按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
could stand a temperature of three hundred and twenty rather than two
hundred and twenty。
63
… Page 64…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XCARRYING THE
BANNER
〃To carry the banner〃 means to walk the streets all night； and I； with
the figurative emblem hoisted； went out to see what I could see。 Men
and women walk the streets at night all over this great city； but I selected
the West End； making Leicester Square my base； and scouting about from
the Thames Embankment to Hyde Park。
The rain was falling heavily when the theatres let out； and the brilliant
throng which poured from the places of amusement was hard put to find
cabs。 The streets were so many wild rivers of cabs； most of which were
engaged； however； and here I saw the desperate attempts of ragged men
and boys to get a shelter from the night by procuring cabs for the cabless
ladies and gentlemen。 I use the word 〃desperate〃 advisedly； for these
wretched； homeless ones were gambling a soaking against a bed； and most
of them； I took notice； got the soaking and missed the bed。 Now； to go
through a stormy night with wet clothes； and； in addition； to be ill
nourished and not to have tasted meat for a week or a month； is about as
severe a hardship as a man can undergo。 Well fed and well clad； I have
travelled all day with the spirit thermometer down to seventy…four degrees
below zeroone hundred and six degrees of frost ｛1｝； and though I
suffered； it was a mere nothing compared with carrying the banner for a
night； ill fed； ill clad； and soaking wet。
The streets grew very quiet and lonely after the theatre crowd had
gone home。 Only were to be seen the ubiquitous policemen； flashing
their dark lanterns into doorways and alleys； and men and women and
boys taking shelter in the lee of buildings from the wind and rain。
Piccadilly； however； was not quite so deserted。 Its pavements were
brightened by well…dressed women without escort； and there was more life
and action there than elsewhere； due to the process of finding escort。 But
by three o'clock the last of them had vanished； and it was then indeed
lonely。
64
… Page 65…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
At half…past one the steady downpour ceased； and only showers fell
thereafter。 The homeless folk came away from the protection of the
buildings； and slouched up and down and everywhere； in order to rush up
the circulation and keep warm。
One old woman； between fifty and sixty； a sheer wreck； I had noticed
earlier in the night standing in Piccadilly； not far from Leicester Square。
She seemed to have neither the sense nor the strength to get out of the rain
or keep walking； but stood stupidly； whenever she got the chance；
meditating on past days； I imagine； when life was young and blood was
warm。 But she did not get the chance often。 She was moved on by every
policeman； and it required an average of six moves to send her doddering
off one man's beat and on to another's。 By three o'clock； she had
progressed as far as St。 James Street； and as the clocks were striking four I
saw her sleeping soundly against the iron railings of Green Park。 A brisk
shower was falling at the time； and she must have been drenched to the
skin。
Now； said I； at one o'clock； to myself； consider that you are a poor
young man； penniless； in London Town； and that to…morrow you must
look for work。 It is necessary； therefore； that you get some sleep in order
that you may have strength to look for work and to do work in case you
find it。
So I sat down on the stone steps of a building。 Five minutes later a
policeman was looking at me。 My eyes were wide open； so he only
grunted and passed on。 Ten minutes later my head was on my knees； I
was dozing； and the same policeman was saying gruffly； 〃'Ere； you； get
outa that！〃
I got。 And； like the old woman； I continued to get； for every time I
dozed； a policeman was there to rout me along again。 Not long after；
when I had given this up； I was walking with a young Londoner （who had
been out to the colonies and wished he were out to them again）； when I
noticed an open passage leading under a building and disappearing in
darkness。 A low iron gate barred the entrance。
〃Come on；〃 I said。 〃Let's climb over and get a good sleep。〃
〃Wot？〃 he answered； recoiling from me。 〃An' get run in fer three
65
… Page 66…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
months！ Blimey if I do！〃
Later on I was passing Hyde Park with a young boy of fourteen or
fifteen； a most wretched…looking youth； gaunt and hollow…eyed and sick。
〃Let's go over the fence；〃 I proposed； 〃and crawl into the shrubbery for
a sleep。 The bobbies couldn't find us there。〃
〃No fear；〃 he answered。 〃There's the park guardians； and they'd run
you in for six months。〃
Times have changed； alas！ When I was a youngster I used to read of
homeless boys sleeping in doorways。 Already the thing has become a
tradition。 As a stock situation it will doubtless linger in literature for a
century to come； but as a cold fact it has ceased to be。 Here are the
doorways； and here are the boys； but happy conjunctions are no longer
effected。 The doorways remain empty； and the boys keep awake and
carry the banner。
〃I was down under the arches；〃 grumbled another young fellow。 By
〃arches〃 he meant the shore arches where begin the bridges that span the
Thames。 〃I was down under the arches wen it was ryning its 'ardest； an' a
bobby comes in an' chyses me out。 But I come back； an' 'e come too。
''Ere；' sez 'e； 'wot you doin' 'ere？' An' out I goes； but I sez； 'Think I want
ter pinch ＇steal＇ the bleedin' bridge？'〃
Among those who carry the banner； Green Park has the reputation of
opening its gates earlier than the other parks； and at quarter…past four in
the morning； I； and many more； entered Green Park。 It was raining again；
but they were worn out with the night's walking； and they were down on
the benches and asleep at once。 Many of the men stretched out full
length on the dripping wet grass； and； with the rain falling steadily upon
them； were sleeping the sleep of exhaustion。
And now I wish to criticise the powers that be。 They ARE the
powers； therefore they may decree whatever they please； so I make bold
only to criticise the ridiculousness of their decrees。 All night long they
make the homeless ones walk up and down。 They drive them out of
doors and passages； and lock them out of the parks。 The evident
intention of all this is to deprive them of sleep。 Well and good； the
powers have the power to deprive them of sleep； or of anything else for
66
… Page 67…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
that matter； but why under the sun do they open the gates of the parks at
five o'clock in the morning and let the homeless ones go inside and sleep？
If it is their intention to deprive them of sleep； why do they let them sleep
after five in the morning？ And if it is not their intention to deprive them
of sleep； why don't they let them sleep earlier in the night？
In this connection； I will say that I came by Green Park that same day；
at one in the afternoon； and that I counted scores of the ragged wretches
asleep in the grass。 It was Sunday afternoon； the sun was fitfully
appearing； and the well…dressed West Enders； with their wives and
progeny； were out by thousands； taking the air。 It was not a pleasant
sight for them；