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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
THE PEOPLE OF THE
ABYSS
by Jack London
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
The chief priests and rulers cry：…
〃O Lord and Master； not ours the guilt； We build but as our fathers
built； Behold thine images how they stand Sovereign and sole through all
our land。
〃Our task is hardwith sword and flame； To hold thine earth forever
the same； And with sharp crooks of steel to keep； Still as thou leftest them；
thy sheep。〃
Then Christ sought out an artisan； A low…browed； stunted； haggard
man； And a motherless girl whose fingers thin Crushed from her faintly
want and sin。
These set he in the midst of them； And as they drew back their garment
hem For fear of defilement； 〃Lo； here；〃 said he； 〃The images ye have
made of me。〃
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
PREFACE
The experiences related in this volume fell to me in the summer of
1902。 I went down into the under…world of London with an attitude of
mind which I may best liken to that of the explorer。 I was open to be
convinced by the evidence of my eyes； rather than by the teachings of
those who had not seen； or by the words of those who had seen and gone
before。 Further； I took with me certain simple criteria with which to
measure the life of the under…world。 That which made for more life； for
physical and spiritual health； was good； that which made for less life；
which hurt； and dwarfed； and distorted life； was bad。
It will be readily apparent to the reader that I saw much that was bad。
Yet it must not be forgotten that the time of which I write was considered
〃good times〃 in England。 The starvation and lack of shelter I
encountered constituted a chronic condition of misery which is never
wiped out； even in the periods of greatest prosperity。
Following the summer in question came a hard winter。 Great
numbers of the unemployed formed into processions； as many as a dozen
at a time； and daily marched through the streets of London crying for
bread。 Mr。 Justin McCarthy； writing in the month of January 1903； to the
New York Independent； briefly epitomises the situation as follows：…
〃The workhouses have no space left in which to pack the starving
crowds who are craving every day and night at their doors for food and
shelter。 All the charitable institutions have exhausted their means in
trying to raise supplies of food for the famishing residents of the garrets
and cellars of London lanes and alleys。 The quarters of the Salvation Army
in various parts of London are nightly besieged by hosts of the
unemployed and the hungry for whom neither shelter nor the means of
sustenance can be provided。〃
It has been urged that the criticism I have passed on things as they are
in England is too pessimistic。 I must say； in extenuation； that of optimists
I am the most optimistic。 But I measure manhood less by political
aggregations than by individuals。 Society grows； while political
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
machines rack to pieces and become 〃scrap。〃 For the English； so far as
manhood and womanhood and health and happiness go； I see a broad and
smiling future。 But for a great deal of the political machinery； which at
present mismanages for them； I see nothing else than the scrap heap。
JACK LONDON。 PIEDMONT； CALIFORNIA。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER ITHE DESCENT
〃But you can't do it； you know；〃 friends said； to whom I applied for
assistance in the matter of sinking myself down into the East End of
London。 〃You had better see the police for a guide；〃 they added； on
second thought； painfully endeavouring to adjust themselves to the
psychological processes of a madman who had come to them with better
credentials than brains。
〃But I don't want to see the police；〃 I protested。 〃What I wish to do is
to go down into the East End and see things for myself。 I wish to know
how those people are living there； and why they are living there； and what
they are living for。 In short； I am going to live there myself。〃
〃You don't want to LIVE down there！〃 everybody said； with
disapprobation writ large upon their faces。 〃Why； it is said there are
places where a man's life isn't worth tu'pence。〃
〃The very places I wish to see；〃 I broke in。
〃But you can't； you know；〃 was the unfailing rejoinder。
〃Which is not what I came to see you about；〃 I answered brusquely；
somewhat nettled by their incomprehension。 〃I am a stranger here； and I
want you to tell me what you know of the East End； in order that I may
have something to start on。〃
〃But we know nothing of the East End。 It is over there； somewhere。〃
And they waved their hands vaguely in the direction where the sun on rare
occasions may be seen to rise。
〃Then I shall go to Cook's；〃 I announced。
〃Oh yes；〃 they said； with relief。 〃Cook's will be sure to know。〃
But O Cook； O Thomas Cook & Son； path…finders and trail…clearers；
living sign…posts to all the world； and bestowers of first aid to bewildered
travellersunhesitatingly and instantly； with ease and celerity； could you
send me to Darkest Africa or Innermost Thibet； but to the East End of
London； barely a stone's throw distant from Ludgate Circus； you know not
the way！
〃You can't do it； you know；〃 said the human emporium of routes and
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
fares at Cook's Cheapside branch。 〃It is sohemso unusual。〃
〃Consult the police；〃 he concluded authoritatively； when I had
persisted。 〃We are not accustomed to taking travellers to the East End；
we receive no call to take them there； and we know nothing whatsoever
about the place at all。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 I interposed； to save myself from being swept out
of the office by his flood of negations。 〃Here's something you can do for
me。 I wish you to understand in advance what I intend doing； so that in
case of trouble you may be able to identify me。〃
〃Ah； I see！ should you be murdered； we would be in position to
identify the corpse。〃
He said it so cheerfully and cold…bloodedly that on the instant I saw
my stark and mutilated cadaver stretched upon a slab where cool waters
trickle ceaselessly； and him I saw bending over and sadly and patiently
identifying it as the body of the insane American who WOULD see the
East End。
〃No； no；〃 I answered； 〃merely to identify me in case I get into a scrape
with the 'bobbies。'〃 This last I said with a thrill； truly； I was gripping
hold of the vernacular。
〃That；〃 he said； 〃is a matter for the consideration of the Chief Office。〃
〃It is so unprecedented； you know；〃 he added apologetically。
The man at the Chief Office hemmed and hawed。 〃We make it a
rule；〃 he explained； 〃to give no information concerning our clients。〃
〃But in this case；〃 I urged； 〃it is the client who requests you to give the
information concerning himself。〃
Again he hemmed and hawed。
〃Of course；〃 I hastily anticipated； 〃I know it is unprecedented； but〃
〃As I was about to remark；〃 he went on steadily； 〃it is unprecedented；
and I don't think we can do anything for you。〃
However； I departed with the address of a detective who lived in the
East End； and took my way to the American consul…general。 And here； at
last； I found a man with whom I could 〃do