The Osceola times., 1883-12-15
A LONDON "KIP."
Pen-Pictures of theDemOraiixin Features
Of an English City Lodging Ho use.
Ger Pail Mall Gazette

Ger Pail Mall Gazette.
When man has sunk from the posi-.
ton as householder, he has two courses
open to him. Ifhis employment be still
sufficiently remunerative, he may in
habit one of the dens known as furnish.
ed lodgings.
These are rooms let singly and furn-
ished with a couple of chairs, flap do
ing duty for a table, and blackened
sack stuffed with straw on an old and
shaky four-post bedstead. For these ad-
vantages he is charged the nightly sum
of eight pence, which a long experience
has taught the intelligent landlord to
exact beforehand.
Eightpence is large sum and cannot
be afforded, 30 the next alternative is
the common clearinghouse, or kip"
which, for the moderate sum of four
pence, supplies the applicant with a bed,
use of lavatories, kitchen and kitchen
fire, for the space of twenty-four- hnurs~
at the most. .--.--
The "kip" is under the unwinkipg eye
of the law, which Is supposed to insure
cleanliness-i. e., clean sheets once
fortnight; decency--i. e., the separa.
ton of the dormities of the two sexes,
and sanitation, which means something
almost as indefinite rs common sense"
The older inhabitants of the skip" re-
late most narrowing details about these
places before this supervision and regis
tration took place, which it Isl pity even
to evoke from oblivion.
Suffice it to say that any one might
start lodging house, and over-crowding
was un;versal-which, of course, is some
times the case now, only sub rosa, and
in not more than every other house in
poor districts.
The better "kip" is INHABITED by men
only, and many an old soldier or PEN
sioner lives permanently in them. But
the majority of the houses are open TO
persons Of all ages and sexes and all de-
grees of social status. The prominent
feature of all "kips" is the kitchen. This
is at once diping-room, drawing-room,
smoking and card compartments, as well
as kitchen.
At one end is the swing door, which
leads to the long sawdust-floored room,
surrounded with benches, )r perhaps
divided into compartments like restau-
rant. A huge fire, be the weather what
! il may outside serves TO cook the viands
of the inhabitants and to supply the heat
which an insufficiency of clothing rend-
ers grateful in colder weather. A mum.
Der of tin vessels, supplied by the house
serve for teapots or missiles as the case
may be, both uses being frequent.
The first impression of a "kip" is that
of a SAVIOR of death unto death, with va
riations and permutations. The men,
following afar off Sir Walter Raleigh,
perpetrate a consumption Of the rankest
shae. The fair sex contribute rasping
flavor Of so-called tea. Both eat cheese
of decided, strength, or herrings of ques-
tiolable age. Most of the faces are such
as to strike one with utter hopelessness.
The brutal gin-swolen countenances
of the elder women, the hard, doggod
faces OF the men and the children fur
!. rowed and careworn, the babies who
never kick and crow, but are sucked on
alcohol and curses, are pictures which
are full of grim horror.
Here sits the lad who has left his
home at the age Of IL, and set up for
himself; next to him is reprobate par
son, who in his sober moments, writes
discOurses for some of his more fortu-
nate but less gifted brethren TO inflict
upon their congregations. Many ranks
and callings contribute tn ir quota TO
the mass of human wreckaee, the sole
qualification being the payment OF the
nights fourpence. None is rejected or
elected, unless violently or obtrlsively
"bOozed."
There are whole streets of these places
some making nightly $50 beds. That
the worst are not to be found in the east
end is the general report. 1t is said
that Noting Hill has this unenvable
supremacy, but this may he disputed
plausibly. Upstairs there are dorluitor.
les, with rows Of ,amp-beds bought at
the harrack sales, every article of which
is marked in large letters "Stoltn from
s." The double beds have little
wooden partitions between them, with
doors and latches upon the same. The
dormitories, as a rule, have no washing
convcniences, still less any chests or
cupboards. Those of the inhabitants
who possess change of raiment or any
other portable property keep the same
at my uncle's,b from which Sunday
suits arc wcekly redeemed in order TO
keep holy the Sabbath day, and again
resigned TO the pledger on the Monday
by the owner, who is well acquainted
with the wavs of his fellow lodgers.