in darkest england and the way out-第8章

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Poor　lad！　probably　he　would　soon　get　into　thieves'　company；　and　sink　into　the　depths；　for　there　is　no　other　means　of　living　for　many　like　him；　it　is　starve　or　steal；　even　for　the　young。　　There　are　gangs　of　lad　thieves　in　the　low　Whitechapel　lodging…houses；　varying　in　age　from　thirteen　to　fifteen；　who　live　by　thieving　eatables　and　other　easily　obtained　goods　from　shop　fronts。　　In　addition　to　the　Embankment；　al　fresco　lodgings　are　found　in　the　seats　outside　Spitalfields　Church；　and　many　homeless　wanderers　have　their　own　little　nooks　and　corners　of　resort　in　many　sheltered　yards；　vans；　etc。；　all　over　London。　Two　poor　women　I　observed　making　their　home　in　a　shop　door…way　in　Liverpool　Street。　　Thus　they　manage　in　the　summer；　what　it's　like　in　winter　time　is　terrible　to　think　of。　　In　many　cases　it　means　the　pauper's　grave；　as　in　the　case　of　a　young　woman　who　was　wont　to　sleep　in　a　van　in　Bedfordbury。　　Some　men　who　were　aware　of　her　practice　surprised　her　by　dashing　a　bucket　of　water　on　her。　　The　blow　to　her　weak　system　caused　illness；　and　the　inevitable　sequela　coroner's　jury　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　water　only　hastened　her　death；　which　was　due；　in　plain　English；　to　starvation。

The　following　are　some　statements　taken　down　by　the　same　Officer　from　twelve　men　whom　he　found　sleeping　on　the　Embankment　on　the　nights　of　June　13th　and　14th；　1890：…

No。　1。　　〃I've　slept　here　two　nights；　I'm　a　confectioner　by　trade；　I　come　from　Dartford。　　I　got　turned　off　because　I'm　getting　elderly。　They　can　get　young　men　cheaper；　and　I　have　the　rheumatism　so　bad。　I've　earned　nothing　these　two　days；　I　thought　I　could　get　a　job　at　Woolwich；　so　I　walked　there；　but　could　get　nothing。　　I　found　a　bit　of　bread　in　the　road　wrapped　up　in　a　bit　of　newspaper。　　That　did　me　for　yesterday。　　I　had　a　bit　of　bread　and　butter　to…day。　　I'm　54　years　old。　When　it's　wet　we　stand　about　all　night　under　the　arches。'

No。　2。　　〃Been　sleeping　out　three　weeks　all　but　one　night；　do　odd　jobs；　mind　horses；　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　Earned　nothing　to…day；　or　shouldn't　be　here。　　Have　had　a　pen'orth　of　bread　to…day。　　That's　all。　Yesterday　had　some　pieces　given　to　me　at　a　cook…shop。　　Two　days　last　week　had　nothing　at　all　from　morning　till　night。　　By　trade　I'm　a　feather…bed　dresser；　but　it's　gone　out　of　fashion；　and　besides　that；　I've　a　cataract　in　one　eye；　and　have　lost　the　sight　of　it　completely。　I'm　a　widower；　have　one　child；　a　soldier；　at　Dover。　　My　last　regular　work　was　eight　months　ago；　but　the　firm　broke。　　Been　doing　odd　jobs　Since。〃

No。　3。　　〃I'm　a　tailor；　have　slept　here　four　nights　running。　　Can't　get　work。　　Been　out　of　a　job　three　weeks。　　If　I　can　muster　cash　I　sleep　at　a　lodging…house　in　Vere　Street；　Glare　Market。　　It　was　very　wet　last　night。　　I　left　these　seats　and　went　to　Covent　Garden　Market　and　slept　under　cover。　　There　were　about　thirty　of　us。　　The　police　moved　us　on；　but　we　went　back　as　soon　as　they　had　gone。　　I've　had　a　pen'orth　of　bread　and　pen'orth　of　soup　during　the　last　two　daysoften　goes　without　altogether。　　There　are　women　sleep　out　here。　　They　are　decent　people；　mostly　charwomen　and　such　like　who　can't　get　work。〃

No。4。　　Elderly　man；　trembles　visibly　with　excitement　at　mention　of　work；　produces　a　card　carefully　wrapped　in　old　newspaper；　to　the　effect　that　Mr。　J。R。　is　a　member　of　the　Trade　Protection　League。　　He　is　a　waterside　labourer；　last　job　at　that　was　a　fortnight　since。　　Has　earned　nothing　for　five　days。　　Had　a　bit　of　bread　this　morning；　but　not　a　scrap　since。　　Had　a　cup　of　tea　and　two　slices　of　bread　yesterday；　and　the　same　the　day　before；　the　deputy　at　a　lodging　house　gave　it　to　him。　He　is　fifty　years　old；　and　is　still　damp　from　sleeping　out　in　the　wet　last　night。

No。　5。　　Sawyer　by　trade；　machinery　cut　him　out。　　Had　a　job；　haymaking　near　Uxbridge。　　Had　been　on　same　job　lately　for　a　month；　got　2s。　6d　a　day。　　（Probably　spent　it　in　drink；　seems　a　very　doubtful　worker。）　Has　been　odd　jobbing　a　long　time；　earned　2d。　to…day；　bought　a　pen'orth　of　tea　and　ditto　of　sugar　（produces　same　from　pocket）　but　can't　get　any　place　to　make　the　tea；　was　hoping　to　get　to　a　lodging　house　where　he　could　borrow　a　teapot；　but　had　no　money。　　Earned　nothing　yesterday；　slept　at　a　casual　ward；　very　poor　place；　get　insufficient　food；　considering　the　labour。　　Six　ounces　of　bread　and　a　pint　of　skilly　for　breakfast；　one　ounce　of　cheese　and　six　or　seven　ounces　of　bread　for　dinner　（bread　cut　by　guess）。　　Tea　same　as　breakfast；no　supper。　For　this　you　have　to　break　10　cwt。　of　stones；　or　pick　4　lbs。　of　oakum。

Number　6。　　Had　slept　out　four　nights　running。　　Was　a　distiller　by　trade　been　out　four　months；　unwilling　to　enter　into　details　of　leaving；　but　it　was　his　own　fault。　　（Very　likely；　a　heavy；　thick；　stubborn；　and　senseless…looking　fellow；　six　feet　high；　thick　neck；　strong　limbs；　evidently　destitute　of　ability。　　Does　odd　jobs；　earned　3d。　for　minding　a　horse；　bought　a　cup　of　coffee　and　pen'orth　of　bread　and　butter。　Has　no　money　now。　　Slept　under　Waterloo　Bridge　last　night。

No。　7。　　Good…natured　looking　man；　one　who　would　suffer　and　say　nothing　clothes　shining　with　age；　grease；　and　dirt；　they　hang　on　his　joints　as　on　pegs；　awful　rags！　　I　saw　him　endeavouring　to　walk。　　He　lifted　his　feet　very　slowly　and　put　them　down　carefully　in　evident　pain。　　His　legs　are　bad；　been　in　infirmary　several　times　with　them。　　His　uncle　and　grandfather　were　clergymen；　both　dead　now。　　He　was　once　in　a　good　position　in　a　money　office；　and　afterwards　in　the　London　and　County　Bank　for　nine　years。　　Then　he　went　with　an　auctioneer　who　broke；　and　he　was　left　ill；　old；　and　without　any　trade。　　〃A　clerk's　place；〃　says　he；　〃is　never　worth　having；　because　there　are　so　many　of　them；　and　once　out　you　can　only　get　another　place　with　difficulty。　　I　have　a　brother…in…law　on　the　Stock　Exchange；　but　he　won't　own　me。　　Look　at　my　clothes？　　Is　it　likely？〃

No。　8。　　Slept　here　four　nights　running。　　Is　a　builder's　labourer　by　trade；　that　is；　a　handy…man。　　Had　a　settled　job　for　a　few　weeks　which　expired　three　weeks　since。　　Has　earned　nothing　for　nine　days。　　Then　helped　wash　down　a　shop　front　and　got　2s。　6d。　for　it。　　Does　anything　he　can　get。　　Is　46　years　old。　　Earns　about　2d。　or　3d。　a　day　at　horse　minding。　　A　cup　of　tea　and　a　bit　of　bread　yesterday；　and　same　to…day；　is　all　he　has　had。

No。　9。　　A　plumber's　labourer　（all　these　men　who　are　somebody's　〃labourers〃　are　poor　samples　of　humanity；　evidently　lacking　in　grit；　and　destitute　of　ability　to　do　any　work　which　would　mean　decent　wages）。　Judging　from　appearances；　they　will　do　nothing　well。　　They　are　a　kind　of　automaton；　with　the　machinery　rusty；　slow；　dull；　and　incapable。　The　man　of　ordinary　intelligence　leaves　them　in　the　rear。　　They　could　doubtless　earn　more　even　at　odd　jobs；　but　lack　the　energy。　　Of　course；　this　means　little　food；　exposure　to　weather；　and　increased　incapability　day　by　day。　　（〃From　him　that　hath　not；〃　etc。）　　Out　of　work　through　slackness；　does　odd　jobs；　slept　here　three　nights　running。　　Is　a　dock　labourer　when　he　can　get　work。　　Has　6d。　an　hour；　works　so　many　hours；　according　as　he　is　wanted。　　Gets　2s。；　3s。；　or　4s。　6d。　a　day。　Has　to　work　very　hard　for　it。　　Casual　ward　life　is　also　very　hard　he　says；　for　those　who　are　not　used　to　it；　and　there　is　not　enough　to　eat。　Has　had　to…day　a　pen'orth　of　bread；　for　minding　a　cab。　　Yesterday　he　spent　3　1/2d。　on　a　breakfast；　and　that　lasted　him　all　day。　　Age　25。

No。　10。　　Been　out　of　work　a　month。　　Carman　by　trade。　　Arm　withered；　and　cannot　do　work　properly。　　Has　slept　here　all　the　week；　got　an　awful　cold　through　the　wet。　　Lives　at　odd　jobs　（they　all　do）。　　Got　sixpence　yesterday　for　minding　a　cab　and　carrying　a　couple　of　parcels。　Earned　nothing　to…day；　but　had　one　good　meal；　a　lady　gave　it　him。　Has　been　walking　about　all　day　looking　for　work；　and　is　tired　out。

No。　11。　　Youth；　aged　16。　　Sad　case；　Londoner。　　Works　at　odd　jobs　and　matches　selling。　　Has　taken　3d。　to…day；　i。e。；　net　profit　1　1/2d。　　Has　five　boxes　still。　　Has　slept　here　every　night　for　a　month。　　Before　that　slept　in　Covent　Garden　Market　or　on　doorsteps。　　Been　sleeping　out　six　months；　since　he　left　Feltham　Industrial　School。　　Was　sent　there　for　playing　truant。　　Has　had　one　bit　of　bread　to…day；　yesterday　had　only　some　gooseberries　and　cherries；　i。e。；　bad　ones　tha