the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第34章
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further； that the jury had done a wiser thing to bring in a verdict charging
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society with temporary insanity for allowing Ellen Hughes Hunt to be
defrauded and bilked of all the joys of life which fifty…two years' service in
the world had earned。
Temporary insanity！ Oh； these cursed phrases； these lies of language；
under which people with meat in their bellies and whole shirts on their
backs shelter themselves； and evade the responsibility of their brothers and
sisters； empty of belly and without whole shirts on their backs。
From one issue of the Observer； an East End paper； I quote the
following commonplace events：…
A ship's fireman； named Johnny King； was charged with attempting
to commit suicide。 On Wednesday defendant went to Bow Police Station
and stated that he had swallowed a quantity of phosphor paste； as he was
hard up and unable to obtain work。 King was taken inside and an emetic
administered； when he vomited up a quantity of the poison。 Defendant
now said he was very sorry。 Although he had sixteen years' good
character； he was unable to obtain work of any kind。 Mr。 Dickinson had
defendant put back for the court missionary to see him。
Timothy Warner； thirty…two； was remanded for a similar offence。 He
jumped off Limehouse Pier； and when rescued； said； 〃I intended to do it。〃
A decent…looking young woman； named Ellen Gray； was remanded on
a charge of attempting to commit suicide。 About half…past eight on
Sunday morning Constable 834 K found defendant lying in a doorway in
Benworth Street； and she was in a very drowsy condition。 She was
holding an empty bottle in one hand； and stated that some two or three
hours previously she had swallowed a quantity of laudanum。 As she was
evidently very ill； the divisional surgeon was sent for； and having
administered some coffee； ordered that she was to be kept awake。 When
defendant was charged； she stated that the reason why she attempted to
take her life was she had neither home nor friends。
I do not say that all people who commit suicide are sane； no more
than I say that all people who do not commit suicide are sane。 Insecurity
of food and shelter； by the way； is a great cause of insanity among the
living。 Costermongers； hawkers； and pedlars； a class of workers who live
from hand to mouth more than those of any other class； form the highest
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percentage of those in the lunatic asylums。 Among the males each year；
26。9 per 10；000 go insane； and among the women； 36。9。 On the other
hand； of soldiers； who are at least sure of food and shelter； 13 per 10；000
go insane； and of farmers and graziers； only 5。1。 So a coster is twice as
likely to lose his reason as a soldier； and five times as likely as a farmer。
Misfortune and misery are very potent in turning people's heads； and
drive one person to the lunatic asylum； and another to the morgue or the
gallows。 When the thing happens； and the father and husband； for all of
his love for wife and children and his willingness to work； can get no work
to do； it is a simple matter for his reason to totter and the light within his
brain go out。 And it is especially simple when it is taken into
consideration that his body is ravaged by innutrition and disease； in
addition to his soul being torn by the sight of his suffering wife and little
ones。
〃He is a good…looking man； with a mass of black hair； dark； expressive
eyes； delicately chiselled nose and chin； and wavy； fair moustache。〃 This
is the reporter's description of Frank Cavilla as he stood in court； this
dreary month of September； 〃dressed in a much worn grey suit； and
wearing no collar。〃
Frank Cavilla lived and worked as a house decorator in London。 He
is described as a good workman； a steady fellow； and not given to drink；
while all his neighbours unite in testifying that he was a gentle and
affectionate husband and father。
His wife； Hannah Cavilla； was a big； handsome； light…hearted woman。
She saw to it that his children were sent neat and clean （the neighbours all
remarked the fact） to the Childeric Road Board School。 And so； with
such a man； so blessed； working steadily and living temperately； all went
well； and the goose hung high。
Then the thing happened。 He worked for a Mr。 Beck； builder； and
lived in one of his master's houses in Trundley Road。 Mr。 Beck was
thrown from his trap and killed。 The thing was an unruly horse； and； as I
say； it happened。 Cavilla had to seek fresh employment and find another
house。
This occurred eighteen months ago。 For eighteen months he fought
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the big fight。 He got rooms in a little house in Batavia Road； but could
not make both ends meet。 Steady work could not be obtained。 He
struggled manfully at casual employment of all sorts； his wife and four
children starving before his eyes。 He starved himself； and grew weak；
and fell ill。 This was three months ago； and then there was absolutely no
food at all。 They made no complaint； spoke no word； but poor folk know。
The housewives of Batavia Road sent them food； but so respectable were
the Cavillas that the food was sent anonymously； mysteriously； so as not to
hurt their pride。
The thing had happened。 He had fought； and starved； and suffered
for eighteen months。 He got up one September morning； early。 He
opened his pocket…knife。 He cut the throat of his wife； Hannah Cavilla；
aged thirty…three。 He cut the throat of his first…born； Frank； aged twelve。
He cut the throat of his son； Walter； aged eight。 He cut the throat of his
daughter； Nellie； aged four。 He cut the throat of his youngest…born；
Ernest； aged sixteen months。 Then he watched beside the dead all day until
the evening； when the police came； and he told them to put a penny in the
slot of the gas… meter in order that they might have light to see。
Frank Cavilla stood in court； dressed in a much worn grey suit； and
wearing no collar。 He was a good…looking man； with a mass of black hair；
dark； expressive eyes； delicately chiselled nose and chin； and wavy； fair
moustache。
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CHAPTER XXIIITHE
CHILDREN
〃Where home is a hovel； and dull we grovel； Forgetting the world is
fair。〃
There is one beautiful sight in the East End； and only one； and it is
the children dancing in the street when the organ…grinder goes his round。
It is fascinating to watch them； the new…born； the next generation； swaying
and stepping； with pretty little mimicries and graceful inventions all their
own； with muscles that move swiftly and easily； and bodies that leap airily；
weaving rhythms never taught in dancing school。
I have talked with these children； here； there； and everywhere； and
they struck me as being bright as other children； and in many ways even
brighter。 They have most active little imaginations。 Their capacity for
projecting themselves into the realm of romance and fantasy is remarkable。
A joyous life is romping in their blood。 They delight in music； and motion；
and colour； and very often they betray a startling beauty of face and form
under their filth and rags。
But there is a Pied Piper of London Town who steals them all away。
They disappear。 One never sees them again； or anything that suggests
them。 You may look for them in vain amongst the generation of grown…
ups。 Here you will find stunted forms； ugly faces； and blunt and stolid
minds。 Grace； beauty； imagination； all the resiliency of mind and muscle；
are gone。 Sometimes； however； you may see a woman； not necessarily
old； but twisted and deformed out of all womanhood； bloated and drunken；
lift her draggled skirts and execute a few grotesque and lumbering steps
upon the pavement。 It is a hint that she was once one of those children
who danced to the organ…grinder。 Those grotesque and lumbering steps
are all that is left of the promise of childhood。 In the befogged recesses
of her brain has arisen a fleeting memory that she was once a girl。 The
crowd closes in。 Little girls are dancing beside her； about her； with all
the pretty graces she dimly recollects； but can no more than parody with
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her body。 Then she pants for breath； exhausted； and stumbles out through
the circle。 But the little girls dance on。
The children of the Ghetto possess all the qualities which make for
noble manhood and womanhood； but the Ghetto itself； like an infuriated
tigress turning on its young； turns upon and destroys all these qualities；
blots out the light and laughter； and moulds those it does not kill into
sodden and forlorn creatures； uncouth； degraded； and wretched below the
beasts of the field。
As to the manner in which this is done； I have in previous chapters
described it at length； here let Professor Huxley describe it in brief：…
〃Any one who is acquainted with the state of the population of all
great industrial centres； whether in this or other countries； is aware that
amidst a large and increa
