The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-11
A Ruined Town in England.

An English paper tells this story of ruined
town in England -
"Going into two shope which adioin each
other in Manchester terrace, and which are
owned by one man, we asked how business
was going on. Business = he exclaimed, with
a sorrowiul laugh, business has bidden good
bye to Millwall.' Then, in the course of con-
versation, he told how his means had drifted
away, how he had given credit to hundreds
who we've unable to pay, and how his lease
prevented him from removing to more con-
genial quarter. His wife, a good-natured
woman, took part in the conversation, and
looking affectionately at chubby little fellow
who was hanging at her skirts, and then at US,
she said, When the poor children come and
ask for bread, butter, bacon or groceries, and
say they are starving, how can refuse them
have little ones of my own.'
sat the butchers shop opposite we heard
the same doleful tale. A few pieces of mutton
and several little scraps were hanging there,
but nobody came to buy them. Il suppose
the people don't buy much meat?' we in
quired of the butchers wife. 'Oh no. she
said; I'VE sometimes sell a pound or half
pound of bullock's liver, which is the only
thing in the shape of meat the poor psople
can afford. We don't sell sheep in a week,
end were it not for the milk which my hus-
band sells, don't know what would have
happened to u.s.
"a coffee shop opposite the Millwall iron
works has changed hands four times during
the past twelvemonths, and the present an
lucky occupant is vainly endeavoring to
transfer the place to somebody else. The
landlady of similar establishment, not far
off, informed us that the money she managed
to spare few years ago had not only been
spent, but horse and trap, her husband s
watch, some rings and other articles of
jewelry, had been disposed of TO procure sus-
tenance for the family. Her son, who was the
proprietor of two shops few doors above,
had shut them up and 'tramped it, to South
amptop, where he was obliged to accept q
situation as stoker on board steamer.
"The public houses, as may be imagined,
share the fate which is common to the various
shops. The proprietors with detected look
stand behind their bars and wait in vain for a
flow OF customers. A straggler or casual
visitor in the neighborhood now and then
drops in and asks for something, but most OF
his time the hspless Millwall publican finds
no other employment than that of reading the
daily newspaper, which he formerly took in
for the use of his customers, but of which he
himself is now the only reader. All attempts
at a. transfer are, OF course, useless,
and like the other traders in this poverty
stricken region, he with faint hope awaits
the time when business and prosperity may
possibly be revived.
"We were informed that in one case a
licensed victualler who a very few years age
| paid $4,000 for house, then doing an i'm.
mense business, now hardly sells twenty gal
Ions of beer in the week. Another case was
related to US where the proprietor of an
establishment which also cost thousands had
to part with his watch to get bread for his
children. Other instances of similar kind
were mentioned in our hearing. But persons
of the publican and shopkeeping class, not
merely from pride but from absolute necessity,
are compelled to keep up appearances and
preserve, as far as possible, au outward show
of prosperity, and they are, therefore, unwill.
ing to furnish details of their suf1erings."