The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-08-17
Life in the London SlumS.

GEORGE Wilkes is writing sketches of
Life in London. HIS last one describes
various thieves deus. He says, speaking
of some horrible lodging houses:
In each, some women were found ready
to sit ~, and give US the statistics Of the
apartment, and receive in behalf of the
company our customary largess TO provide
them with treat OF coffee in the morn
ing In the last place, the spokes"omau,
in telling over the numbers, pointed out
young Irish lad of eighteen, and his sister
two years younger, who, she said, had
come i'll from the country out of work that
day, with but tourpence between them !;
but she added tnat they were going away
in the morning. The poor young crea-
lures had been driven to this horrld lodg
lug by the condition of their purse, but
terrified AMI shocked at what they had
seen. they lay c;asped fast together, as If
they fea, ed to lose each other for mo
ment, The girl did not open her eyes, but
her guardian locked at Us askant, without
turning his head or changing his position
Their bright red cheeks lay together like
two ro-es among patch of brown and
wilted weeds, and told by their freshness
the story of their innocence, much plain
er than the language of the hag. Here
is penny for YOU, my boy" said |, lean
ing over and slipping half crown into
his hand :: p" Her, is a penny to hel lp yon
in your Journey" "And here is one, too,
Cor your sister," said a gentleman beside
NE, who saw my movement and apprecia-
ted my motive in undertaking the COIN
The lad gripped the money III his ti>t, but
was too occupied with his sacred care even
to thank us, he threw his arms quickly
around his sisters neck again, and in thai
position the pair remained when We re
tired.
Our peregrlnations N the ncighborhood
had now occasoned such a crowt about
the doors from which we issued, who
swarmed after US wherever we moved, that
our policemen thought it prudent we sho'd
leave, SO we betook ourselves to our
coaches, and whilIed off in fresh air--it
any portion of the London atmosphere
can be so caiIel--towards the direction OF
White chapel at the other end OF the
town.
There we visited The gin palaces and Tie
cider cellars, aud though 1t was past mid
night, we found them crowded with com
pany, and the adjacent street swarmIng as
tul of life as the neighborhood of a bee
hive. But on all sides we were received
with the utmost god humor, and in one
place | received an invitation to dance,
from young lady IN a pink bodice aud
blue skirt, who might have been hand
some If it had Lot been for squint, an
might have been engaging if her expres
sion had not been damaged little 10y a
cut on her upper lip aed a dark puff un-
der her left eye. She comprolnls ed for
my refusal, however, in IA pot Of half and
half, and found amends for the di>appoint
ment 10y obtaining a sailor for partner,
whose head was covered over with red
r:ngiet,, and whose weather beaten coun,
;enance looked ike map of The world.-
1t was curious to observe the sublime in-
differ ence with which the sailors WHO were
present At these places treated our press
ence. Taev did hot Eotlce us at all, or
Seem III any way TO recognize the fact that
We were there, but went on dancing and
drinking, and talking to their doxie>, as if
they We're IN their own peculiar paradise,
where every object figured at a disadvaJ-
tdgeous comparison with themselves.
lhe eutlre OF this region was flied with
oyster stands, and tables for the sale ot
HOLSTERS, crabs, shrimp, and blood pud-
dngs, and at short intervals We fnd the
highway made vocal by ballad singers, ho
With one hand beside their faces 10 enable
iheln to roar with facility, and the other
full of penny ballads, would dole forth the
" Loss of the Albion" My charming
Nancy" and other refreshing ditties Of that
sort.
In this region was also a class of up
stairs rooms, .reguented by men and wo-
men of tue vlest character, which furnish
ed music III sort of free and easy style
" hen Ne entered one OF them, a female
and sometimes TWO would set up a senti-
mental song, and then be succeeded by
man kept for the purpose OF comic sing
ing. One Of tHese fellows was rare geu-
ius, ami though little shaky from the
hard service an. long career OF gin, he
sang more humorously than any one | ev-
er heard sing before. He continually re-
minded me of my notions OF the face of
Llston. His grllnaces were abundant be
yond description; his face seemed to un
fold and take new shapes as naturally as
Chinese light, and as lor his mouth, it
was made up Of tucks and founces that
produced continual revelations and seem
ed to be capable OF as voiuminous histo
ry as the Acts Of the Apostles. While
was standing lost in admiration OF this
hnman hydraugea, | felt another light
twitch at my coat skirts, something like
the stroke of a trout, and turning sharply
directly behind me Young
woman in An open straw bonnet, Just fold
ing her hands demurefy across her bosom,
and composing her features alter failure.
[ raised my hat and regretted that she had
found uothing in that quarter worthy OF
her attention, upon which could See
tt,,.r r,,p IN r,,uI Of bar