Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1840-12-11
BIoohlIlIGToN, / = FRIDAY. DEoEMBER il, 1910:

i With 1tl6 knees broken arms, or have lost 9
father, oF hare 5 tnothes u Newgate. Or have
moi had Bit II bread to-day, &c. &c. Who
eyermsy doubt these tales, none will question
(who eees them that they are Oliver Twist in
shadow leanness, and Jack Shepherds in the
embryo villainy which Turks under their eye.
brows. Old Pagan reigns supreme in this
ragged clan. He dresses them 10 some of the
miserable clothing they have begged or pilfer-
cd, treats them with great cruelty, gives them
mendicants' fare, while he dimes on ducks,
roast beef, and ssthe delicacies Of the season.
The police have more than once ferretted out
his den. and frightened him 70 comparative de-
cency for few weeks, when he again marshals
| his forlorn hope and sallies forth.
London furnishes more specimens Of refuse
humanity than can be found in all the cities of
tie United States. Boz 8 graphic portraitures
have their veritable originals in hundreds Of
its dingy alleys. Every day in the vicinity
Of the post office, you will meet q walking
desolation in the shape Of tall spare species
Of manhood, with pale and gloomy viSage,
whose person is all exposed to sun and Storm
notwithstanding the attempted shelter Of his
ta:tered garments, his feet bound up in m4ces
of rags, who slowly stalk through the streets
on crutches, with large placard hanging ION
his breast, bearing this inscription "A real
case Of Distress" Set your eye on him, and
he will groan most piteously, and stretch 6ht
his bony hand for charity. Turn away, and
he will pursue you, hobbling by your side,
and filling your ear with his sorrowful tale,
and your face with his inebriated breath--or,
till he discovers policeman. This arrant old
impostor was, not long since, traced to his hi
ding place in one Of the dark lanes Of London,
where he was found decently clad, and seated
round full board, discussing wild fowl, roast
mutton, and Dublin stout with half d score of
boon companions.
Walking one day near the Tower, my eye
was caught BY some loathsome living object,
lying in pile on the sidewalk. Onapproach-
ing it, a wo-begone female face peeped from
under covering OF rags. Her sunken eye
was resting on little infant lying by her side,
almost naked, aud her emaciated finger point
ing towards the inscription in chalk on the
fag-stone, which read, II am reduced to the
last extremity!' Even suspicion could not
withhold response to such an appeal.
Notwithstanding the great improvements
made, chiefly through the influence of Lord
Brougham, in the poor law system of Eng
land, have seen more beggars during my So
journ of three or four months in this country
than ever saw in the United in my whole life.
The causes are obvious. The people are tax
ed to death to support royalty and rank, while
the rate and tythe-gatherer will sell the poor
Dissenter's last bible, literal truth, TO sup
port a chnreh- establishment which he yerndj-
ates. But there is one species of mendcity
in England deserving Of universal Reproduction
to which, j cannot but allude. You have just
settled your bill at toerable hotel, at the rate
of five dolafs per day, and are rushing thro'
the hall, umbrella in hand, to mount the coach
whose driver is shouting s'time is quite h'up.'
You run over the waiter, jostle the chamber
maid, tread on the porter, and brought up all
standing by the boots-each looking greedy,
and expecting in the aggregate. sum nearly
equal to what would cover your bill at an A.
merican hotel. You take your seat by the
coachman, who is dressed so finely that you
scarcely dare speak to him during the ride
Before leaving you, he tips his hat and asks
you to 'sremember'' him to the amount Of half
crown-for the privilege of having held his
reins at every stopping place on the route
rode with the dandy driver OF the Dover mail
last week, who, on getting down at Dover,
touched his hat to each passenger, and begged
for his gratuity with the same abjectness, and
pocke,ed the shilling with as much nonchsi
ance as the king of the beggars aforesaid.-
This coachman was the best dressed man OF
the party, resides in an elegantly furnished
house with grounds, and is worth $50, OOO.-
The guard too-he must not be forgotten.---
For, is he not decked in a scarlet coat, and
armed to the teeth to defend Victoria's reticule,
and has he not changed his horn in your ears
every moment of the last seven hours! Be-
sides the coachman and guard, you must re-
member another appendage to the establish
ment-a burly beef-fed and ale-saturated BIZ
ped, called porter. The following dialogue
took place recently at Hastings. Scene top of
coach just leaving town.
Bipcd-(touching his cap and look signif-
cantly.) leave you here, sir.
Rambler-Very we'll, good bye.
Bped-Please remember the coach porter,
sir, what put your honor's luggage on.
Ram6ler-I have nothing but carpet bag,
which / put on myself.
Biped-But, sir, gets-tny living in this
way. Gents always give sixpence!
Rambler-Here it is.
1t is no plea in abatement to this flching,
that you have paid for your seat at the :. Book
ing Office" at the rate of ten cents per mile.
Correspondent ". Y. american.
We believe there Ia M moro fhnnk1 lees