the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第23章
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which have brought them blindly through to empire and greatness； and
likewise I found that vast； incomprehensible patience which has enabled
the home population to endure under the burden of it all； to toil without
complaint through the weary years； and docilely to yield the best of its
sons to fight and colonise to the ends of the earth。
Thomas Mugridge was seventy…one years old and a little man。 It was
because he was little that he had not gone for a soldier。 He had remained
at home and worked。 His first recollections were connected with work。
He knew nothing else but work。 He had worked all his days； and at
seventy…one he still worked。 Each morning saw him up with the lark and
afield； a day labourer； for as such he had been born。 Mrs。 Mugridge was
seventy…three。 From seven years of age she had worked in the fields；
doing a boy's work at first； and later a man's。 She still worked； keeping
the house shining； washing； boiling； and baking； and； with my advent；
cooking for me and shaming me by making my bed。 At the end of
threescore years and more of work they possessed nothing； had nothing to
look forward to save more work。 And they were contented。 They
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expected nothing else； desired nothing else。
They lived simply。 Their wants were fewa pint of beer at the end of
the day； sipped in the semi…subterranean kitchen； a weekly paper to pore
over for seven nights hand…running； and conversation as meditative and
vacant as the chewing of a heifer's cud。 From a wood engraving on the
wall a slender； angelic girl looked down upon them； and underneath was
the legend： 〃Our Future Queen。〃 And from a highly coloured
lithograph alongside looked down a stout and elderly lady； with
underneath： 〃Our QueenDiamond Jubilee。〃
〃What you earn is sweetest；〃 quoth Mrs。 Mugridge； when I suggested
that it was about time they took a rest。
〃No； an' we don't want help；〃 said Thomas Mugridge； in reply to my
question as to whether the children lent them a hand。
〃We'll work till we dry up and blow away； mother an' me；〃 he added；
and Mrs。 Mugridge nodded her head in vigorous indorsement。
Fifteen children she had borne； and all were away and gone； or dead。
The 〃baby；〃 however； lived in Maidstone； and she was twenty…seven。
When the children married they had their hands full with their own
families and troubles； like their fathers and mothers before them。
Where were the children？ Ah； where were they not？ Lizzie was in
Australia； Mary was in Buenos Ayres； Poll was in New York； Joe had died
in Indiaand so they called them up； the living and the dead； soldier and
sailor； and colonist's wife； for the traveller's sake who sat in their kitchen。
They passed me a photograph。 A trim young fellow； in soldier's garb
looked out at me。
〃And which son is this？〃 I asked。
They laughed a hearty chorus。 Son！ Nay； grandson； just back from
Indian service and a soldier…trumpeter to the King。 His brother was in
the same regiment with him。 And so it ran； sons and daughters； and
grand sons and daughters； world…wanderers and empire…builders； all of
them； while the old folks stayed at home and worked at building empire
too。
〃There dwells a wife by the Northern Gate； And a wealthy wife is she；
She breeds a breed o' rovin' men And casts them over sea。
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〃And some are drowned in deep water； And some in sight of shore；
And word goes back to the weary wife； And ever she sends more。〃
But the Sea Wife's child…bearing is about done。 The stock is running
out； and the planet is filling up。 The wives of her sons may carry on the
breed； but her work is past。 The erstwhile men of England are now the
men of Australia； of Africa； of America。 England has sent forth 〃the best
she breeds〃 for so long； and has destroyed those that remained so fiercely；
that little remains for her to do but to sit down through the long nights and
gaze at royalty on the wall。
The true British merchant seaman has passed away。 The merchant
service is no longer a recruiting ground for such sea dogs as fought with
Nelson at Trafalgar and the Nile。 Foreigners largely man the merchant
ships； though Englishmen still continue to officer them and to prefer
foreigners for'ard。 In South Africa the colonial teaches the islander how
to shoot； and the officers muddle and blunder； while at home the street
people play hysterically at mafficking； and the War Office lowers the
stature for enlistment。
It could not be otherwise。 The most complacent Britisher cannot
hope to draw off the life…blood； and underfeed； and keep it up forever。
The average Mrs。 Thomas Mugridge has been driven into the city； and she
is not breeding very much of anything save an anaemic and sickly progeny
which cannot find enough to eat。 The strength of the English…speaking
race to…day is not in the tight little island； but in the New World overseas；
where are the sons and daughters of Mrs。 Thomas Mugridge。 The Sea
Wife by the Northern Gate has just about done her work in the world；
though she does not realize it。 She must sit down and rest her tired loins
for a space； and if the casual ward and the workhouse do not await her； it
is because of the sons and daughters she has reared up against the day of
her feebleness and decay。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XVIPROPERTY
VERSUS PERSON
In a civilisation frankly materialistic and based upon property； not soul；
it is inevitable that property shall be exalted over soul； that crimes against
property shall be considered far more serious than crimes against the
person。 To pound one's wife to a jelly and break a few of her ribs is a
trivial offence compared with sleeping out under the naked stars because
one has not the price of a doss。 The lad who steals a few pears from a
wealthy railway corporation is a greater menace to society than the young
brute who commits an unprovoked assault upon an old man over seventy
years of age。 While the young girl who takes a lodging under the
pretence that she has work commits so dangerous an offence； that； were
she not severely punished； she and her kind might bring the whole fabric
of property clattering to the ground。 Had she unholily tramped Piccadilly
and the Strand after midnight； the police would not have interfered with
her； and she would have been able to pay for her lodging。
The following illustrative cases are culled from the police…court
reports for a single week：…
Widnes Police Court。 Before Aldermen Gossage and Neil。
Thomas Lynch； charged with being drunk and disorderly and with
assaulting a constable。 Defendant rescued a woman from custody； kicked
the constable； and threw stones at him。 Fined 3s。 6d。 for the first offence；
and 10s。 and costs for the assault。
Glasgow Queen's Park Police Court。 Before Baillie Norman
Thompson。 John Kane pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife。 There were
five previous convictions。 Fined 2 pounds； 2s。
Taunton County Petty Sessions。 John Painter； a big； burly fellow；
described as a labourer； charged with assaulting his wife。 The woman
received two severe black eyes； and her face was badly swollen。 Fined 1
pound； 8s。； including costs； and bound over to keep the peace。
Widnes Police Court。 Richard Bestwick and George Hunt； charged
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with trespassing in search of game。 Hunt fined 1 pound and costs；
Bestwick 2 pounds and costs； in default； one month。
Shaftesbury Police Court。 Before the Mayor （Mr。 A。 T。 Carpenter）。
Thomas Baker； charged with sleeping out。 Fourteen days。
Glasgow Central Police Court。 Before Bailie Dunlop。 Edward
Morrison； a lad； convicted of stealing fifteen pears from a lorry at the
railroad station。 Seven days。
Doncaster Borough Police Court。 Before Alderman Clark and other
magistrates。 James M'Gowan； charged under the Poaching Prevention
Act with being found in possession of poaching implements and a number
of rabbits。 Fined 2 pounds and costs； or one month。
Dunfermline Sheriff Court。 Before Sheriff Gillespie。 John Young；
a pit…head worker； pleaded guilty to assaulting Alexander Storrar by
beating him about the head and body with his fists； throwing him on the
ground； and also striking him with a pit prop。 Fined 1 pound。
Kirkcaldy Police Court。 Before Bailie Dishart。 Simon Walker
pleaded guilty to assaulting a man by striking and knocking him down。 It
was an unprovoked assault； and the magistrate described the accused as a
perfect danger to the community。 Fined 30s。
Mansfield Police Court。 Before the Mayor； Messrs。 F。 J。 Turner； J。
Whitaker； F。 Tidsbury； E。 Holmes； and Dr。 R。 Nesbitt。 Joseph Jackson；
charged with assaulting Charles Nunn。 Without any provocation；
defendant struck the complainant a violent blow in the face； knocking him
down； and then kicked him on the side of the head。 He was rendered
unconscious； and he remained under medical treatment for a
