The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-12
THE SEVEN DIALS."
[LondOn Cor. Courier Journal

ILondon Cor. Courier Journal
Dickens has made the "Seven Dials"
famous. 1t is the roost and rendezvous
of the Forty Thieves" and scores of the
most abandoned and desperate dare
devils to be found in the precincts of the
wicked metropolis. Strange to say, it is
in the heart OF the city, and within few
squares of some of the principal streets.
1t is "a "near cut" to many important
places, if you don't get your throat cut on
the way. AS l stated before, seven
streets radiate from its hub, and you drift
into it from almost any direction. 1t gets
its name from the fact that formerly each
of the seven buildings that face upon the
square had clock upon its front-hence
''The seven Dials."
A walk of few minutes brought us to
the center of Seven Dials" We were
now about to enter in medals res sure
enough. The inspector stepped up to the
policeman on duty, and gently exhibiting
his card and some other sort of insignia,
exchanged a few words soto voce. The
shrill whistle of the policeman sounded
and another uniformed knight bobbed up
serenely, as though from the bowels of the
earth.
We formed procession of eight strong,
and set out down one of the dreariest
streets, followed by avillainous crowd,
black and white, who were certain
that an arrest was going to be made. A
short distance and we stepped in front Of
a dilapidated old building
One Of the policemen went TO head
the column and the other brought up the
rear, while we moved on the enemy.
We CROPPED our way, Indian file, through
dark Railways, down narrow staircase
into dimly lighted cellar room filled with
| ferocious and creStfallen characters. They
were OF all ages, from the sixteen-year-
old boy to the hoary head. They were
taking their sorry suppers, and our Wis
it was a surprise party.
1t was a sight / shall never forget.
They were the toughest of the tough, and
their photographs would make our Amer
lean rogues' gallery blush. 1t was a study
to see the various expressions of the hard,
hellish, crime-stamped faces. Some affect
ed an air of indifference to our presence
and went on munching their meals with.
out looking up. Others gazed at us with
an assumed air of innocence, which
seemed to say, "You are shockingly rude
to even suspicion me-" A few did, not
disguise their displeasure at our unan.
| nounced call, and corrugated their brows
and snarled and showed their teeth like
dogs. The youngest, boy of not over
| sixteen, as soon as he got over his scare
"guyed" us, and offered to treat to the
stale beer in his pewter tankard. His
bravado sat sadly on such young should
ers. A man stood in front of the fire
place who had evidently seen betterdays
His eyes were fixed on the floor, and he
never once lifted them. His clothes were
seedy, but trife neater than those about
him, and a badly demoralized plug bal
raised him several degrees above his sur
| roundings. His features were deeply
furrowed by vice, but through the hard
lines you could read a few traces of form
er responsibility. An old man, who's
sharp, sly, sneaking face seems to have in
herited sin as birthright, md feeding
himself from pocketful of unlocked veg
etables which he had no doubt stolen
from some green grocer or market stand
| The most individual character was a
rather young, stout-built man in who's
face there was scarcely an indication of &
human being. There was fearful fasci
nation in his face that held you with q
snakehke charm. His features were
bold and British. His nose lay fat on hi
face, and his large, yellowishgray eyes