The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-08
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright 1901
LONDON, June %, 1893.

time when, turning costermonger, l had
rent to pay for some eoster friends and
myself in the unsavory precincts of Hare
Lane. 1 seemed to interest him-he
truly interested me-and we grew to be
friends, or as much so as his natural sus-
picion of all humanity, as London rent
collector and his fixed amiable idea, that
there were in the whole world, outside of
London, few people and little territory
worth worritin' a body's lead about"
would permit.
He had in earlier days been police in
spector, and bore something of a record
of vigorous experiences in the East End
regions, from certain missing fingers,
somewhat less provision of nose and ears
than originally allotted, with various
and vagarouS gerrymanders of his face,
neck and scalp which unpleasantly
limited of riot, ambulance surgeons and
curious capillary and cuticle transplant
lngs IN the general hospitals. a period OF
ethical and physical repose as beadle,
which followed the efforts of some bill
ln8sgate "mobbers" to convert him into
mangle with which to playfully smooth
OUT some of his fellow inspectors which
retired him from the force with portions
OF his organism intact and a small PEN
sion, gave him something of benign
look. This was curiously blended with a
wise judicial air, for having, at time, as
Jruant school visitor" inspector or de-
tective, engaged in chasing truant schol-
ars up and down gutter spouts, into and
out OF ceSspoOls and sewers, and up chin
ney hues and beneath their mothers
petticoats, to finally land them behind
the walls of the Ragged SchooP' prison.
he was, indeed, though stately and
gag4lVN E4nNa
parts. Duty had, as it were, rendered
him plainly visible. And / never had
higher esteem for his short, broad, ener-
gelic and always perspiring wife's eX-
actltude of description that when she
groaningly remarked that William
Emery Hevans was no less than a hob
jec." "a hobjeo," she would repeat in a
sort of EMULATION of detected admiration,
iii must remark it; a hobject as if e
goes on gettin' separated by vagabones
an houtlaws, am Hi outlives 'im-wich
/ prays Hi don't-'u put me on the poors
rates a buryin' i'm in bits"
Mr.. Evans, whom l always addressed
for his service record as mir. Inspector"
and who always returned for the same a
me official salute which displayed the
two remaining fingers OF his right hand
10 the best advantage, was now in the
charities and the rents. He was employed
during certain days OF each week by one
of those London charity organizations
which support as many officers and COM
lnittees as wards, to unexp ectedly drop
in upon its few dependents at their
homes, and observe il the tea and tracts
bestowed were ettecting upright living,
and it was from his reports, from which
he wisely eliminated the separation
of his own members, that data were Sc
cured for those touching annual reports
of benefcence which draw tears from
honest British eyes and shillings from
plethOric British pockets.
Its veryarisky askin' a cove" Mr.. In
spector often said to me, "as low lis soul
be, pertickler on mornin's Wien 'e amt
quite outen overnight gin crawl. 'E
amt rightly hisself, am vile 'es NUT
term 'damyourteaan 'tracksany 'ow!' nv
'abit is to mind lest e sends on a'ead a
chair er firm or 'atchet to interdooce lis
'eated remarksp'
All other days at Mr.. Evans disposal
were occupied in the collection of rents.
l should not like to repeat his observa-
tons regarding this vocation, or the peo-
pie with whom it brought him into bust
ness relations. On the one hand We're
some of the worst, and to me the most
pitiable, of London's lOwly; on the other,
were two maiden sisters, over 70 years of
age, immensely wealthy and far uglier
and greedier than they were rich. Among
their properties were scattering small
houses and tenements beyond the Beth
mel Green region, to the north of Mile
End Road, some of these in the most con-
gested of London districts, and others
struggling along desolate half-country
roads. Endless DINING and dunning
were necessary to secure any manner Of
returns upon these. 1t was always prob
lem with my friend which was the worst
end of a day-his rounds among the Wig
orous-lunged brawlers in his endeavors
to collect rent, or his meeting with the
ancient danes when he turned in his
petty daily returns. They received him
III high dudgeon and chintz wrappers,
and with cudgels like a policies billy, their
shrill invective being emphasized by
crashing the cudgels upon huge oaken
strong box standing between them, as
though it were the heads of their recalci-
trant tenants, or MIR. Evans own
picturesque Uranium which, he onfided
to me, he always kept as conveniently
near the open door as consistent with his
obligations as a man and collector.
He also often related that these inter-
views always terminated in mild pro-
test on his part ''as low 'eaven itself
couldn't make Britons true out o. scam
pers', " whereupon the old ladies went
right away into commissions, yelling
"hoot-toot" at him, and set to beating
the chest with greater vigOr than ever,
during which martial laundering he al
ways quietly withdrew, and it was my
study of this word 'scampers' which en-
abled me to discover that there are sup
posed to be more than 100000 families in
London so known 10 landlords. All of
this brought me to Mr.. Evans door at an
early hour of recent morning for the
purpose OF accompanying him on days
round for the collection of rents.
Mr.. Evans in his ancient, bell-crowned
hat, high collar, broad stock, short top
coat, long waistcoat, baggy black trou-
sars and huup thick -SOlod ShoaS IOol-aJ
every inch a man of affairs. An ink
bottle'was slung to one of the big buttons
of his shiny waistcoat, a welI-w worn
pocketbook filled with blank receipts, ar
rears, records and quit-notices was under
one arm, and a very heavy walking-stick,
giving it's owner something of an official
air. was held handily under the other.
pect of company. As we trudged along
Cheapside and Whitechapel Road he IA
yored me with an analytic disQuisition
upon London ''scampers."
.'Scampers," said MIR. Evans judicially
and firmly, lis a bad lot-leastwise nearly
all on 'em. They're flyers, 1litterers-
sIinDin' in 'ouse unbeknown: stayin' as
though they howned it, to tn point of
summonses: an-scat! away they goes
like passed. o. gypsles.
LOW does they git that way? Some on
Janis horn 50: most on 'em. Some on
;am's ground so. Some on ennis chased
so. some on 'em finds others scampin',
an less takes to it like costers TO buttons
and rumpuses. Many on 'em's made so
Inv repisterin'. summonin', finin' and the
work-us; fur if once tn School Board
claps its paws on yer young uns, it's pay
the rate err work q fine, an nothin' but
death am scampin' can keep the young
uns theirseIs outen school or prison.?
In justice to the old rent collectors
l 4 TfaTe