing to go to the poor house they were being quite literal.
>
> The statement Kelly quotes probably goes back to mid-century at least. I
> doubt that its origins can be discovered.
>
> Carrol
>
> kelley wrote:
>
> > Hi: A colleague of mine was wondering about the origin of a statement he
> > thinks he recalls someone making. It's something like this: "The United
> > States will be the first country where people will drive to the poorhouse
> > (welfare office?)". He's not sure of the precise quotation, but that's the
> > general idea.
> >
> > Does anyone recognize this or have any idea who said it?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Peter Meiksins
> >
> > Peter Meiksins
> > Department of Sociology
> > Cleveland State University
> > Cleveland OH 44115
> >
> > 216-687-4518
> > FAX: 216-687-9314
> > EMAIL: P.Meiksins at popmail.csuohio.edu