Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-28

Mr.. Wilkes, editor OF the Spirit of lie !
Times visited, recently, some of the low |
places Of London, and as he looked about \
him with the eyes Of newspaper man, he
observed keenly, and recorded faithfully
what he saw. The pictures he draws could /
hardly be matched any where in the cities
of our land, and we trust that we shall
never arrive at that pitch of civilization
which shall enable us to present similar
samples.
With party of other gentlemen, accom-
panied by policeman as guide and guard,
they explored the subterranean haunts,
which swarmed with thieves and squalid
wretches. On their way their pockets were
angled at continually by experts, but they
had taken the precaution TO leave their valu-
ables at home. The first den they entered
was cellar or cave, lighted with single
rush-light, and there were number of
ruffians and loafers smoking and enjoying
themselves, one of whom sang q song with
taste and feeling, which betokened he had
seen better days. Their next visit is thus
described:
"Our policemen led the way across the
street, and brushed the crowd from narrow
passage, the gap of which looked like the en-
| trance to pig-sty, and was but wide enough
| for us to advance in single file. The board
flo oring, sluiced and undermined by con-
| tinual streams Of filth, splashed under our
| feet and our noses were assailed with vapors
that seemed almost tangible to the touch.
| However, we grouped on, sustained in hardi-
hood by a common example, though the loss
of my handkerchief almost made me de-
| serter. Far up in this foul alley we came to
a side-door, which led us into an apartment
| some sixteen feet square, and about ten feet
high All was dark when we entered, but
our lantern lit up sight such as had never
seen before, and such one l pray God
| NAV never see again. In that contracted
lair lay thirty human beings, men, women
and children; yes, thirty white Christians, Of
a Christian land, packed head and feet in
| LAYERS, like the black cargo of q slave-ship
under chase, and most of them, adults as
well as infants, as naked as they were born.
"Some were families, some were man
and wife, some were single dodgers at a
| penny q head. Some wore few scanty
patches, others were partially covered by a
Sheet, but many were threadless aud indilfer-
ent to exposure. In the center of the room
stood large tub or reservoir, which the
comfy of the apartment permitted to be
used by two or three at once; and in the muck
and gloom and stencil and vermin of the
place, these larvae of stifled and rotten ciUiLi-
cation crawled and grovelled and profaned
the rights of nature; and what seems most
strange of all, bred souls for immortality.
deal with repulsive subject, but surgery
can not be fastidious, and | dwell upon the
features of this den, because II exists almost
within a stones throw from the palaces oi
mobiles and under the noses, it may be said,
| of the snuffing hypocrites of Exeter Hall,
whose mock philanthropy denies Sunday
sunshine to the wearied artisan, and who
plunder well-meaning poverty ~ provide
blankets and Bibles for the happier heather.
"Opposite this model lodging-house, over
the way, as it were. but across o passage only
two feet wide, is restaurant, where chops
are cooked, Holsters and ale served out, ant
dirty-faced gentlemen are furnished will
pipes and tobacco at the very lowest rates
Here the creatures who crawl and move II
the other room get fed, and replenish the fou
currents of their being with fouler food
The occupation of those who inhabit suct
dens as these are various; some are street
cadgers, who rake the thoroughfares for rag
and paper; some are those peculiar scaven
gers who gather offal and who become s.
enterprising in their calling as to chase tn
. coach-horses in the street in anticipation {
a windfall-a frequent sight in London; som
are beggars; some thieves, and some ar
mere loafers who, having raised capital Q
children, send them forth to pilfer or to beg
in order that they, their parents, may reclin
} in an opulence of gin and tobacco during th
evening ca O. tneir days"
Other dens of a similar description the
entered and they made tour among tn
( gin-palaces, and wound up their tour OF in
spection with call at the celebrated thieves
Kitchen; this last being comparatively quie
3 from the fact that descent had been mad
, upon it by the police not long ago.