Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-16
LONDON SANDWICH MEN
One OF Them Who Thought Life a Case O
Freeze Ont.


sandwich man; face grimy; eyes blacl
and cave-nOus; jaws lanterned: genera
appearance gaunt; frame shivering witt
two coats on his back, and a bundle o
somethlng-shirtsc call it. Fosh was al
old soldier, and has had five year,
of odd jobbing- window-cleaner. board
man, match vendor, hawlxer and decker
He sticks to the boards when he can pet
them. Fosh was dining on air anG
washing it down with a lump of ice
when l 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 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 before?"
Not always. low is it when you
don't get no board for two days. Where's
yer penny them"
so some of You were run in the other
day for trespaSsing on the kcrbstones?'
| 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?''
"Ihe boardman must keep in the gut
ter"
Then why don't you?''
"Why, 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 the swells complain.
and-well, it's the last job a cap II take
to-"
THE last hope"
'Ay. The very last"
"What pay do you get, Fosh?"
Zone and-twO pence a day, from o
till $50 And luck them as gets pair
o boards. Theirs always a fight for
'em. I'll tell you what it is. There's
too many of us in this ere world"
''Well, how do you spend your one
and-two pence?"
"Fourpence for a doss, Salvation
Army, HOrseferry road, coffin bed and
a 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 seven
in the morning you gets some more
coffee and a bit more bread. Them and
the doss is four-pence-and very good
for the money"
That's only fourpence."
AFTER we gets paid at $50 we goes
to shop l knows and buys two penn
orth of cooked meat scraps, and take
these 10 the shelter. That's supper. It's
not much of a sum. That's sixpence.
Then there's penn orth of pea-soup at
HamSard. They give you good penn
orth there. Seven-pence. Then there's
clothes, and bit of baccy runs away
with some of the rest, and a hit for a
day when boards is scarce"
About clothes, Fosh. How much for
the outer coat?'
"a penny"
''Only a penpy9"
1t was not half a bad garment.
Il bought it from n mate. He had six
of EN-"
''The undercoat, Foshl how much?"
''Three pence"
rAnd your shoes?"
''Odd ones. Picked up in borrow.
Penny the right. Two pence the left"
''soD of you go to the lodging
houses"
That's so. They charge four-pence
there, without bread and coffee I don't |
run to that. Some goes to Limehouse.
It's only three-pence there"
'What? They walk from West End
to LimehOuse night and morning to save
a Penny?"
CHATS so. To save a penny"
'No boards on Sundays?''
81 sells matches Buys 'em at six
pence dozen. Sells 'em at a shilling. |
Made eight pence one Sunday"
"A bad winter this has been, Fosh? |
Why, man, you're crying" = A |
tear OF two fell on Fosh's coat, and |
were icicles before had turned him in
side out. No wonder Fosh fourd it cold |
in his six penny suit. Tell, you what
it is, sir" picking off the frozen tear
with his dirty fnger-n ails-he was evil
iently ashamed of it--''tell you what it
frost"
You're in bad way, Fosh. What
are you by trade?"
Fourteen years in the army. Out in =
India all the time. Invalided home. !
Never done no good since
you've been five years trying to get
vork?"
Five years Fights for boards; nights
q the open; casual wards: haymaling
md hopping IN the summer: hawking
l can't go glimming; I amt
ne cheek"
"Giimming?"
Opening llerridge doors, guvnor."
Fosh is right-"There's too many OF
Is in this ere world. Lies a frost"
FOsh says there are thousands like
lim.-Pall Mall Gazette.
a man sat at a desk, busily writing
A young fellow entered and handed
him paper.
whats this, young man?"
''That bill from Wesley & Co."
sob, yes. Won't you sit dOwn?"
Haven't time. want the money on
his Lill."
but | have no money"
That's what you always say"
.'Ycs, and am always truthful"
Cant you pay some on it?''
''If I haven't any money, how am
yOing TO pay any on it?'
i tell you it's getting pretty tiresome
coming up here"
81 have found it 50, young fellow"
Cant you tell me when you will