the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第43章
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was impaired or destroyed。 And when this state of affairs is looked at in
its larger aspect； the same will be found true of hundreds of thousands and
even millions of men and women living amicably together and co…
operating in the pursuit of food and shelter。
The figures are appalling： 1；800；000 people in London live on the
poverty line and below it； and 1；000；000 live with one week's wages
between them and pauperism。 In all England and Wales； eighteen per
cent。 of the whole population are driven to the parish for relief； and in
London； according to the statistics of the London County Council； twenty…
one per cent。 of the whole population are driven to the parish for relief。
Between being driven to the parish for relief and being an out…and…out
pauper there is a great difference； yet London supports 123；000 paupers；
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quite a city of folk in themselves。 One in every four in London dies on
public charity； while 939 out of every 1000 in the United Kingdom die in
poverty； 8；000；000 simply struggle on the ragged edge of starvation； and
20；000；000 more are not comfortable in the simple and clean sense of the
word。
It is interesting to go more into detail concerning the London people
who die on charity。
In 1886； and up to 1893； the percentage of pauperism to population
was less in London than in all England； but since 1893； and for every
succeeding year； the percentage of pauperism to population has been
greater in London than in all England。 Yet； from the Registrar…General's
Report for 1886； the following figures are taken：…
Out of 81；951 deaths in London （1884）：…
In workhouses 9；909 In hospitals 6；559
In lunatic asylums 278 Total in public refuges 16；746
Commenting on these figures； a Fabian writer says： 〃Considering
that comparatively few of these are children； it is probable that one in
every three London adults will be driven into one of these refuges to die；
and the proportion in the case of the manual labour class must of course be
still larger。〃
These figures serve somewhat to indicate the proximity of the average
worker to pauperism。 Various things make pauperism。 An
advertisement； for instance； such as this； appearing in yesterday morning's
paper：…
〃Clerk wanted； with knowledge of shorthand； typewriting； and
invoicing： wages ten shillings （2。50） a week。 Apply by letter；〃 &c。
And in to…day's paper I read of a clerk； thirty…five years of age and an
inmate of a London workhouse； brought before a magistrate for non…
performance of task。 He claimed that he had done his various tasks since
he had been an inmate； but when the master set him to breaking stones； his
hands blistered； and he could not finish the task。 He had never been used
to an implement heavier than a pen； he said。 The magistrate sentenced
him and his blistered hands to seven days' hard labour。
Old age； of course； makes pauperism。 And then there is the accident；
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
the thing happening； the death or disablement of the husband； father； and
bread…winner。 Here is a man； with a wife and three children； living on
the ticklish security of twenty shillings per weekand there are hundreds
of thousands of such families in London。 Perforce； to even half exist；
they must live up to the last penny of it； so that a week's wages （one pound）
is all that stands between this family and pauperism or starvation。 The
thing happens； the father is struck down； and what then？ A mother with
three children can do little or nothing。 Either she must hand her children
over to society as juvenile paupers； in order to be free to do something
adequate for herself； or she must go to the sweat…shops for work which she
can perform in the vile den possible to her reduced income。 But with the
sweat…shops； married women who eke out their husband's earnings； and
single women who have but themselves miserably to support； determine
the scale of wages。 And this scale of wages； so determined； is so low that
the mother and her three children can live only in positive beastliness and
semi…starvation； till decay and death end their suffering。
To show that this mother； with her three children to support； cannot
compete in the sweating industries； I instance from the current newspapers
the two following cases：…
A father indignantly writes that his daughter and a girl companion
receive 8。5d。 per gross for making boxes。 They made each day four
gross。 Their expenses were 8d。 for car fare； 2d。 for stamps； 2。5d。 for glue；
and 1d。 for string； so that all they earned between them was 1s。 9d。； or a
daily wage each of 10。5d。
In the second ewe； before the Luton Guardians a few days ago； an old
woman of seventy…two appeared； asking for relief。 〃She was a straw… hat
maker； but had been compelled to give up the work owing to the price she
obtained for themnamely； 2。25d。 each。 For that price she had to provide
plait trimmings and make and finish the hats。〃
Yet this mother and her three children we are considering have done
no wrong that they should be so punished。 They have not sinned。 The
thing happened； that is all； the husband； father and bread… winner； was
struck down。 There is no guarding against it。 It is fortuitous。 A family
stands so many chances of escaping the bottom of the Abyss； and so many
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chances of falling plump down to it。 The chance is reducible to cold；
pitiless figures； and a few of these figures will not be out of place。
Sir A。 Forwood calculates that …
1 of every 1400 workmen is killed annually。 1 of every 2500
workmen is totally disabled。 1 of every 300 workmen is permanently
partially disabled。 1 of every 8 workmen is temporarily disabled 3 or 4
weeks。
But these are only the accidents of industry。 The high mortality of
the people who live in the Ghetto plays a terrible part。 The average age
at death among the people of the West End is fifty…five years； the average
age at death among the people of the East End is thirty years。 That is to
say； the person in the West End has twice the chance for life that the
person has in the East End。 Talk of war！ The mortality in South Africa
and the Philippines fades away to insignificance。 Here； in the heart of
peace； is where the blood is being shed； and here not even the civilised
rules of warfare obtain； for the women and children and babes in the arms
are killed just as ferociously as the men are killed。 War！ In England；
every year； 500；000
