New-York tribune., 1909-09-05
FAULTS OF L0ND0NERS
NANY LO4FERS SEEN IN
THE GREAT CITY.
PeSsimiStic 14ttitude adopted by a
Recent Writer an ''I'he Nine
teenth Century,.
by W. Pett Ridge.

. The first charge TO be brought against the town
scf the Londoner is that it has made itself the home
bcf the loafer. In no other town of considerable
Adze will you find. in proportion the amount OF bra
ken Incidence that here thrusts itself upon you.
have seen the crowds in northern towns going 10
6aturday afternoon football match, but these bear
apbVious signs that they have but just finished
work: the folk be met any summer weekday
nxatching cricket the Oval and explaining how
players ought play seem never to do anything
seIse The men who rest elbows on the parapet Of
H-ondon Bridge and regard the loading and unload
Eng OF steamers below have apparently no other oc-
kcupation. Public meetings, especially those held
out of doors constitute attraction. and here the
aoafers show under variety OF influences, unex-
spected vivacity; the speaker must sometimes feel
snclned express preference for the listener who
Lcheers but is inebriate For the women leaning
sagainst open doorways in the minor streets with
srarments insufticiently furnished with hooks and
aeyes, there is assuredly domestic work, but this
Hhey studiously ignore, giving preference to the
hclams of debate. Members of the who
sstrou about leisurely private views, inspecting
aeVerythng but the pictures. obviously engaged
ION nothing better than chasing the hours which for
busy women fly too quickly. For members of clubs
fyawning morning and evening papers and at
Intervals gazing out of the window at St. Jamess
street the clock is always slow. No class in Lon
sdon has monopoly of loafng; perhaps those the
middle have the best claim to exemption. With the
middle classes life has be determined and
anous in order that income. Just sufficient. may
iRppear TO exist. There can be mystery in re-
lzard to those at the top, for some ancestor (who
twas not loafer) has provided for them: at the
7pther end the riddle Of their of living is
fdifiicult guess They sometimes supported
sby involuntary contributions, but this, as eN-
Ilanation. does not cover all and am beginning 20
sdespair Of inducing any one of them TO sanction an
nudit Of accounts What they prefer TO speak of is
1.-THE want of good luck they have and always
Experienced Gt may be noted that their belief in
fchance is great that any successes made by ac-
eQuaintances be credited In their opin-
son, anything base and vulgar industry.
7They be exceedingly acrimonious in regard TO
frelatves who 'in work. and the fact that
sIhese have given assistance once twice increases
resentment when supplies stopped. In slightly
shgher grade the loafer makes considerable de-
9,nand your interest by alleging that he was a
contemporary at school with of the public
.,nen of the present day he manages convey that
seven then he compared favOrably with them; his
wits sharper. his abilities conspicuous.
The loafer of town lounges through life scarcely
knowing the Gay the month, and the end,
when he is missing. nobody misses him
London cannot be called a generous hearted town.
Most of its weil-to-do people intent upon
their careers to give thought anything else,
land those who have the desire give are fire.
ssuently the people without means do so. The
generosity of the streets mainly from those
sfut few degrees higher than the applicants.
'ChurChes and chapels sometimes, by herculean
sefforts and suggestion of blackmai extract from
Tthe Londoner contributions toward some object
scounted worthy, and event of magnificent i'm
.portance may induce him to open his sovereign