The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-04-19
LONDON LOW LIFE.
TIE Experience Of One who Became Part Q
That IL 70, Time.


extent descriptive of it, appear SO ire
1uently in public print that almost
everybody is more or less familiar with
it. Generally speaking, however, these
letters treat of the great city as 1t ap-
pears to the observer at its best. Its low
life, in all its shame and sadness, is not
very often portrayed. IL a late issue
the New York Herald published COM
municatien sent to il by An American
Tramp" in which are many interesting
sketches of low and vicious life as act
ually seen by the writer the principal
matter Of which we condense for the
Post. DESTROYS of seeing the inside of
station house at his leisure, not as Wis
itor, but as a prisoner, he took police
mans advice and got drunk. Here is
what he says about it Before l was
very drunk ! found myself in charge of
two policemen, and was soon the solitary
inmate OF narrow, cold stone cell, but
my solitude was of short duration, for
the iron door soon opened to admit a VA
grant who was twice as drunk as l was.
Before morning we had FIVE in our cell.
SO far, my method and its results were
all right, but my selection of the time
was unfortunate. It was on Saturday
that l was jugged, and / was informed
that, as the magistrates did not sit on
Sunday, l would have to remain where
was until Monday morning. This was
little more than l bargained for, but it
could not be helped" His description
of how he and his coafreres got along is
sketched in lively style. 1t seems that
a man may live like fighting cock in
one of these cells if he only has little
money. 81 was surprised, " says he, "to
see that all my companions ordered solid
and substantial breakfasts, and that, to
pay for them, they produced the money
from the queerest of places. One had
the under side of his wide suspendeTs
upholstered with pockets, each about
large enough to hold a shilling, another
had a half crown in the lapel OF his vest,
while the third took a shilling from the
folds of a voluminous necktie." On
Monday morning. they were marched
before a magistrate, who made quick
work of it. A policeman kissed the
book and said something that was in
audible to all but his Honor, who imme-
diately said Give sIillings, or five days"
The five shiIlings were paid, and the five
days of stone breaking in the prison yard
escaped. Leaving the gloomy abode Of
Justice, the searcher after low-life accom-
panied one of his fellow prisoners to a
place where breakfast could be obtained
After threading through back streets and
alleys they brought up before rusty
and tumble-down old building in 8
narrow, damp and dirty court. At one
end of the room which they entered
/ there was bar, presided over by dirty
/ looking man and young girl
at the other was a huge Goa
FIRE, and the middle of the floor was
occupied by rude tables and benches
g About twenty blear eyed people wer,
present, eating, drinking, and smoking
A huge, Misunderstanding woman slap
ped my conductor over the shoulder, anC
asked him where he picked up tn,
b!oke,' meaning me, of course. Showing
her aside and pushing two half-growr
girls away, we seated ourselves at a tabl,
and ordered two pints of 'alf and-alf
Soon a very pretty but poorly clotheC
J girl approached and asked if We wante C
anything 70 eat My companion said
Give her sixpence, mate, to get porl
and bread did; she pitched the coli
mp in the air, caught it in her mouth, anC
went away whistling. She soon returned
with abundance OF material, and in {
short time the pork was broiled before
the fire, and must say I nevel
relished anything more than l relisheC
that bread, bacon and the half and half
/ began to feel that l was verify tramp
for the food and warmth made me com
Portable and at home. Having finished
our repast my companion produced from
the mysterious pockets of his clothing f.:
black pipe, which he proceeded to fl
and light in the most profound silence.
summoned eur bread and bacon Hebt
and gave her threepence to buy me
pipe and tobacco. After its arrival wal
soon in the land of dreams" He
did not sleep very long the laughter
and quarreling and snatching of song
forbade that After another pint o
hali-and-haIf they sailed forth. a.
before they proceeded through baol
streets and generally in silence, for the
genuine English vagrant seldom speak
in open air, and at last they found them
selves standing before st. Pauls cathe
DIAL. This had no great attraction 70
them, so simply looking at it, they trav
eled on, crossed London bridge, and er,
long reached an extremely narrow, dirt.
street. Here they entered a house
plunged into a cellar, and using the mar
ratOr's words, found ourselves in
room similar to one we had formerl,
entered, except that there was no bar
This was the sitting loom and kitchen o
q cheap lodging house. | gave the pro
prietor sixpence, which entitled me t.
bed for two nights, with permission t,
enjoy the freedom of the common room
and to cook at its fres-for everyone il
cheap lodging houses cooks for himself
My comrade went to shelf, took dow
box, and taking therefrom a teapot
two cups, tea and sugar, proceeded t.
make tea, while / was dispatched to
convenient butcher shop to procure meat
butter and bread; on my return h
played the part of cook, and did it well
In this room were about twenty person
of both sexes, principally tramps ant
thieves. The conversation, or I sheult
rather say remarks Gas this class of pee
ple seldom indulge in conversstion), wa
exceedingly low and Obscene. AS even
ing came on, the number increased t
about fifty, including men, women an,
children, and the cursing, smoking, etc.
made the place resemble one of Sweden
Borg's visions of hell"
In this wretched place they remaine'
all night, our American sight-seer wooin!
sleep in vain amid the discordant noise