the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第6章
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the death of Elizabeth Crews； aged 77 years； of 32 East Street； Holborn；
who died on Wednesday last。 Alice Mathieson stated that she was
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landlady of the house where deceased lived。 Witness last saw her alive
on the previous Monday。 She lived quite alone。 Mr。 Francis Birch；
relieving officer for the Holborn district； stated that deceased had occupied
the room in question for thirty… five years。 When witness was called； on
the 1st； he found the old woman in a terrible state； and the ambulance and
coachman had to be disinfected after the removal。 Dr。 Chase Fennell said
death was due to blood…poisoning from bed…sores； due to self…neglect and
filthy surroundings； and the jury returned a verdict to that effect。
The most startling thing about this little incident of a woman's death
is the smug complacency with which the officials looked upon it and
rendered judgment。 That an old woman of seventy…seven years of age
should die of SELF…NEGLECT is the most optimistic way possible of
looking at it。 It was the old dead woman's fault that she died； and having
located the responsibility； society goes contentedly on about its own
affairs。
Of the 〃submerged tenth〃 Mr。 Pigou has said： 〃Either through lack of
bodily strength； or of intelligence； or of fibre； or of all three； they are
inefficient or unwilling workers； and consequently unable to support
themselves 。 。 。 They are often so degraded in intellect as to be incapable
of distinguishing their right from their left hand； or of recognising the
numbers of their own houses； their bodies are feeble and without stamina；
their affections are warped； and they scarcely know what family life
means。〃
Four hundred and fifty thousand is a whole lot of people。 The young
fireman was only one； and it took him some time to say his little say。 I
should not like to hear them all talk at once。 I wonder if God hears
them？
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CHAPTER VTHOSE ON THE
EDGE
My first impression of East London was naturally a general one。 Later
the details began to appear； and here and there in the chaos of misery I
found little spots where a fair measure of happiness reignedsometimes
whole rows of houses in little out…of…the…way streets； where artisans dwell
and where a rude sort of family life obtains。 In the evenings the men can
be seen at the doors； pipes in their mouths and children on their knees；
wives gossiping； and laughter and fun going on。 The content of these
people is manifestly great； for； relative to the wretchedness that
encompasses them； they are well off。
But at the best； it is a dull； animal happiness； the content of the full
belly。 The dominant note of their lives is materialistic。 They are stupid
and heavy； without imagination。 The Abyss seems to exude a stupefying
atmosphere of torpor； which wraps about them and deadens them。
Religion passes them by。 The Unseen holds for them neither terror nor
delight。 They are unaware of the Unseen； and the full belly and the
evening pipe； with their regular 〃arf an' arf；〃 is all they demand； or dream
of demanding； from existence。
This would not be so bad if it were all； but it is not all。 The satisfied
torpor in which they are sunk is the deadly inertia that precedes dissolution。
There is no progress； and with them not to progress is to fall back and into
the Abyss。 In their own lives they may only start to fall； leaving the fall
to be completed by their children and their children's children。 Man
always gets less than he demands from life； and so little do they demand；
that the less than little they get cannot save them。
At the best； city life is an unnatural life for the human； but the city life
of London is so utterly unnatural that the average workman or
workwoman cannot stand it。 Mind and body are sapped by the
undermining influences ceaselessly at work。 Moral and physical stamina
are broken； and the good workman； fresh from the soil； becomes in the
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first city generation a poor workman； and by the second city generation；
devoid of push and go and initiative； and actually unable physically to
perform the labour his father did； he is well on the way to the shambles at
the bottom of the Abyss。
If nothing else； the air he breathes； and from which he never escapes；
is sufficient to weaken him mentally and physically； so that he becomes
unable to compete with the fresh virile life from the country hastening on
to London Town to destroy and be destroyed。
Leaving out the disease germs that fill the air of the East End； consider
but the one item of smoke。 Sir William Thiselton…Dyer； curator of Kew
Gardens； has been studying smoke deposits on vegetation； and； according
to his calculations； no less than six tons of solid matter； consisting of soot
and tarry hydrocarbons； are deposited every week on every quarter of a
square mile in and about London。 This is equivalent to twenty…four tons
per week to the square mile； or 1248 tons per year to the square mile。
From the cornice below the dome of St。 Paul's Cathedral was recently
taken a solid deposit of crystallised sulphate of lime。 This deposit had
been formed by the action of the sulphuric acid in the atmosphere upon the
carbonate of lime in the stone。 And this sulphuric acid in the atmosphere
is constantly being breathed by the London workmen through all the days
and nights of their lives。
It is incontrovertible that the children grow up into rotten adults；
without virility or stamina； a weak…kneed； narrow…chested； listless breed；
that crumples up and goes down in the brute struggle for life with the
invading hordes from the country。 The railway men； carriers； omnibus
drivers； corn and timber porters； and all those who require physical
stamina； are largely drawn from the country； while in the Metropolitan
Police there are； roughly； 12；000 country… born as against 3000 London…
born。
So one is forced to conclude that the Abyss is literally a huge man…
killing machine； and when I pass along the little out…of…the…way streets
with the full…bellied artisans at the doors； I am aware of a greater sorrow
for them than for the 450；000 lost and hopeless wretches dying at the
bottom of the pit。 They； at least； are dying； that is the point； while these
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have yet to go through the slow and preliminary pangs extending through
two and even three generations。
And yet the quality of the life is good。 All human potentialities are in
it。 Given proper conditions； it could live through the centuries； and great
men； heroes and masters； spring from it and make the world better by
having lived。
I talked with a woman who was representative of that type which has
been jerked out of its little out…of…the…way streets and has started on the
fatal fall to the bottom。 Her husband was a fitter and a member of the
Engineers' Union。 That he was a poor engineer was evidenced by his
inability to get regular employment。 He did not have the energy and
enterprise necessary to obtain or hold a steady position。
The pair had two daughters； and the four of them lived in a couple of
holes； called 〃rooms〃 by courtesy； for which they paid seven shillings per
week。 They possessed no stove； managing their cooking on a single gas…
ring in the fireplace。 Not being persons of property； they were unable to
obtain an unlimited supply of gas； but a clever machine had been installed
for their benefit。 By dropping a penny in the slot； the gas was
forthcoming； and when a penny's worth had forthcome the supply was
automatically shut off。 〃A penny gawn in no time；〃 she explained； 〃an'
the cookin' not arf done！〃
Incipient starvation had been their portion for years。 Month in and
month out； they had arisen from the table able and willing to eat more。
And when once on the downward slope； chronic innutrition is an
important factor in sapping vitality and hastening the descent。
Yet this woman was a hard worker。 From 4。30 in the morning till the
last light at night； she said； she had toiled at making cloth dress… skirts；
lined up and with two flounces； for seven shillings a dozen。 Cloth dress…
skirts； mark you； lined up with two flounces； for seven shillings a dozen！
This is equal to 1。75 per dozen； or 14。75 cents per skirt。
The husband； in order to obtain employment； had to belong to the
union； which collected one shilling and sixpence from him each week。
Also； when strikes were afoot and he chanced to be working； he had at
times been compelled to pay as high as seventeen shillings into the union's
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coffers for the relief fund。
One daughter； the elder； had worked as green hand for a dressmaker；
for one shilling and sixpence per week37。5 cents per week； or a fraction
over 5 cents per day。 Howeve
