Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-13


Special Correspondence of Gazette and Journal
LONDON, July MY companion was as
interesting character as one can easily
lind in London. made his brief acQuaint-
ance at time when, turning costermon-
ger, ! had rent to pay for some coster
friends and myself in the unsavory pre-
clncts of Hare Lane. ] seemed to interest
him; he truly interested me; and we grew
to be friends; or as much so as his natural
suspicion of all humanity, as a London
rent collector, and his fixed and amiable
idea that there were in the whole world.
outside of London, few people and little
territory worth worritin' a body's cad
about" would permit.
He had in earlier days been police in.
spector, and bore something of record of
vigorous experiences in the east end re-
gions, from certain missing fingers, some
what 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 transplantings in the
general hospital. A period of ethical and
physical repose as beadle, which followed
the efforts of some Billingsgate ''mobbersn
to convert him into mangle with which
to .playtully smooth out" some of his
fellow inspectors, which retired him from
the force with portions of his organism in
tact and small pension, gave him some-
thing Of benign look. This was curiously
blended with wise judicial air, for having
for time, as truant-school visitor" in
spector or detective, engaged in chasing
truant scholars up and down gutter-spouts,
into and out OF cesspools and sewers and
up chimney-tues and beneath their
mothers petticoats, to finally land them
behind the walls of the Ragged School,
prison.
He was indeed, though stately and calm
IN demeanor, man literally of parts
Duty had, as it were, rendered him plainly
Invisible. And never had higher esteem
| for his short, broad, energetic and always
| perspiring wife's exactitude of description
than when she groanIngly remarked that
William Emery Hevans was no less than
hobjec." "A hoblec," she would repeat
IN sort of e1ultation of detected admira-
ton, Hi must remark it; hobjec as il e
goes on gettin' separated by wagabones
an houtlaws. au' Hi outliyes 'im-w'ich |
| prays Hi don't III put me on the poor
rates buryin' i'm in bits"
MIR. Evans, whom always addressed for
his'service record US MIR. Inspector" and
| who always returned for the same a fine
official salute which displayed the two re-
manning fingers of his right hand to the
best advantage, was now In the charities
4 and the rents, He was employed during
certain days Of each week by one of those
London charity organizations which sup,
port as many officers and committees as
wards, to Unexpectedly drop in upon It's
few dependents at their homes, and OBJ.
serve il the tea and tracts bestowed were
eHecting upright living; and it was from
| his reports, from which he wisely elimi-
mated the separation of his own members,
that data We're secured for those touching
annual reports of benefcence which draw
tears from honest British ewes and
| from oh
ITS very. risky askin cove Mr
Inspector often said to me, las low lis
soul be; pertickier on inornin's wen e
amt quite outen overnight gin crawl
= amt rightly hisself; an vile 'e's NUT
term 'damyourteaan'tr acksany ow = my
'abit is to mind lest e sends on a'ead a
chair er firm er 'atchet to interdooce is
'eated remarksln
All other days at MIR. Evans disposal
were occupied in the collection of rents.
should not like to repeat his observations
regarding this vocation, or the people with
whom II brought him into business rela-
tions. On the one hand were some of the
worst, and to methe most pitiable, of Lon
don's lowly; on the other, were two maiden
sisters, over 20 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 Bethnal Green region, to the
|
the most cougested of London districts,
and others struggling along desolate half
country roads. Endless DINING and dun
ming were necessary 10 secure any manner
of returns upon these. 1t was always 4
problem with my friend which was the
worst end of day-his rounds among the
vigorous lunged brawlers in his endeay ors Ia
collect rent, or his meeting with the ancient
danes when he turned in his petty daily
returns. They received him in high dun.
geon and chintz wrappers and with cudgels
like policeman's billy; their shrill invec.
tive being emphasized by crashing the
cudgels upon huge oaken strong box
standing between them, as though il were
the heads of their recaleitrant tenants OF
Mr.. Evans own picturesque Uranium
which, he confided to me, he always kept
as conveniently near the open door as con,
sistent with his obligations as a man and d
collector.
He also often related that these inter.
views always terminated in mild protest
on his part las 'ow 'eaven itself could al
make Britons true out o. 'scampersi u
whereupon the old ladies went right away
into Commissions yelling aHoot i
toot!" at him. and set to beating the chest
with greater vigor than ever; during which
martial laundering he always quietly
Withdrew; and it was my study of this
word ''scampers" which enabled me tc
discover that there are supposed to bt
more than 100000 families in London SC
known to landlords. All of this brought
me to Mr.. Evans door at an early hour d
a recent morning, for the purpose OF &C
eompanying him on day'srounds for the
collection of rents.
Mr.. Evans, in his ancient, bell.crowned
. hat, high collar, broad stock, short top
coat, long waistcoat, baggy black trousers
and huge thick-soled shoes. looked every
, inch man of affairs. A nink-bottle wa:
,, slung to one of the big buttons Of his
shiny waistcoat; a well-worn pocketbool
filled with blank receipts, arrears records
and quit notices was under one arm, and
very heavy walking stick, giving its Owner
+ something of an official air, was hel(
/ handily under the other He seemed glac
, and relieved at the prospect of company
|. AS we trudged along t)heapside and White
: I chapel road, he favored me with al
analytic disquisition upon the Londor
''scampers."
'scampers," said Mr.. Evans judicial,
and firmly, sis bad lot-leastwise nearly
all on EN-. They're flyers, flitterers; slip
i pin in 'ouse unbeknown; stayin' a!
: though they howned it, to tn point O
: summonses, an'-scat! away they goe
! like passed. O. gypsies.
low does they git that way? Some OF
{ ems born so; most on 'eln. Some on 'em
: ground so. Some on 'em's chased so. Som,
! on 'em finds Others scampin', an jess take
i to it like costers does to buttons and rum
+ puses. Many on ems made so by regis
:; term ,summonsin', finin' and the work.iis
:: fur if once TIL School Board claps its paw
!; on yer young uns it's pay the rate er worI
}, a fine, an nothink but death an scampin
:; can keep the young uns theirsels outer
e school or prisonm
!, In Justice to the old rent collector truth
d fulness / should add that even this stron,
l. language does not convey the faintes
I, idea of the endless war going on In III
n | great cities of England hetwesn tba unb ~