The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-08

West as punishment for what he did not
hesitate to term my reckless extravaganza
was, think it will be admitted, vindic-
tive. He made me. however. an allow
ance, which, though one would have called
ii moderate in more fashionable locality,
was ample enough for such a neigh
borhood. Pleasures were very cheap
there, and not very attractive. Its
concerts were not at the time of which /
am speaking classical, though of late years
music of quite high class has emigrated
thither, and Bethnal Green itself has be-
come an art center. The dances, one was
invited to Thy advertisement were of a
public nature, and were too much of a
maritime character to suit the landsman.
There was no shop where you could spend
money to any extent save that wonderful
emporium where not only lions and tigers
are as plentiful as chickens in Leadenhall
market, but much finer "curios' are to be
found than can be picked up in Piccadilly.
But lions were not in my way Though I
had kept ga tiger" at the university, and
was much too young to care for curios, a
taste for which does not usually develop
till the mind has given way little.
This enforced economy had, however,
one very pleasant side to it. | generally
most unusual experience with an East End
doctor. There is nothing more distressing
TO him-if he is a good fellow, or even If
he has human heart in his breast-than
the knowledge that half the patients who
rome under his care are not so much in
need of medicine as of the necessaries of
life, with which he is unable to supply
them. No one knows what poverty is who
has.not seen "the East End" during bad
time; for my part il was q revelation to
me, and when one saw how far not a shil-
ling but even penny was made TO 60, 1t
gave one nasty jar to remember the hun
hreds one had SOU ndered for spending's
sake. At first, indeed, brought face to
face with such urgent want, ones heart
made one lose ones head, and found N.Y.
SELF not from philanthropy, but from fas-
adious disgust at squalor and wretched-
ness, supporting some of the idlest and
most worthless scoundrels in the parish
But after while one grew wiser or less
emotional and learned discretion, which
Is the better part of charity. 1t was a
good school for me in many ways, though
didn't like being sent to il.
People talk of 'gentee. poverty" as
being the worst sort of it, but at the risk
Of being thought material and common
place venture TO remark that abject pow
srty-the half-penny worth of bread and
she sack instead of bed on the iioAY-is
much more hard TO bear. There~~are de-
Erees even in that--or rathey. the same
sretchedneSs seems greater Of less accord
.ng TO the habits OF thosrwho endure it.
IL is possible. thoughr<1v no means easy.
q be cleanly under the most sordid con-
sitions. The house-or rather the one
foenl,may be swept, though it cannot be
sarnlsneut the broken teacup NAV be
washed. the ragged blanket mended.
when Sc ualor Is added to want, pity is
ost In disgust, and the attempt TO cling to
- g. S.
All tie attributes of the very poor. 1t is
aot-God help them i-often made When
everything else has gone by the board il
seenss useless to look after the hencoop.
ssar court, n locality where some of my
Dost wretched clients dwelt, made very
little effort in this direction, though as a
.ule they were decent people who dweit
here. We have all tendency to live
lmong those of our own calling--how else
since they are far from loving one another)
IAN the congregation of doctors in VIM
pole street or OF lawyers in Bedford row be
accounted for9--and when We have no
Ealing among those of our own tastes and
habits, and so Star court had become
Known ia time as q quiet street New
somers, impecunious as the rest of my
ebony, but adverse TO rows and ruffiaD-
SIN, gravitated thither sooner or later. |
ssed TO fancy there were more people who
had seen better days" there than else
lave seen worse. II was a miserable spot.
,ut IL was not necessary 10 ask the police
nan TO keep his eve on you when YOU went
INTO Star court. which was but q reason
lble precaution in some other localities
My hrst introduction 20 IL was owed TO
3ebeccs Bent, who called upon me one
rery warm evening IN late August TO ask
or medical advice. had seen her before.
or she had been charwoman for a few
weeks at the little house | occupied when
lne of my two domestics was away. re-
rendered her because she had worked so
lard (''hke a horse" my cook had said1
Turing thar temporary engagement and
gwen much greater satisfaction than char
women usually do. Otherwise there was
nothing about her TO enlist the memory.
She was not yonng-iiye and forty, one
would say, AZ least, and she had not even
he remains of good looks. A tall, big
ooned, masculine woman, her only claim
IN the sentimental emotions that look of
sopeless discomfort worn by so many of
Ter class and age, she was certainly not an
attractive person. she was strong enough,