The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-07-02
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Case of Freeze Out-''There's too Many
Sf Cs''-& LcnS10n Sketch.
His name was John Fosh; his calling
sandwich man; face grlmy. eyes black
and cavernous; jaws lanterned general
appearance gaunt; frame shivering
with two coats on his back, and a
bundle of something-shirts call it.
Fosh was an old soldier, and has had
five years of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
boardman, match vendor. hawker and
decker. He sticks to the boards when
he can get them. Fosh was dining
on air and washing it down with a
lump of ice when met him in the
Dark Arches formed by Charing Cross
Railway bridge. This is one of the
favorite dining-rooms of boardmen
If they have a penny to spare they buy
a penn worth of pea-soup at the kitchen
in Ham-yard. So | understand Fosh
TO say.
But surely, Fosh you have a penny
over from the day betore?"
mot always. How is it when you
don't get no board for two days.
Where's yer penny then?"
so some of YOU were run IN the
other day for trespassing on the kerb-
stones?"
That's so. And I've heard 'em say
as they'll do away with us altogether
They told us this morning that they'd
pay no more fines"
What does the law say?
The boardman must keep liz the
gutter"
Then why don't you?"
'Whv, the 'ansoms haims at US.
They think our toes is targits," said
Fosh, grimly.
Then you take to the kerbstones?"
"Ay, we takes to the kerbstones,
and then the policeman e comes up
and warns us. And tue swells COM
plain, and-well, it's the last job chap
II take to-"
The last hope"
LAY. The very last"
What pay do you get. FoshP"
One-and-two pence a day, from 8 till
$50. And luck them as gets q pair Of
boards. There's always a fight for
EN-. I'll tell you what it is there's too
many of us in this ere world.
"Weil, how do you spend your one
and-two pence?"
"Fourpence for a dross, Salvation
Army, Horseferry-road, coffin bed
and leather blanket; but it's warm
enough the room is, with steam pipes.
At night you goes in and gets some
coffee and bit of bread. When you
goes at in the morning you gets some
more coffee and bit more bread.
Them and the doss is fourpence-and
very good for the money"
That's only fourpence.
After we gets paid at $3.50 we goes
to shop | knows and buys two
penn'orth of cooked meat scraps. and [
take these to the shelter. That's sup
per. It's not much Of sum. That's
sxpence. Then there's a penn orth of
pea-soup at lanyard. They give you
good penn orth there. Seven-pence.
Then there's clothes, and Il bit Of baccy
runs away with some of the rest, and
a bit for Il day when board is scarce"
about clothes, Fosh. How much
for the outer coat?"
IA penny"
Only a pennyp"
1t was not half bad garment.
Il bought it from Il mate. He had six
of en-"
The undercoat Fosh; how much?'
'Threepence.
''And your shoes?"
Odd ones. Picked up in borrow.
Penny the right. Two pence the left. )"
Some of you SO to the lodging
houses?'
That's SO. They charge fourpence
there, without bread and coffee.
don't run TO that. Some goes TO Lime
house. It's ouly threepeuce there"
What? They walk fro:n West End
to LimehouSe night and Morning to
save Il penny?
That's so. TO save IL penny
No boards on Sun,lays?"
II sells matches BUYS EN- at six
pence il dozen Sells 'em ut Il shilling
Made eiyr.,'ence one sunday
"A bad winter this has been, Fosh ?
Why, man. YOU'RE crying"
A tear or two fell on Fosh's coat. and
were icicles before i haI turned him
inside out. No wonder Fosh found it
cold in his sixpennv suit Tell YOU
what it is. sir. picking off Tie frozen
tear with his dirty tinger-nails-h WAS
evidently ashamed of it "tell you what
it is ife 5 like this ere Weather. It's !
frost.
You're in a bal way, Fosh. What
are You by tr;tde?n
Fourteen years in tie army. Out
in India all tile time. Invalided lone.
Never done no good since.
You've been live years trying o get