in darkest england and the way out-第7章
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Is anything to be done with them？ Can anything be done for them？ Or is this million…headed mass to be regarded as offering a problem as insoluble as that of the London sewage； which； feculent and festering； swings heavily up and down the basin of the Thames with the ebb and flow of the tide？
This Submerged Tenthis it； then； beyond the reach of the nine…tenths in the midst of whom they live； and around whose homes they rot and die？ No doubt； in every large mass of human beings there will be some incurably diseased in morals and in body； some for whom nothing can be done； some of whom even the optimist must despair； and for whom he can prescribe nothing but the beneficently stern restraints of an asylum or a gaol。
But is not one in ten a proportion scandalously high？ The Israelites of old set apart one tribe in twelve to minister to the Lord in the service of the Temple； but must we doom one in ten of 〃God's Englishmen〃 to the service of the great Twin Devils Destitution and Despair？
CHAPTER 3。 THE HOMELESS
Darkest England may be described as consisting broadly of three circles； one within the other。 The outer and widest circle is inhabited by the starving and the homeless； but honest； Poor。 The second by those who live by Vice； and the third and innermost region at the centre is peopled by those who exist by Crime。 The whole of the three circles is sodden with Drink。 Darkest England has many more public…houses than the Forest of the Aruwimi has rivers； of which Mr。 Stanley sometimes had to cross three in half…an…hour。
The borders of this great lost land are not sharply defined。 They are continually expanding or contracting。 Whenever there is a period of depression in trade； they stretch； when prosperity returns； they contract。 So far as individuals are concerned； there are none among the hundreds of thousands who live upon the outskirts of the dark forest who can truly say that they or their children are secure from being hopelessly entangled in its labyrinth。 The death of the bread…winner； a long illness； a failure in the City； or any one of a thousand other causes which might be named； will bring within the first circle those who at present imagine themselves free from all danger of actual want。 The death…rate in Darkest England is high。 Death is the great gaol…deliverer of the captives。 But the dead are hardly in the grave before their places are taken by others。 Some escape； but the majority； their health sapped by their surroundings； become weaker and weaker； until at last they fall by the way； perishing without hope at the very doors of the palatial mansions which； maybe； some of them helped to build。
Some seven years ago a great outcry was made concerning the Housing of the Poor。 Much was said； and rightly saidit could not be said too stronglyconcerning the disease…breeding； manhood…destroying character of many of the tenements in which the poor herd in our large cities。 But there is a depth below that of the dweller in the slums。 It is that of the dweller in the street； who has not even a lair in the slums which he can call his own。 The houseless Out…of…Work is in one respect at least like Him of whom it was said； 〃Foxes have holes； and birds of the air have nests； but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head。〃
The existence of these unfortunates was somewhat rudely forced upon the attention of Society in 1887； when Trafalgar Square became the camping ground of the Homeless Outcasts of London。 Our Shelters have done something； but not enough； to provide for the outcasts； who this night and every night are walking about the streets； not knowing where they can find a spot on which to rest their weary frames。
Here is the return of one of my Officers who was told off this summer to report upon the actual condition of the Homeless who have no roof to shelter them in all London：
There are still a large number of Londoners and a considerable percentage of wanderers from the country in search of work； who find themselves at nightfall destitute。 These now betake themselves to the seats under the plane trees on the Embankment。 Formerly they endeavoured to occupy all the seats； but the lynx…eyed Metropolitan Police declined to allow any such proceedings； and the dossers； knowing the invariable kindness of the City Police； made tracks for that portion of the Embankment which； lying east of the Temple； comes under the control of the Civic Fathers。 Here； between the Temple and Blackfriars； I found the poor wretches by the score； almost every seat contained its full complement of sixsome men； some womenall reclining in various postures and nearly all fast asleep。 Just as Big Ben strikes two； the moon； flashing across the Thames and lighting up the stone work of the Embankment； brings into relief a pitiable spectacle。 Here on the stone abutments； which afford a slight protection from the biting wind； are scores of men lying side by side； huddled together for warmth； and； of course； without any other covering than their ordinary clothing； which is scanty enough at the best。 Some have laid down a few pieces of waste paper； by way of taking the chill off the stones； but the majority are too tired； even for that； and the nightly toilet of most consists of first removing the hat； swathing the head in whatever old rag may be doing duty as a handkerchief； and then replacing the hat。
The intelligent…looking elderly man； who was just fixing himself up on a seat； informed me that he frequently made that his night's abode。 〃You see；〃 quoth he； 〃there's nowhere else so comfortable。 I was here last night； and Monday and Tuesday as well； that's four nights this week。 I had no money for lodgings； couldn't earn any； try as I might。 I've had one bit of bread to…day nothing else whatever； and I've earned nothing to…day or yesterday； I had threepence the day before。 Gets my living by carrying parcels； or minding horses； or odd jobs of that sort。 You see I haven't got my health； that's where it is。 I used to work on the London General Omnibus Company and after that on the Road Car Company； but I had to go to the infirmary with bronchitis and couldn't get work after that。 What's the good of a man what's got bronchitis and just left the infirmary？ Who'll engage him； I'd like to know？ Besides； it makes me short of breath at times； and I can't do much。 I'm a widower； wife died long ago。 I have one boy； abroad； a sailor； but he's only lately started and can't help me。 Yes！ its very fair out here of nights； seats rather hard； but a bit of waste paper makes it a lot softer。 We have women sleep here often； and children； too。 They're very well conducted； and there's seldom many rows here； you see； because everybody's tired out。 We're too sleepy to make a row。〃
Another party； a tall； dull； helpless…looking individual； had walked up from the country； would prefer not to mention the place。 He had hoped to have obtained a hospital letter at the Mansion House so as to obtain a truss for a bad rupture； but failing； had tried various other places； also in vain； win up minus money or food on the Embankment。
In addition to these sleepers； a considerable number walk about the streets up till the early hours of the morning to hunt up some job which will bring I copper into the empty exchequer； and save them from actual starvation。 I had some conversation with one such； a stalwart youth lately discharged from the militia； and unable to get work。
〃You see；〃 said he； pitifully； 〃I don't know my way about like most of the London fellows。 I'm so green； and don't know how to pick up jobs like they do。 I've been walking the streets almost day and night these two weeks and can't get work。 I've got the strength； though I shan't have it long at this rate。 I only want a job。 This is the third night running that I've walked the streets all night； the only money I get is by minding blacking…boys' boxes while they go into Lockhart's for their dinner。 I got a penny yesterday at it； and twopence for carrying a parcel； and to…day I've had a penny。 Bought a ha'porth of bread and a ha'penny mug of tea。〃
Poor lad！ probably he would soon get into thieves' company； and sink into the depths； for there is no
