New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-03
THE POOR OF LONDON.
HOW THEY LODGE, LIVE AND WORK.

volumes svo London Williams q Norgnte. New
York: G.. p Putnams Sons.
In these two volumes the great enterprise under
taken by Mr., Charles Booth, and the first volume Of
which, published three years ago. dealt with the
poverty Of East London is extended to cover Central
South and outlying London, and examination of all
London, street by street As In the part on East Lon
don the first impression given is of the enormous labor
involved in the investigation and the second Is OF the
extraordinary care and fupess with which the work
has been done. IN such nothing less than tho
machinery OF national census. extended far beyond
the average plan of census, would give exactncs to
the results but for unofficial and private Inquiry
Mr. Booths unquestionably in and data
anything Of the kind hitherto attempted. and he has
had the aid Of the Board School statistics in many
OF large stan Of assistants has neces
sarily been employed in collecting information Care
fully drawn forms providing for statistics on all the
matters to be inquired into distributed TO these
assistants, who made house to house vistatons The
city missionaries furnished much valuable knowledge
concerning the lower strata OF the population and the
general result is a OF trustworthy facts upon
which II Is possible to base conclusions available for
all practical purp The third volume contains a
of maps colored according TO the scheme adopted
for exhibiting the situation and character of the various
classes into which has been found desirable to divide
the population for the purposes Of Illustration, and
these maps show at glance the percentage and char
acter of the poverty in part of the great city.
The second chapter of the second volume treats Of
statistics and here at the outset surprise awaits the
reader. East London has long been regarded as
In special manner the citadel and centre Of London
poverty, that the rest of the city has been credited
with lower percentage than the facts now ascertaned
warrant. Mr. Booth says: "The poverty of the rest
of London, as compared to East London, is perhaps
greater than most people have supposed. For myself
il In 1883 made estimate based on The
facts to East London and the comparative density
OF population in other parts the theory that density
would probably coincide with the degree OF poverty
The result to show probable 25 per cent of poor
for all London nearly per cent less than now
get South London and the district about Holbon
mainly responsible for the difference" The classes
into which the population has been divided thus
defined
A-The lowest class-occasona aborcrs, loafers, and
semi-criminals.
B-The very poor-casua labor existence.
chronic want.
and D-The poor-includlng alike those whose earn
ings small of rreguarity Of employment and
those whose work. though regular, is ill-pald.
and F-The regularly employed and fairly paid work.
ing class Of ali grades
G and H-Lower and upper middle class and all above
this level
The proportions of the different for all
London Is follows
T. g sss CENT
class, comfort:
die class and ee9 per cent.
sbove) ......-. 74g,93O, or II g per cent
Total .........4, 2o917O
To these must be added 100000 inmates OF instltu-
tons, which raises the total to 100000.
These general statistics give fair idea OF the
magnitude of the problem to be dealt WITH but the
details furnished in the part which treats OF LONDON,
street by street, alone convey definite impression
Of the extent of the difficulties TO be encountered and
also of the slowness of the advance thus far made
whether by legislation corporate or private effort
The life of the very poor is indeed no mystery nor
are the dangers and evils which beset 1t unfamiliar
probably any educated man in these days OF acuve
philanthropy and extended discussion. Neither is
London poverty in any essential different from that
Of poverty elsewhere Indeed Mr. Booth observes that
the description of NewYork slum would apply with
equal force to London Stun, and In proof OF TINS ne
cites graphic picture Of poor quarter in TINS city
from Mr.. W. D. Howells's "a Hazard Of New
Fortunes" There here, il is at once apparent that
the worst enemy the poor is drink. In the account
of London street by street. the records of ruin through
drunkenness monotonously rccurrent. Here also
comes into play source OF some embarrassment Tor
the statistcan, for. Mr. Booth points out, it Is
hardly correct or justified TO classify among the every
poor people who earning good wages whenever they
choose TO work. pass their lives in alterations between
wild extravaganza and restitution. Such people at
least are poverty stricken through their own faul'
alone BY their capacities and opportunities they be-
long to the class Of we'll TODD workmen But their
ungovernabe appettes have degraded ana paupeflzeo
them, and unfortunately have carried their wives and
children into the pit too.
In London however, Ii must be said that the slaves
of drink appear to be almost numerous among the
women as among the men, The accounts of the streets
house by house show this only too clearly. Sometimes
Il Is the husband who drinks sometimes the wife, and
not seldom both. The condition Of such households
NAV easily be imagined and when, as is frequently the
case whole streets tenancd by such dsspaed and
incorrgibe folks the state of the children appalling
t has indeed found necessary BY the School Board
TO provide food regularly for certain percentage OF
the children who attend under the Compulsory Educa
ton law The poor little creatures, never MALT
nourshed come to school looking famlshed, and when
questioned by the teacher will reply In matteroi
fact way that smother drunk last night, and
couldn't get up to get me my breakfast" or clse'
father is drinking, and hasn't brought any money
home,--so that the whole family are without food.
of course drinking live in filth and squalor
The description the kind Of they occupy, and
the state in which their habtations are kept is often
literally sickenng. In instance the vermln so
swarmcd that the occupants had actuar5 ceased to go
TO bed for sleep unattainable AT the present
fine so many refugees and souplouses and other de
positories and distributing points for eiee-
mosynary food have been established through
ont the city that it seems impossible
tor actual starvation TO danger more to be
feared is pauperzaton, and the most experienced
officials visitors missionaries, etc, bear testimony 10
the extension of indoleuce and dissipation III some
quarters through the greater ease with which the worst
pinch of poverty can be avoided mus d Tramp up
vir0 for the means to get meal, advised 70 60
70 tbe Casual Ward and replied contemptuously'
q What Work for my breakfast No. thank you
can get 1t without that"
nevertheless human intelligence has thus far failed
to devise any method of relief for the innocent surfer
ers which will not encourage the guilty loafers and
drunkards A humane people cannot look on and see |
women and children starved and stunted and ruined |
body and SOUL no matter what evils may spring from
relieving them. Modern philanthropy Is not Mr.
Graderinds kind II aims at Improving the moral and
steal condition Of the poor altogether, and when
cfa hplievPg