the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第3章
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paid you ten bob for the lot； and I'll sell them back to you； right now； for
eight！ Come； it's a go！〃
But he grinned and shook his head； and though I had made a good
bargain； I was unpleasantly aware that he had made a better one。
I found the cabby and a policeman with their heads together； but the
latter； after looking me over sharply； and particularly scrutinizing the
bundle under my arm； turned away and left the cabby to wax mutinous by
himself。 And not a step would he budge till I paid him the seven shillings
and sixpence owing him。 Whereupon he was willing to drive me to the
ends of the earth； apologising profusely for his insistence； and explaining
that one ran across queer customers in London Town。
But he drove me only to Highbury Vale； in North London； where my
luggage was waiting for me。 Here； next day； I took off my shoes （not
without regret for their lightness and comfort）； and my soft； grey travelling
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suit； and； in fact； all my clothing； and proceeded to array myself in the
clothes of the other and unimaginable men； who must have been indeed
unfortunate to have had to part with such rags for the pitiable sums
obtainable from a dealer。
Inside my stoker's singlet； in the armpit； I sewed a gold sovereign （an
emergency sum certainly of modest proportions）； and inside my stoker's
singlet I put myself。 And then I sat down and moralised upon the fair
years and fat； which had made my skin soft and brought the nerves close
to the surface； for the singlet was rough and raspy as a hair shirt； and I am
confident that the most rigorous of ascetics suffer no more than I did in the
ensuing twenty…four hours。
The remainder of my costume was fairly easy to put on； though the
brogans； or brogues； were quite a problem。 As stiff and hard as if made
of wood； it was only after a prolonged pounding of the uppers with my
fists that I was able to get my feet into them at all。 Then； with a few
shillings； a knife； a handkerchief； and some brown papers and flake
tobacco stowed away in my pockets； I thumped down the stairs and said
good…bye to my foreboding friends。 As I paused out of the door； the
〃help；〃 a comely middle…aged woman； could not conquer a grin that
twisted her lips and separated them till the throat； out of involuntary
sympathy； made the uncouth animal noises we are wont to designate as
〃laughter。〃
No sooner was I out on the streets than I was impressed by the
difference in status effected by my clothes。 All servility vanished from
the demeanour of the common people with whom I came in contact。
Presto！ in the twinkling of an eye； so to say； I had become one of them。
My frayed and out…at…elbows jacket was the badge and advertisement of
my class； which was their class。 It made me of like kind； and in place of
the fawning and too respectful attention I had hitherto received； I now
shared with them a comradeship。 The man in corduroy and dirty
neckerchief no longer addressed me as 〃sir〃 or 〃governor。〃 It was 〃mate〃
nowand a fine and hearty word； with a tingle to it； and a warmth and
gladness； which the other term does not possess。 Governor！ It smacks
of mastery； and power； and high authoritythe tribute of the man who is
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
under to the man on top； delivered in the hope that he will let up a bit and
ease his weight； which is another way of saying that it is an appeal for
alms。
This brings me to a delight I experienced in my rags and tatters which
is denied the average American abroad。 The European traveller from the
States； who is not a Croesus； speedily finds himself reduced to a chronic
state of self…conscious sordidness by the hordes of cringing robbers who
clutter his steps from dawn till dark； and deplete his pocket…book in a way
that puts compound interest to the blush。
In my rags and tatters I escaped the pestilence of tipping； and
encountered men on a basis of equality。 Nay； before the day was out I
turned the tables； and said； most gratefully； 〃Thank you； sir；〃 to a
gentleman whose horse I held； and who dropped a penny into my eager
palm
Other changes I discovered were wrought in my condition by my new
garb。 In crossing crowded thoroughfares I found I had to be； if anything；
more lively in avoiding vehicles； and it was strikingly impressed upon me
that my life had cheapened in direct ratio with my clothes。 When before
I inquired the way of a policeman； I was usually asked； 〃Bus or 'ansom；
sir？〃 But now the query became； 〃Walk or ride？〃 Also； at the railway
stations； a third…class ticket was now shoved out to me as a matter of
course。
But there was compensation for it all。 For the first time I met the
English lower classes face to face； and knew them for what they were。
When loungers and workmen； at street corners and in public… houses；
talked with me； they talked as one man to another； and they talked as
natural men should talk； without the least idea of getting anything out of
me for what they talked or the way they talked。
And when at last I made into the East End； I was gratified to find that
the fear of the crowd no longer haunted me。 I had become a part of it。
The vast and malodorous sea had welled up and over me； or I had slipped
gently into it； and there was nothing fearsome about itwith the one
exception of the stoker's singlet。
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CHAPTER IIJOHNNY
UPRIGHT
I shall not give you the address of Johnny Upright。 Let it suffice that
he lives in the most respectable street in the East Enda street that would
be considered very mean in America； but a veritable oasis in the desert of
East London。 It is surrounded on every side by close…packed squalor and
streets jammed by a young and vile and dirty generation； but its own
pavements are comparatively bare of the children who have no other place
to play； while it has an air of desertion； so few are the people that come
and go。
Each house in this street； as in all the streets； is shoulder to shoulder
with its neighbours。 To each house there is but one entrance； the front
door； and each house is about eighteen feet wide； with a bit of a brick…
walled yard behind； where； when it is not raining； one may look at a slate…
coloured sky。 But it must be understood that this is East End opulence
we are now considering。 Some of the people in this street are even so well…
to…do as to keep a 〃slavey。〃 Johnny Upright keeps one； as I well know；
she being my first acquaintance in this particular portion of the wo
