The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-23

alley or close. and two miles or more of
the track. Continuing on our safe con-
veyance along the Strand we pass y
number of concert halls, theatres, ETC.,
until we arrive at two churches some
short distance apart, directly in the
centre of the road. This is indeed an
other popularity, and one which l have
little doubt would be obliterated by the
authorities of similar town in Amer
ica, even if an entire cemetery was nec-
essarily removed. Continuing we soon
reach Fleet street, or as l should call 1t
Newspaper Row." with its numberless
dailies, comic papers and periodicals
herein edited. In the vicinity are count
less more.
Before leaving Fleet street wish to
write particularly OF the street fakir
or peddler. Men, women, boys
and girls, they are an army, and in this
locality seem 10 be in their glory. What
do they sell? Matches, collar buttons,
tin toys, buttonhole bouquets, pencils,
penny whistles. papers, books, and any
thing else there is penny in. Here is
the man selling decayed strawberries
and he bawls out, three hapennies a
half pound, while adjoining beside the
ice cream vender is the man who sells
penny's worth of horse flesh, already
cooked, on q skewer for the cat.
There are many buttonhole bouquet
women who readily dispense good sized
boutonniere for penny, which is quick
ly accepted, for the Englishman loves
fewets and the majority are sporting a
large or small rosette by noon time.
Now we have reached Ludgate Circus.
This is circular open space formed by
the junction Of several roads, but re-
ceives its name from the circular ap-
pearanoe. Continuing our straight
course we pass st. Paul's cathedral and
turning to the left soon are among the
banks and bankers In general. Thread
needle and Lombard streets as well as
Throgmorten are completely filled with
these institutions coupled with ex-
changes Of various kinds. Directly be-
fore Us is the Bank Of England.
Continuing by way OF Cornhil we
soon reach Oldgate, and bowl rapidly
along Whitechapel road. Although
this is broad thoroughfare, we see at
intervals poverty without looking for 1t.
But after a pleasant journey along this
road aud its continuation Mile End road,
a similar broad thoroughfare, we alight
from our lofty seat and begin our walk.
Becoming acquainted with the branch
secretary, a genial and well-informed
gentleman, takes but little time, and he
kindly places at our disposal guide,
who proves equally well informed and
glad to assist us on our errand. The
section visited did not comprise the
worst district, bat one of the average.
Here We're narrow streets or alleys, ad-
joining canals with tenements of two
or three rooms, and the inhabitants
toiling for few shillings, compelled a
number to work together, even IL
thrifty, to provide the necessaries of
life.
In some cases the society as afore-
mentioned had provided mangies, con-
sisting OF huge box filled with broken
stone weighing about half ton, moved
on rollers back and forth by crank,
aud in this way ironing rough articles
or underwear. A tedious operation,
considering that with constant toll aud
plenty of work one could earn but about
four or five shillings a week, but as the
young woman told me, every little
helped. There are hundreds and hun
dreds of two-room tenements occupied
by half-starved and clothed people, un-
til was actually tired looking at them
and their dwellings.
A little above them is the average
workingman, as described in the figures
given in the beginning of the letter. They
have as a rule three rooms, but in many
cases in fearful locality, and in most
of them the sanitary arrangements are
fearful and u constant menace to health.
For the three-room tenement they pay
Is. to rs. and Cd. week, or $l6S to
81. 80 weekly. This, considering loca-
ZION and other Accomplishments, is
high rent, and if you could
see them you would agree with me.
/ give descriptions Of three sample
tenement blocks:
No. lon the corner OF the main
street and a narrow alley, facing fish
curing establishment, with constant
smoke and smell. Two rooms on alley,
3 or shillings per week; on the main
street Is. Cd. per week, or S1.S0.
No. 2-Threesroom tenements, facing
canal incredibly foul at low tide.
Three-room tenements Is. and 3d., or
$3.50.
In the third case, the main street was
Just about wide enough to permit
horse and team passing along, while to
reach the back tenements one had TO
stoop, and walk through narrow pas
sage about two-and-a -a-half- feet wide for
some ten or twelve feet. The little
courts or alleys in connection Were filed
with half-clothed children and refuse
thrown from doors. Nothing thus far
has looked any more wretched, and as
continued, peeps Of similar sights was
all could stand. Now for the usual
price list. Things can be purchased
cheaper, but are only accepted by the
poorest of the poor. These are the av-
erage prices given me, by the average
workman in this locality, and l will
vouch for their authenticity.
ARTICLE. ENGLISH. AMERICAN.
Butter. ............... Is n 10. 24c To-
Flour. .............. 5tSf lbs. lie lbs.
sugar. anu zteu in 10 &C 10.
Tea. ................. Il 10d ID. Asc III.
Bread. ........... sd ID. loaf lOc4lb.
nain.....s....s,..ss tor 10 70 loc.
Fish Acknowledgement TO 4d. 2to osc.
Eggs. =. ............ 10 for Is. is for 2lc,
Mutton ''.......... Old, shoulder. iac ID.
MuNons s.........s... tu. ION Ioc. lo
Milk..............,. al. qt SC. ct
Lard. sd. lb l6c. ID.
Rice........ ........ 2to e,sd. ID. tto sc. 10
lacOn........s..ss.slus, ~. ~ ~.
Cheese. 80. NJ ID loc 10.
Pork 20 SID Id. 10 TO l7c. III