The sun., 1891-07-12
Some Light ON Darkest London.

We have at various times referred to the
facts brought out in volume on the La
Dor and Life OF the People in London. F."
which was compiled under the supervision
OF Mr.. CHARLES BOOTH. In that book the
field OF observation was mainly confined to
East London, which has generally been sup
posed to be the most poverty-stricken quar-
ter OF the British metropolis. That this Ia a
mistake is shown by the results OF subse-
quent Investigations recently published by
Mr.. BOOTH. 1t appears that South London,
taken as n whole, is considerably worse of
than the East End, and that the greatest
destitution is found, not in Whltechapel, but
in tho parish Of st. Saviour In Southwark.
Mr.. BoorH divides tho population of Lon
don into five classes. The lowest Of these,
comprising tho Vicious and semi-crimlnal,
| constitutes only nine-tenths OF one per cent.
Then comes the class OF very poor labOrers
who can obtain only casual employment;
they form seven and one-half per cent. Of
the whole. The third class. designated as
the poor" consists OF those who are able to
earn only $5 a week, or loss. for the support
OF a moderate family; they form over
twonty-two per cent. OF the metropolitan
population. Then comes that large propor-
tion OF the working class which is In COM
Portable circumstances and which Ia esti-
mated to number 2l86, 900, or more than fifty
per cent. OF the inhabitants of London. The
middle and upper classes, collectively. repre-
sent less than eighteen per cent.
Drawing broad deduction from these fig
ures, We find that rather more than go per
cent. OF the denizens OF tho British metrop-
oils live In comfort while nearly 81 per cent.
arc condemned to struggle on In poverty.
The proportion OF poverty revealed by Mr..
BooTH's inquiries Is nearly per cent.
greater than that formerly assumed to OK
ist. South London and the district about
Holborn seem mainly responsible for tho
difference. Thus an area OF South London
lying between Blackirlars and London
Bridge, and containing about $1,000 inhab-
itants, has close upon 6s per cent. OF poor.
The next In order Is also found to be south OF
tho Thames, at Greenwich. where an area of
$1,000 has 65 per cent. North London follows
with nearly 81 per cent. in the ncighborhood
OF Goswell road, and East London stands
fourth on the list with 80 per cent. in part
OF Bethnal Green.
In London the honest and Woodworking
poor have rooted objection to living In the
large tenement houses, SO many OF which
have lately been erected. They very much
prefer to occupy u part of a small dwelling
house. 1t seems that the large tenement
house or "block." as 1t is called In London.
tends to become a pandemonium, no regu-
latlons or public inspection being Of much
avail. and no resident superintendent hav-
ing nerve and devotion enough to stem.
single-handed. the dirt. noise, and quarrels;
consequently. the t!dier tenants speedily
depart and only tho rampant remain. En-
phasis is laid In Mr.. BoorH's book on the
Importance OF retaining tho largest possible
number Of small houses for the protection
Of the quiet and gentle. and for the better dis
clpliaing OF the rowdy. Well-meanlng land
lords are implorcd to pause before they clear
away small buildings, suitable for one or two