Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-14

august, 100, Out not until nome Secreta-
~ Cross had been called to Osborne House
for an interview concerning the matter
with the queen, who has always been SYM
pathetically and practically friend of
this unlettered philanthropist, his second
great triumph for England's lowly chill
dren was achieved, and the bill was unan-
imously passed-while, half fainting with
anxiety, and with not a sixpence in his
pocket, he sat in the speakers gallery
thanking God for what had been accom-
plished.
Briefly, this bill provided for the regis
tration of canal-boats in England by the
sanitary authorities precisely the same as
any residence habitation, which absolutely
abolished the former abomiuable disease
breeding and carrying character of the
tiny crafts. 1t brought all the forty thou
sand canal-boat children under the educa-
ton act, so that by system of pass books
they were enabled to attend any school
where they might be temporarily tarrying
1t abolished, by inspection on the part of
local authorities, all possibility of illicit
relations of canal-boat folk who had here
tofore been under no authority and sur
veillance. 1t limited the number of occu-
pants in the diminutive cabins, and it re-
suited in placing three-fourths of the en-
tire canal folk of England in homes along
the canal banks. Evils, of course, still
exist; but the change for the better has
been of a marvellous character.
George Smith of Coalville not only
brought about both the great brick-yard
and canal-boat reforms, but he has been
as persistent an agitator in seeing that the
provisions of the two bills were carried
out. He has tramped thousands of miles
in doing this; his long flowing white hair
and beard, his kindly smiling, fatherly
face, his powerful figure, his benign
though piercing eyes which seem to in
stantly penetrate the very marrow of Incl
dends, home-lors and secrets of water side.
brick-yard and gypsy communities, being
familiar everywhere in England among the
lowly. His face, form and figure are Just
as familiar in the streets of London among
the hsunts of the rich, where he comes
with blunt words and ways to make the
fortunate help the unfortunate: and he
gets 1T, too. And no man within the walls
of parliament-house is more known, noted
and beloved, even by those who oppose his
efforts in behalf of children, than is the
man who has no actual riget to any of the
countless privileges which are his: who re-
fuses o be sent TO parliament by those
who would be proud to give him a seat:
but who, by general and genial sufferance
from lerds and commoners, is practically
the Hon. George Smith of Coalville, mem
Der for Everywhere, and representing a
constituency more powerful than any
statesman or leader-the millions OF Brit
ish children whom billions of British capi-
tai would otherwise remorselessly enthrall
One cannot speak of the English canal
folk with telling of this unique and grand
personality. Tramp from one end of Eng
land to another, and the first and last
words you will hear among them will be,
George Smith of Coalville." Simple and
ignorant lot as they are, they realize the
heathendom of their former condition and
the contrasting manhood, womsnhood and
genuine respectability that have come to
be almost universal among them.
The chief communities of these people
are fonnd in Staffordshire, Lancashire,
Wsrwickshire, Worcestershire, Northamp-
shire, Yorkshire, Middlesex or the London
district, Shropshire, Cheshire and Oxford
shire. Perhaps they are densest at Bir-
mingham, Manchester, Goole, Wigan and
Runcorn. The extensive distribution of
manufactured goods in Birmingham; of
imports as well as manufactures at Man
chester: of Yorkshire imports and exports
at Goole, by way of the seaport of Hull;
the tremendous shipments of Lancashire
coal at Wigan; and the bringing of the
Cornish white clay to the Staffordshire
potteries through the Mersey, via Runcorn,
with the return craft laden with pottery
| wares: account for this.
AL the English midland canals are of
| far less capacity than our own. The bot
toms are in the form of an inverted arch
and the locks are only seven feet wide.
Consequently canal-boats here are very di-
minutive. They are usually only from
twenty-fi five to thirty ton boats; six feet
and six inches wide, sixty-fve feet long,
IL = H.
cabins are therefore scarcely one-fourth
the size of those of our boats. They are
only five feet wide and high, and eight
feet long. From three to four feet of their
height protrudes above the deck. The ex-
posed sides are always covered with most
wonderful paintings representing the nigh
est expression of art among these lowly
folk; and a dog-kennel invariably sur
mounts the decorated cabin-top. Within
this two hundred cubic feet of space are a
bed for the boatmsn and wife: bunk be-
meath for the children; a stove, locker and
hanging table, with an extraordinary col
lection of crockery and cooking utensils
considering the space: and opposite is a
bench which is the parlor and dining room
by day, and boudoir for a grOwn-up son
or daughter, or a male Grew" at night.
Like the gipsies, the English canal-folk
live well, but everythir Z is boiled. Hodge
podges of beef and herrings, with the veg
| etables which are got for a song, or for the
| pulling, along their pleasant way, are the
| favoIite. In former times, when their
| condition was more heathenish, their food,
| and all cunal-boat family affairs were on a
| level with beasts. They are now more in
/ telligent, independent, and as q c0nse-
| quence better paid More than two-thirds
| live in their own homes, and while still
L no,lr,otirsr ha lootS Families fha 1ftf1a
cabins are almost wholly in the nature of
temporary accommodations for short
| journey. Besides fully one-third of the
boatmen now own their own boats, as
i with our own canallers. Another one
/ third hire boats at about ten shillings per
| week, supplying their own help, animals
and food, and earning good profits from
| their responsibility and labor. The re-
| maindsr are owned by manufacturing con-
Germs which employ their own bostmen.
The dress of these lowly people is quite
distinctive and often unique. The mer
are always sttired in flannel jackets and
skirts, open at the neck and with gaudy
| colored. or black, handkerchief undel
their wide collars, similar to the London
costermongers; a billy-cock hat, or fur caI
| with visor in winter and summer; mole
| skin or flannel trousers; and heavy hob
nailed boots, in the front of which there
must always be leather tongue or fap
which falls down over the foot, and which
is invariably decorated with all manner o.
curious notches and punctures. All th'
women and girls wear flaming quilted cal
leo hoods, similar in appearance to a small
old d-fashioned ''sun-bonnet." Apron
match the hoods. A tiny red shawl
pinned at the throat by a massive brooch
falls over the shoulders. The dress is o
heavy woolen stuff, usually dark in col
or, with short petticoats; and beneatl
these appear high "nayy" hob-naileS
boots, laced with stout leather thongs
Underclothing is absolutely a superhuity
The girls and women steer the craft
and drive the animals, usually broken
down cab horses, or asses, sitting astride
Only about thirty miles distance per da,
is made, as tie English causl-bost alwsy
STABLES" for the night; and all 'treliefs
of labor are indicated by landmarks, sucl
as tunnels, locks, inns and bridges, AM
are not made at stated hours. At the sid
of every English canal are found lttl
inns, no more than mile apart, which ar
always public houses, where there are ais
canal-side whsrves. These inns provid
stabling for the animals, and sell thei
owners bags of horse-food consisting o
mixed chopped hay, oats and horse-beans
Arrived at one of these for the night, tn
crews repair to the tap-room, where -four
ale" or rum, as is the custom among tn
laboring classes everywhere in England
are drunk spsringly, while yarns are spul
, and ancient and sayory pipes are smoked
until the closing, at ten O'Clock. At ths