Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-05
nA Nipbt scene in london -

Under this heading Dickens givesin Household
Words, the following description of VIVA! ne wiz
messed one night outside the Whitechapel WORK
house. What scene for the metropolis of Inc
Christian world, and what commentary uPon TIE
arrogant assumptions of its dophIlanthropists
whose charity is wasted upon imaginary evils IN
distant lands, while thousands are starving almost
at their very doors: 80
On the 5th Of last November T. the conductor OF
this journal. accompanied by a friend well known
TO the public, accidentally strayed into White
chapel. II was miserable evening; very dark,
yery muddy, and raining hard. There are many
woful sights in that part of London, and it has
been well known to me in most Of its aspects for
msny years. We had forgotten the mud and rain
In slowly walking along and looking about u.s.
when we found ourselves, at 8 O'Clock, before the
workhouse. Crouched against the wall OF the
workhouse, in the dark street, on the muddy pave
ment stones, with the rain raining upon them,
were five bundles of rags.
They were motioness and had no resemblance
to the human form. Five great beehives covered
with rags; five dead bodies taken out of graves,
tied neck and heels. and covered with rags
would have looked like those five bundles upon
which the rain rained down in the public street
What is t1is?' said my companion. What IS
this 2 Some miserable pp0ple shut out OF tho
casual ward, Think said |. (Mr Dickens then
describes his inquiries in the workbouse. lie
found that the women were shut out simply be-
cause the house was full. )si,We went to the rag
ged bundle nearest the wUrkbouse door, and j
touched, it. No movements replied; j gently
shook it. The rags began to be slowly stirred
within, and by lIlte and little head was IN :
shroudeJ, the head of a young woman of three OF
four and twenty, as IQbouId Judge, gaunt with
want, and foul with dirt, but not naturally ugly.
Tell u.s. said /. STOPPING down. 'why are you
lying here! p Because can'tge into the work
Ehouse.'t5, sfcsH 81 b 9aal l'slaa -
i She spoke in faint, dull way, and had no Gu
riosIy or interest left. She looked dreamlly at
the black sky and the falling raiu but never look
ed atme or my companion. t'Were you here last
nisbt2' .Yes; all last night, and the enght aiore,
too.' 'Du you, know any of these olhersf i
know her next but one she was here last nigh.,
and she told me she come out OF Essex. i cont
know 90 more OF her. 'You were here last night,
but have not been, here all day I? No, not all
day. Where have you been all day About
the Streets 'Nhat have you had to eat =
'Nothing.' Come said |, think little. You
are tired and have been asleep, and do not quite
consider what you are saying tous. You nave naa
something to eat to day, Come. think Of II
mo, haven't. Nothing but such bits as could
pick up about the market. Why. look at me
She barred her neck, and covered itup again
.Ifyou had shilling to get some supper. and a
lodging, should you know where to get ~ Yes,
could do that 'For Gods sake, get it, then.
put the money into her hand. and she feebIy
rose and went away. She never thanked me-
never looked at me-melted away into the mise
rable night in the strangest mannerl ever saw
have seen many strange things, but not one that
has left deeper impression on my memory man
the dull. impressive way in which that worn out
heap of misery took that piece of money and was
lost. One by one spoke to all the hye. In
every one interest and curiosity were as extinct as
in the first. They were all dull and langud-
No one made any profession or complaint, no one
thanked me- When came to the third, sup
pose she saw that my companion and glanced
with new horror upon US at the last two, VINO
had dropped against each other in their sleep and
were lying like broken images These Were the
only words that were originated among the flve..