The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-07-05
Wistellaneous.
From the illustrated London Newsl
THE ASHES OF LONDON

and The weather so bitterly cold that, had tn
mercury in the glass grown six degrees taller
freezing point would still have had the star
Of it, l was in doubt whether Mr.. Dodd'
'eliminators' would be at work. SO init
mated to the yard foreman at whose hous'
called one morning at the extremity Of tn
year. AS, however, that polite person pro-
nounced that nothing but rain licked 'en,
/ buttoned up my great-coat, while he lit hi
pipe and rolled up the sleeves Of his blue
guernsey, and we set Of.
There are several yards connected with
the establishment; but the one wanted wa,
that devoted to dust. and found it between
the stabling department and another sci
apart 1.-The reception ofmonstrous slopcart'
and all else pertaining to scayengering. The
dust-yard was, as near as l could guess,
about hundred and fifty feet wide and seven
ty broad, one end opened on the main street
and the other to the Regents Canal. Flank
Ing one side Of the yard were score or SO OF
prepared dustcarts, and on the other side,
extending almost from the outer gate to the
waters brink, were great mounds Of ordinary
dustbin muck; and in the midst of the
mounds-literally, so that in many cases part
only Of their bodies were visible-were thirty
or forty women and girls. In view of the
canal, the surface covered with big slabs OF
yellow icc,-with a rasping north wind blow
ing continuously through the yard. and with
frost and snow everywhere to bc seen, there
sat the 'hill-woman,' girls of sixteen and old
danes Of sixty, each holding before her a
seivo as large as the top OF small loo.table,
in which she dexteriously caught the huge
shovelful supplied by the feeder all as busy
as bees, and as cheerful.
As a body, the females evinced by their
attire little taste and less premeditation; in
deed, in most cases they presented an ap-
pearance of having crawlcd through q bundle
of rags, trusting entirely to chance as to the
part of it from which their heads might
emerge. 1t is only right, however, to men,
ton that the above remarks applied chiefly
to elderly parties, ladies who had outlived
the frivolites Of youth; but maidens there
were much more scrupulous, wearing the
bonnet fully trimmed and fashionably of
their heads, revealing tresses copiously oiled
and evenly parted. Respecting this latter
feature, the advantage attaching to such
hair was manifest; in all such cases the part
ing was as plainly distinguishable as a dusty
line between two hedges; whereas with ladies
Of raven locks all that was observable was q
centre channel, suggestive Of the system of
drainage patronized by our foreiathcrs, and
still to be seen in ancient alleys. Most Of
the ladies were coarse, tinserlcss gloves, and
oil of them great lacc-up boots, such as car
men wear, and great sack-cloth aprons, such
as few carmen would care to be burdened
with.
Conyersing afterwards with q gentleman
in the employ Of the irm. said he, 'How
they exist is marvellous. They are here these
bitter mornings before half London have left
their beds, and they stay here till dark. l
suppose they have some sort ofbreakfast be-
fore they come and something more when
they get home; they'd need it, for all they
get to eat between times Is hardly worth
mentioning. Meat is entirely out Of the
question. A lot Of them club together, and
about twelve o'clock one makes q FIRE OF
breeze and brews an old kettle full Of weak
tea, and this, with slice or two Of bread,
or at most herring, is their dinner, year in
and year out To look at them, however,
such suspicion would never enter ones
mind. have been amongst factory-workers
and 'mill.hands,' aud market-gardcn women
and assistants at city establishments, but ]
never yet met body offcmalc laborcrs look
ing to thoroughly healthy and jolly. Every
one was fat, every one was rosy, and laugh
ing and singing as though it were capital
fun to grOvel amongst the refuse Of the town
in the open air-a Siberian air, bleak and
whitening. The least likely-looking Of the
company was Compliant lady, aged about
City, and with her jaws bound round with a
red rag; but even she was not so poorly but
that she pulled away at hidcous little pipe
with an appetite, and which without taking
her hands from the seiye, she dexteriously
shifted to the corner of her mouth so as tc
admit Of her swelling the chorus Of the ditty
leather-lupged young Irishwoman was q,
the time singing.
have since ascertained-and am thank,
ful for the dlscovery-that my impression.
as to healthiness OF these toilers amonCs,
filth and ashes were not erroneous. hav,
DIR. Guys authority for stating that, despit,
their constant and immediate contact with
the most lOathsome refuse, they are among
the healthiest ofour working population
Tho medical authority in question state
them to be "a healthy ruddy.comple.ione'
nce-the healthiest set Of men have eve
seen. l do not thing, whether in town o.
country, such another body Of men could b
brought together, except by selection. 1t /
not going too Ear to assert Of them that, !
the comparison were limited to the inhabi
tans OF London. or our large towns, no scor
Of selected tradesmen could be found h
match the same number Of dustmen .brough