The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17
TALKS ABOUT NEW BOOKS.
THE wuDs OF LONDON.

"Ihave not read SO entertaining book as this
in o long while," said Miss Rachel. with copy Of
the "Wilds OF London" (ScriDner, Wexford and
Armstrong; in her hand
Mrs. NoRToN-It Is the more In teresting from
the fact that 1t is all true. had no idea that so
much misery could exist in city ike London.
The DoCroR-It Is said that there is more ablect
poverty and crime in London than In any city in
the world although, seeing SO much of that sort Of
thing as l do In New York. 1t is hard to imagine
that 1t can be worse anywhere else than 1t is here
Mrs. NoRTON-If the English people have been as
much excited over the revelations in this book as
have Mr.. Greenwood has not written IN vain.
Miss RACHEL-Could anything be more fright1ul
than the scenes at Tiger Bay Such debased men
and women, soaked In gin. robbing, swearing,
dancIngl don't wonder that Mr.. Greenwood
calls the women tigers-they certainly are not
human beings.
The DoCToR-I guess we could Ind es bad as
Tiger Bay In New York. know Of one place on
Broadway that is not far behind 1t.
FRED-Tnat memorable night on which made
the rounds OF the dens OF this city with detec.
tive saw some fearful sights. Strange to say,
could eel nothing but pity for the 'pretty waiter
girls" they seemed so very sad, and only laughed
and joked because the proprietor's eye was upon
them. Very poor fun that sort OF life. Nearly all
of the poor creatures told me that 1t was nothing
but drink that kept them going. They were an
awful looking set. saw but one with the slight
est claim to prettness, and she looked so much
like young lady know that 1t almost made me
sick to look at her. The others were miserable
hays, all skin and bone and powder and paint.
Miss RACHEL-You are not tue only person who
has made the rounds OF such places. know OF
lady who dressed a lad and went through most
OF these places in London described by Mr.. Green
a "a
very near being found out, too, by tlpsy old
tigress, who whispered in her ear, 'You can't fool
me, my pretty lady" The officer told her to
''shut up her nonsense" She o0eyed him, but
was not deceived by the boys clothes.
The DoCroR-Rather q dangerous game that;
but Of course the lady was moved by something
more than idle curiosity.
FRED-The concert saloons OF London are Pc
culiar Institutions o! that city. They must be
irlghtfuily stupid. You could not amuse an
American with such stale wit and silly songs
FELICIA-I cannot understand that finch busi-
ness. 1t seems queer taste for "toughs" to
fancy birds; bulldogs are much more appropriate,
1t seems TO me.
FaED--rhey Keep BOTH Strange to say the
same men who keep dogs for rat lighting keep
fnches Tor singing matches.
Miss RAcHEL-Sunday must be an awful day
with the very poor-those out OF work, with no
prospect OF getting any. It Is not to be wondered
at that they carouse all day long.
FELIcIA-The prisons described in the chapter
called Three Years OF Penal Servitude" are not
as well Kept, according to that account as ours
at Blsckwei's Island. 1 visited the Island once
and was surprised at the kind manner OF the
officers with the prisoners
Mrs. NoRToN-l think such q place as Jack
Ketch's Warren Is disgrace TO the citizens OF
London. No such foul alleys as those OF that
region would be allowed In New York. -Four nun
dred persons living up one court and only one
cistern for them ALL Just imagine lfty-slx miser-
able fam lies living In one house, almost wit hout
light and air, and In alley where the scavenger
man seldom appears aud where the cholera runs
rioti 1t Is not strange hat thirteen children
we're buried from that vile hole in one afternoon.
FRED-One OF the strangest stories In the book
is ABOUT funeral orgies. | have seen funerals In
this country wnich seemed more ike plcncs but
the drinking and carrying on described here ex-
ceel our picnic revelrles can imagine no more
horrible sight than TO see undertakers In long
Grape weepers passing gin and beer into the
mourners' coaches.
The DoCToR-Johnson's Retreat In the worst
place described In the book. To think OF man
being 80 depraved that he would keep dark gar.
den for the resort OF vicious girls and boysl
Miss RAcHEL--The chapter "Witn Night CAB.
man" Is good, and shows that Mr.. Greenwood IL a
graceful writer az well ~ graphic reporter
| WHAT sn unssinsh man that old caboy wasl