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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
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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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
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。 However； when the slack season came she was
discharged； though she had been taken on at such low pay with the
understanding that she was to learn the trade and work up。 After that she
had been employed in a bicycle store for three years； for which she
received five shillings per week； walking two miles to her work； and two
back； and being fined for tardiness。
As far as the man and woman were concerned； the game was played。
They had lost handhold and foothold； and were falling into the pit。 But
what of the daughters？ Living like swine； enfeebled by chronic
innutrition； being sapped mentally； morally； and physically； what chance
have they to crawl up and out of the Abyss into which they were born
falling？
As I write this； and for an hour past； the air has been made hideous by
a free…for…all； rough…and…tumble fight going on in the yard that is back to
back with my yard。 When the first sounds reached me I took it for the
barking and snarling of dogs； and some minutes were required to convince
me that human beings； and women at that； could produce such a fearful
clamour。
Drunken women fighting！ It is not nice to think of； it is far worse to
listen to。 Something like this it runs …
Incoherent babble； shrieked at the top of the lungs of several women； a
lull； in which is heard a child crying and a young girl's voice pleading
tearfully； a woman's voice rises； harsh and grating； 〃You 'it me！ Jest you
'it me！〃 then； swat！ challenge accepted and fight rages afresh。
The back windows of the houses commanding the scene are lined with
enthusiastic spectators； and the sound of blows； and of oaths that make
one's blood run cold； are borne to my ears。 Happily； I cannot see the
combatants。
A lull； 〃You let that child alone！〃 child； evidently of few years；
screaming in downright terror。 〃Awright；〃 repeated insistently and at top
pitch twenty times straight running； 〃you'll git this rock on the 'ead！〃 and
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
then rock evidently on the head from the shriek that goes up。
A lull； apparently one combatant temporarily disabled and being
resuscitated； child's voice audible again； but now sunk to a lower note of
terror and growing exhaustion。
Voices begin to go up the scale； something like this：…
〃Yes？〃
〃Yes！〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Yes！〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Yes！〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Yes！〃
Sufficient affirmation on both sides； conflict again precipitated。 One
combatant gets overwhelming advantage； and follows it up from the way
the other combatant screams bloody murder。 Bloody murder gurgles and
dies out； undoubtedly throttled by a strangle hold。
Entrance of new voices； a flank attack； strangle hold suddenly broken
from the way bloody murder goes up half an octave higher than before；
general hullaballoo； everybody fighting。
Lull； new voice； young girl's； 〃I'm goin' ter tyke my mother's part；〃
dialogue； repeated about five times； 〃I'll do as I like； blankety； blank；
blank！〃 〃I'd like ter see yer； blankety； blank； blank！〃 renewed conflict；
mothers； daughters； everybody； during which my landlady calls her young
daughter in from the back steps； while I wonder what will be the effect of
all that she has heard upon her moral fibre。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER VIFRYING…PAN
ALLEY AND A GLIMPSE OF
INFERNO
Three of us walked down Mile End Road； and one was a hero。 He
was a slender lad of nineteen； so slight and frail； in fact； that； like Fra
Lippo Lippi； a puff of wind might double him up and turn him over。 He
was a burning young socialist； in the first throes of enthusiasm and ripe for
martyrdom。 As platform speaker or chairman he had taken an active and
dangerous part in the many indoor and outdoor pro…Boer meetings which
have vexed the serenity of Merry England these several years back。
Little items he had been imparting to me as he walked along； of being
mobbed in parks and on tram…cars； of climbing on the platform to lead the
forlorn hope； when brother speaker after brother speaker had been dragged
down by the angry crowd and cruelly beaten； of a siege in a church； where
he and three others had taken sanctuary； and where； amid flying missiles
and the crashing of stained glass； they had fought off the mob till rescued
by platoons of constables； of pitched and giddy battles on stairways；
galleries； and balconies； of smashed windows； collapsed stairways；
wrecked lecture halls； and broken heads and bonesand then； with a
regretful sigh； he looked at me and said： 〃How I envy you big； strong men！
I'm such a little mite I can't do much when it comes to fighting。〃
And I； walking head and shoulders above my two companions；
remembered my own husky West； and the stalwart men it had been my
custom； in turn； to envy there。 Also； as I looked at the mite of a youth
with the heart of a lion； I thought； this is the type that on occasion rears
barri