The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-09
As 11ae NssoeeAsa aeenss with ths Curse Of
8a|sBs aenssaass aad Drink Stretching
sS II SSHs Oyer Them.

49,
ssmobbssa" 20 convsrt him iASo ! mang
xlth which 70 playfuliy smooth oat' son
~ his fellow inspsctess. which retired hi
from The forcs with portions Of his ofoal
Ism intast and : small pension. Ga,
him somsthinR Of . benign look. This vi
c~uriously blended with = wise judicial al
TOT having for ! time. 10 : truant-ssho'
visitor" inspector or detective. engage
In chasing truant scholars up aud dew
gutter spoutA into and ont Of ~ossspools an
sewers and MP chimney duss and bensat
their mothers pstticoltA TO finally lsn
them behind ths 'vshilSa soki.a ths ".raaes
SCHOOL, prison. He was indeed. thong
stately and calm In demeanor. . man litsl
ally 81 parts. Duty had, - u we're, rem
dssed him plainly divisible. His vii
groaninsly remarked that .'William 'Ensr
Hevans was no lsskthan Z hobjsc." =.
hObioc," oho would repeat In I sort OF q
ultation OF detected admiration "Hi mus
remark IL; . hobjec 81 II . goes on q Qettin
aeppuratsd BY wsgabones an houtlaws. an
HI outl,ves 'im-wich I prays ! don't!-'l
put me ON the roors rates . buryin' i'm il
6its." ~ Gag sdlsa
Nj. Evans, whom ! always addressed 70,
HE service record 90 "Hr. Inspector ant
Who always returned for the Same a I'm,
official salute which displayed the two 70.
maining Aagsrs Of his right band to the
sss a.. @aa'. sens.. T Il. 1 10s e ~ ias sn darins
certain days Of each wssk " o Of those
London charity organizations which sup
port &C many officers and committees a.
wards. TO MISREPRESENTATION in npon it, few
dependents ut their hcms11 and observe if
the tea and tracts bestowed were, e1fecsing
upright living; and il was from his reports.
from which b. wisely eliminated the separ-
alton OF his own members. that data were
secured for those touching annual reports
Of benefcencs which draw tears from hon
cot British eyes and shilings from plethorle
British pockets.
we're occupied In the collection Of rents.
Among the people with whom it brought
him into business relations were two
maiden sisters. over 70 years Of age, i'm
mcnsely wealthy and far uRlisr and greed
Ter than they were rich. Among their prop
srtiss were scattering small houses and
tenements beyond tho Bsthnsl Green re-
eion. to the north Of Mile End Road; some
Of these In the most con2ested of London
districts, and others struggling along DESC
lato half-country roads. Endless dining
and dunninG were necessary to secure any
mnnner of returns upon these. When 10
received him in high dudHeon and chintz
wrappers. and hs always kept as conyen-
iently near the open door as consistent with
his obligations as q man and o collector.
He also often related that these interviews
always terminated in. a mild protest on his
britons true out D. 'scampetsG.'s'' wvhersupon
the old ladies went right away into "con-
w~uisions." during which martial thunder
ing he always quietly withdrew; and il
was my study Of this word ''scamp-
ers" which enables me to discover that
there are supposed to be more than
100. 600 families In London 80 known to
landlords. All Of this brought me to Mr..
Evans door at Al early hour of a recent
morning, for the purposs of accompanying
him on . days rounds for thu collection of
rents. As w trudged along Cheapside and
Whltschapel road. he favored me with m
analyt tic dis4nisition upon London scamp.
eFs."
"Scampsss." said Mr.. Evans iudioially
and firmly. lis a bad lot-leastwise nearly
all on 'em. They're flyers. flitterers; slip
PIN in . 'ouse %unbeknown; stayin' as
slough they howned it, to th' point of
summonses. an'-scat! away they goes like
. passel o. Gipsiss."
"Ow does they git that way? Come on
'em's born 60; most on 'ern. Some on 'cm's
ground 20. Some on 'em's chased SO.
Some on 'em finds others scampin'. an jess
takes to it like costers does to buttons and
rumpuses. Many on 'om's made 30 by reg
isteria'. summonsin'. tinin' and the work
US; FUR If once tn school board claps iii
paws on yer young uns. it's pay tho rate OF
work a fne, an nothing but death an
sCampin' can keep tho young uns theirsel's
outen school OF PRISON."
The fitst places on tho collectors list
were found in q noisome court in which the
sunlight never cem.. On our approach
zion OF that portion Of the ~half-naked pop
ulation with whom we had business. who
either totally disappeared or barred their
doors against our entrance. Such unprom-
Using negotiations as were possible wore OF
necessity held through keyholcs or broken
panes OF glass. As was tho collectors GUS
tom here. he shortly announced in a loud
some of voice that, as no had nothing else
on hand that day. We would sit down and
2 wait. We did sit upon n filthy firm which
had just been vacated. Certain indications
of restlessneBs were soon plainly audible
from within: This seemed to ocmmuni-
cate itself to those neiRbbors on the out
side Who. themselves being accustomed 10
similar experiences f'om other sources,
through the natural allianoe of misery,
began a series of maneuvers for our
discomforture. A basin full of dirty
water suddenly rained down upon
us and the old court .rang with
IN q sort OF horse play. began hustling us
asif by accident. making handy use OF
theft elbows and fists while avoiding pre-
tended tumblinRs upon Us; and this became
30 threatening that the collectors stuu,
stick was called into effective use. Their
some rotten garbage fell softly u-on us;
u this was followed by q welLdirected
discharge of cinders and ashes. Goals
could not be spared, or our situation would
lave proven exceedingly FESTIVE.
Then the women of tho court began edg-
Ing mp to US with c. oonod commise, ations
for our prisoners. They Landed their in
teREity; deplored their misfortunes and de-
cfied the sad spectacle of such fine folk
being ''worritsd for a beggariy bit of rent
MI. Evans remaining unmoved. they sud.
denly became hysterical With abuse. SHREK
log unprintable mnledictions and Rnathe-
mas until, in o frenzy of sorrowful inaig-
nifty. they barred their scrnggy breasts and
besought us to strike them down,
as they wers sure We were
brutes enough to do SO. supplement
Ing this by entreating us to murder thei'
'hinfant hoffsprings afore their heyes.''
She said skinny mites Of misery being held
out to rs for that benefcsnt operation.
ihe imperturbahle Mr.. Evans. in ar
aside" to quiet fny own rising trepidn.
tion. whispered, ''ths eo1s 'as no arm in
'em;" and quietly taking a metal whistle
from his wAistcoat pocket gave it a signifi-
can't movement TO his lips. following this
With the soothing remark: Ladies'. HI
sAtse TO summon the polish whereupou