The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-04-20
My First Night In London.

In the latter part of July, 1852, | land
ed in Liverpool, after run of nine day
from New York. | took the II o'cIocl
train for London, and arrived at the Eas
ton station about seven in the evening
Having obtained a cab, | drove to Nor
iey's Hotel at Charing Cross, house then
as now, very generally patronized By
Americans.
| had risen early, and had Travelled
nearly the whole day. felt therefor,
somewhat fatigue1, and by the time haC
dined, the evening was pretty well adYan
ced, and resolved to spend the remain
der Of it at home. Having changed my
bosts for pair of slippers, | seated my
self in large easy chair, with the inten
ton Of reading an hour or two, and ther
going to bed. Ia pursuance Of this reso
luton | retired about ten o'clock to my
room. then found myself, however, by
no means as sleepy as | had anticipated
should be by that time, and l knew toe
well how useless under such circumstan
ces It would be to seek my conch immed i
ately for if you once begin to debate The
question with yourself whether you be
sleepy or not, the doubt alone suffices tc
keep you awake at least an additional
hour. | therefore, notwithstanding my
previous determination of passing my eve.
ming at home, resolved to 90 out for a
short time.
/ strolled into Strand, and had walked
about quarter of mile toward Temple
Bar, when curious piece of clock work
in jewelers. window attracted my atten.
ton, and | stopped to look at it few mo
rnents. While thus occupied, a child
niserably clad, approached me aud beg
ged penny. | took out of my pockc. q
handful of gold and silver, and, selecting
small piece of the latter, gave 1t to her.
Having done so, was about to resume
my position at the window, when wo
man, dressed in black, who stood near
and who had hitherto appeared to be en-
gagged in contemplating the same object
which had interested me, suddenly turned
round, and without preface addressed
me:
IT," she said. "you are disposed to re
lieye the necessities of the unfortunate,
know case which should appeal to your
sympathies even more than the one you
have just administered to-"
While she was speaking | looked at
her attentiyely, and perceived before me a
young woman, apparently two or three
and twenty years of age, whose face
might have been considered beautiful, had
it not been for its extreme pallor. She
was clothed, as | have said, in black, and
her dress, by no means rich either in ina
teria or form, was not exactly what could
5e termed shabby. Indeed, her whole
appearance was that of a person very much
above the condition of a common mendi
cant. Her language, too, struck me at
once as being that of an educated woman.
Yet | could not look upon what she had
said in any other light than as direct ap-
peal to my purse in her own behalf Yet
as it was just possible that [ might be mis-
taken, replied by asking her for whose
distress she sought relief
"My mother" she said simply, but with
a pathos of tone which at once excited my
sympathy, "now lies on sick bed from
which she may never rise, and am with
out the means Of ministering to her com
fort, or even to her necessities. This dav
found us almost without bread waited
until nightfall, and then came forth into
the streets WITH the purpose Of soliciting
charity. | made one or two Intellectual
attempts to speak to some of the passers-
by, but my courage failed me, and | was
about to return home as penniess as left
i, when seeing you bestow your charity
upon the child, sudden impulse prompt
ed me to address you. IT," she contin.
ued, "you fear TO be the dupe of an i'm
postor, you have but to accompany me
short distance to be yourself the witness
OF the truth Of my statement"
! had intended, when she first spoke, to
give her few shilIings; but, as She pro
ceeded, perceived that hers was a case in
which assistance, to be efectual, must very
much exceed in amount the sum | had
proposed Offering her, and was not unwil-
ling TO verify The truth of her story before
drawing mora soriously upon my purse
| signIilet, therefore, my readiness t. ac-
company her a she had suggested
Without another word she at once
turned down narrow street which led
towards Ike Thames, and | followed her.
As we walked along, | noticed a large
building which appeared 10 be some pub
Tic edIiire, and enquircd Of my conductress
the name Of it. She informed me and
added:
" You are not, I presume, familiar with
this part OF the city"
No" | applied neither with this or
any other part, for ] but Landed in Liver
pool this morning, and this evening set
foot IN London for the first time"
But YOU doubtless have friends here
by whom your arrival is anticipated 2" she
said, in ,one which manifested degree
Of interest in the matter which struck me
even at the time, as being somewhat sin
guIar. However, answered that no one,
SO far rs | knew, expected me.
" Indeed" was her only observation,
and We again walked on in silence. We
turned first up one street and then down
another SO rapidly that | became bcwiI-
dered and lost nv way. We found our
selves, finally, IN a cHi dc sac or blind al
ley, a species ofstreet, which, though rare
with US, is frequently met with in London
aud other European cities.
SFrp..f tras s, Il 80, ap,,r.l,