New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-15
= v-Nt.9 - g,
LOW LIFE IN LONDON.
A TOUR AMONG THE DOCK LABORERS AT
THE EAST END.


1t Is very seldom that one out of all the
two million persons who 60 to mako up the West End OF
London has the enterprise pay visit to the extreme
of his city They all have vague idea that the
East End slums very dirty that every other man
they either thief murderer, and that the
atmosphere reekug with typhus fever and the germs
OF all disease but they rarely venture to verify their
theories. II Re well worth their while TO 60 thousand
len CUES eastward walk through the crowded or
an RENTAL city and they come backbrmmng over with
tales wonderful bazaars but they will not cross inc
eight or nine miles which separate South Remington
from the East India Docks to see sights very similar anu
lust as novel and strange TO them prophet that ID
always within cab-fare scarcely expect much honor
This indifference however It must be confessed, Is mu
tua; among the strangest features OF the oehAeh
OF the furhest of London arc their utter soston
and absolute ignorance OF the rest OF tne CITY, An
ordinary LOudouer chershes theory that the iurtner
east You 90 within the city, the deeper you get into the
heart OF the working metropolis: and this IL true ~
far that here in tho extreme eastern edge OF LOhhon
the population Is more dense than elsewhere put o'en
while the visitor 10 fatteriDg himself that no" nc ha'
really penetrated into the midst Of low London IIo
native Will him with ell simplicity that me- Tue ma
tive has never been LOndOa." Between him ana ire
OF the city lie five miles OF brick ana mortar
alleys and crowded courts-thatha have no novelty
for him and to get OF this wilderness OF sum
| into London and back would take plm three
hours good walking But he has neither time nor lhch-
nation for undertaking. halter does not squander
| his leisure In making hats, nor does barber allie
| away his holidays In cutting peoples hair SO wneh
dock aborerfor nearly tho ontire population OF the
district referred to composed OF dock aboers-kEocks
OF work he wants 10 st down and rest; andhot "len
no haS been carrying about heavy cases ana paes VI
! goods Al day, 10 go on waking aiterwara' us Huo
that a ca-car would take him TO the unknown lana IN
forty minutes but his money is scsrcer and more pre-
cio than his leisure Where Ia the threepence TO come
from to pay for ride So many man Is born III the
Gensest portion Of the city passes his whole life there
ard dies believing he " IA, never been to London
BARREN LIVES.
And In other re- poets dock !aJorcrs fe strange asst
seems to a visitor is terribly narrow and mon0tonOus
There Ia none that picturesque ruHansm with winch
the "respec able" parc Of the community Delights "
people these Sums These not thieves quarters lot
there is nothing IN the ncshborhood to steal fIotes-
sonal thcve1 and burglars live further west where they
are within easy distance OF their hunting grounds but
here the amount OF Is small compared with most
OF the better Of London, and tie inhabitants
are simply very poor and ignorant and hardworhIhg
men AID women Their lives have been barren or srlA
ns adventure, tGeY are, sJneb Gy has said books
! without any pctlrc." and there Is noue o. that
rccklessnces Of living and disregard for lie and law
| with which they are pognar.y accredited y Is all
oao dead level o; hard work and poverty and dirt.
ruer wEole oziatcnco IS SINAI a scac. aud COD
| fined within too narrow limits, 70 ad1t OF scat
diversity. AL grains o. corn mach alike and 80 the
history Of any OF these dock abOrers Is almost word
for word the that o; his gbOrs on either side
The In which thsy live are narrow and choked
up with dirt an the houses ouly fJurrOOm cottages
and IN each room family Now seG tAon a family
oycro6s into secold apartment, but tlis tXtr"y@'
gaucc sstceptlonu and generally father mother AID
children cat Two aud soep Ia one small room. Aud for
IT,. decent maintenance OF even this inclsre
establishment tho Income frequently all inadequate,
.or u dock .aborers toll i. not remunerdtive When
tie head oi the family has JOB nan1 his furniture
consists u cher or two table, box shelf aud
few pieces OF crookery and hs Children wear boots As
he 10 out OF work taken I'll the table goes 20
the pawnbroser then tho chairs thsn tho crcckery
and the chdreu's boots and there is nothing left but
bare walls, box saelr and a hungry and unshod
family.
THE QUESTION OF BOOTS
This question OF childrens boots, small az Il is
one OF great magnitude among hese people. They
barometer 10y which you can tell the sato OF ther
parents naauccsi aad they have serious
| iufueuce upon the prospects OF the children
thcmscv-, In all parts of London tho board school,
arc hard az work trying educate the children OF the
poor against their will and beyond question thew suc-
Gee ia dong much good WORK. Bat even here where
there would te fOOthO.d for him. tLo spirit OF
PRIDE which forever thrustns himself IN the way OF
good intentions nnIs lodsment aud has drawn up for
these ragged people code Of etiquette which makes TIE
point Of chdrcns boots a test question. child must
AS II matriculatc At the bootshop before h. 80
school. Ragged clothes 90 not matter; cleanliness Of
, pe,son Is not considered necessary qualin-
cation IN any way but boots are Indispensable
without them child. however iterate dares
school THIS 10 scruple which ward school officer
can "He cannot 10 school. he has got no
shoes" the mother Unless some fairy godInOther
comes who can make apair Of slippers out o. bits OF
nre,vooJ. Cinderella has to stay az home.
And the children Themselves what a melancholy
aspect o; This docknfe they are Every oae
Of them gives in his appearance the lie direct
to the al,ssd lmpo's19iny o. paynS od neaH'
ANA certainly slim enough as they come rushing back
from schoo at O'Clock IN the afternoon Ike au Trap
ton ~ Gauls pouring IN torrents down every
aud fOodiug court and alley. But stop one anj
speak him her and tie face wh lie saj large eyes
,rned up 10 yon. It's hollow checks pale skin and dra"
mouth seems 20 tell tale OF years Of hardship suffered
, ard sad experience earned They are not chldrcG''
Il faces in the least Those who know them well sly
Z Tat the quichness ot Intellect III these chI'
bmt Impossible moi to wis, ia locking at item that
losing hours Of lessons. or that health and spirits
Y could DO learned from books
r TIE UNIVERSAL MANGLE.
The little srs moreover. have to DO the greater part
of the ho-eho work it not be heavy. but the DE-
II what small shopping the limited finances will permit
and nearly all the indoor The apparently
divide their time between peeng potatoes and standing
It 1T the doorways talAns to each ober for IN very fe"
Instances do they do anything supplement their bus
! bands iLcomos There indeed form OF labor III
Which every woman 10 willing Hnd anxious To engage
manglr the ultimate ambition o. AL alike; II presents
self TO their minds KIND Of philosophers stue o
- Aluddms lamp which must Of necessity bring All good
things In ~ train ana grind our heath ana "elth ga,
happiness every turn When bard times come f0lhd
l. every womau's MUD flies instinctivcy 10 mans ING
They not fertile In resources, and that ~ 10" "nt
remedy for all ers-a panacen which a. once
- Itself and when that has been discovered
rnr Ingenuity Exhausted. Bus to tho super hcia oyG
c urghhorhODl does not prracnt Itself Que Offering
a very wide Opening FOR inanglrS Even the samaritan
who live taking IN ach Others washing. would prob
nbly md themselves hard pressed for livelihood here
Far there are very few clothes wash and those apyIr
only are seldom washed Dock ldbOlers DO not anrt
10 l.rge explnsc Of shirt front and their work vou!t
rrimpl shirt cucs sadly But nevertheless, In schson
AZ ds.rrss Sisters OF Mercy aud tho curatcs @
missions the ncghhorhood thtro goe1 M
10 oue universal cry Tor manges from tn
Art has IN