New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-25

did you say?" inquired Mr.. Free. II said 'ers
rottener."
For all he will not admit himself discouraged.
He regards his seven years hard In the hshe
of a reconnaissance in force. as an exploring Elk
petition merely-and 1t was. into a country
as little known, foreign and as strange
though lying in the heart of London, as Is Lap
rador or Tibet The inhabitants Of the Isle OF
Dogs are the logical product Of their environ
ment and their regeneration can only be brought
about by getting down to the root OF matters
and completely changing their Industrial con-
ditions 1t is to tell what these are and OF their
effects on the people that this book was writ
ten and. mirabile dictu. it is written In style
that is as entertaining as II is impressive!
Slaves to an almost incredible labor system.
working when they get work. interminable
hours for an indntesimal wage, of which an
enormous proportion is spent for drink, in their
own time," the islanders Of Dog are as indie
pendent as those of the South Seas-as ignorant
and as interesting. To illustrate their indie
pendent spirit Mr.. Free tells anecdote of one
of his servants native. of course.
Slasher, the millionaire, called on me one day on
business AS a matter of fact. he had come to tell
me what he thought of me- and was bursting with
do doc 70 its 81 p pro use ye surveyed him
through her spectaeles with the utmost astonisnI
Slasher halfway upstairs did she recover her
self Then she made up for lost time. :" Ere. you!"
she cried we're not accustomed in this ere ouse
to avin' people walkin' the mud all the place.
The great man turned with a seowl. caught dan
stopped-came back and did as he was told, like a
good little boy.
Relief from their depressing day by day strug-
gle for hopeless existence Unexpectedly finds
expression in exuberant good humor. which
the author considers the redeeming point in
East End character. Sharpened by need, their
wit is often surprisingly keen and subtle. An
~ t,s.rg-
servants. of whom he had seemingly endless
procession.
One day Leda arrived Weighted down with a nota
bic piece Of news She had discovered that 1
not gentleman my wife lady. Nina shTugged.
EnowS'' she said at length, rather Iamey. pc
eace no sa Gf And te
added nlmbIy. as Nina about to crush her with
she ASSOCIATES With esrs The Breach in
so Rome had eaR pn go
aunt was real lady she'd associate with countess
es, not with earls."
Sometimes their wit takes that curiously in
verted form that is supposed to be peculiarly
American, when young Morley wrote to his
benefactor: "I cannot tell you how touched
am by your generosity, and If the Lord don't
pay you back. will" 1.-The milkman woke me.
bawlin' out, or I should "a been down before"
the excuse offered by Mylie. already once
quoted, for oversleeping.
Unceremonious as the East Ender Is in his
manners. in his dress he is conventional ''to the
point of thraldom." In spite Of the popular
impression to the contrary, Mr.. Free asserts the
girls almost never adorn their hats with feath-
ers flowers, while corduroys would be con-
sidered very bad form in the gilded youth of
the East End If the gilded youth OF the East
End at all affected them. which they don't"
The snob cannot thrive the East End, for
no rUe asst End n he "
not. or claims any kind of distinction that he
does not possess"
Where life is so sodden and unrelieved any
thing out Of the ordinary is regarded in the
light of diversion, and It is oddly character
istic that in the authors chapter on "Recrea-
ton" considerable space should be given to
funerals and fights. Sometimes one leads to
the other. Death possesses a morbid fascination
for the East Ender that is incomprehensible to
those whose circumstances more normal.
Occasionally It takes an anticipatory form. A
choir boy to church one Sunday rugged out
completely in a suit Of black
Il hope you're not in mourning for any one"
said Mr.. Free. The boy hung his head. Not
yet he murnured. Too astonished to question
further then, the clergyman gained the facts
from the lads sister the next day. WELL" she
explained, TITS like this AS the doctors give
mother up and Billy's been wanting new
suit for a long time. father thought as 'ow It
would save money like. If - Seer" Mr.. Free
saw.
Mr.. Free pays scanty respect to the soup
kitchen philanthropy" by of which Ger
tain well meaning but misguided individuals
and societies have sought to gain the hearts of
the East Enders. He does not mince matters
To gid the pill with bribery or fattery is to
court and insure failure. When the gilt has been
scratched off the pill will be discarded. The East
Finder No mo hTNrh her Of
he gets for nothing. but he values the things he
pays for
Pay him enough for his labor to enable him
to pay for what he needs and wants; improve
his neighborhood with parks and Fairgrounds
and trees like favored localities. Give
him time to enjoy them, and he will be quick
enough to rise to his opportunities and respon-
sibilities.