in darkest england and the way out-第11节
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m in which they have to sleep； and breed； and die； but they cling to it as a drowning man to a half…submerged raft。 Every week they contrive by pinching and scheming to raise the rent； for with them it is pay or go and they struggle to meet the collector as the sailor nerves himself to avoid being sucked under by the foaming wave。 If at any time work fails or sickness comes they are liable to drop helplessly into the ranks of the homeless。 It is bad for a single man to have to confront the struggle for life in the streets and Casual Wards。 But how much more terrible must it be for the married man with his wife and children to be turned out into the streets。 So long as the family has a lair into which it can creep at night； he keeps his footing； but when he loses that solitary foothold then arrives the time if there be such a thing as Christian compassion； for the helping hand to be held out to save him from the vortex that sucks him downwarday； downward to the hopeless under…strata of crime and despair。
〃The heart knoweth its own bitterness and the stranger inter…meddleth not therewith。〃 But now and then out of the depths there sounds a bitter wail as of some strong swimmer in his agony as he is drawn under by the current。 A short time ago a respectable man； a chemist in Holloway； fifty years of age； driven hard to the wall； tried to end it all by cutting his throat。 His wife also cut her throat； and at the same time they gave strychnine to their only child。 The effort failed； and they were placed on trial for attempted murder。 In the Court a letter was read which the poor wretch had written before attempting his life：…
MY DEAREST GEORGE；Twelve months have I now passed of a most miserable and struggling existence； and I really cannot stand it any more。 I am completely worn out； and relations who could assist me won't do any more； for such was uncle's last intimation。 Never mind； he can't take his money and comfort with him； and in all probability will find himself in the same boat as myself。 He never enquires whether I am starving or not。 #3a mere flea…bite to himwould have put us straight； and with his security and good interest might have obtained me a good situation long ago。 I can face poverty and degradation no longer； and would sooner die than go to the workhouse； whatever may be the awful consequences of the steps we have taken。 We have； God forgive us； taken our darling Arty with us out of pure love and affection； so that the darling should never be cuffed about； or reminded or taunted with his heartbroken parents' crime。 My poor wife has done her best at needle…work； washing； house…minding； &c。； in fact； anything and everything that would bring in a shilling； but it would only keep us in semi…starvation。 I have now done six weeks' travelling from morning till night； and not received one farthing for it； If that is not enough to drive you madwickedly madI don't know what is。 No bright prospect anywhere； no ray of hope。
May God Almighty forgive us for this heinous sin； and have mercy on our sinful souls； is the prayer of your miserable； broken…hearted； but loving brother； Arthur。 We have now done everything that we can possibly think of to avert this wicked proceeding； but can discover no ray of hope。 Fervent prayer has availed us nothing； our lot is cast； and we must abide by it。 It must be God's will or He would have ordained it differently。 Dearest Georgy； I am exceedingly sorry to leave you all； but I am madthoroughly mad。 You； dear； must try and forget us； and； if possible； forgive us； for I do not consider it our own fault we have not succeeded。 If you could get #3 for our bed it will pay our rent； and our scanty furniture may fetch enough to bury us in a cheap way。 Don't grieve over us or follow us； for we shall not be worthy of such respect。 Our clergyman has never called on us or given us the least consolation； though I called on him a month ago。 He is paid to preach； and there he considers his responsibility ends； the rich excepted。 We have only yourself and a very few others who care one pin what becomes of us； but you must try and forgive us； is the last fervent prayer of your devotedly fond and affectionate but broken…hearted and persecuted brother。 （Signed） R。 A。 O。
That is an authentic human documenta transcript from the life of one among thousands who go down inarticulate into the depths； They die and make no sign； or； worse still； they continue to exist； carrying about with them； year after year； the bitter ashes of a life from which the furnace of misfortune has burnt away all joy； and hope； and strength。 Who is there who has not been confronted by many despairing ones； who come； as Richard O went； to the clergyman； crying for help； and how seldom have we been able to give it them？ It is unjust； no doubt； for them to blame the clergy and the comfortable well…to…do for what can they do but preach and offer good advice？ To assist all the Richard Os' by direct financial advance would drag even Rothschild into the gutter。 And what else can be done？ Yet something else must be done if Christianity is not to be a mockery to perishing men。
Here is another case； a very common case； which illustrates how the Army of Despair is recruited。
Mr。 T。； Margaret Place； Gascoign Place； Bethnal Green； is a bootmaker by trade。 Is a good hand； and has earned three shillings and sixpence to four shillings and sixpence a day。 He was taken ill last Christmas； and went to the London Hospital； was there three months。 A week after he had gone Mrs。 T。 had rheumatic fever； and was taken to Bethnal Green Infirmary； where she remained about three months。 Directly after they had been taken ill； their furniture was seized for the three weeks' rent which was owing。 Consequently； on becoming convalescent； they were homeless。 They came out about the same time。 He went out to a lodging…house for a night or two； until she came out。 He then had twopence； and she had sixpence； which a nurse had given her。 They went to a lodging…house together； but the society there was dreadful。 Next day he had a day's work； and got two shillings and sixpence； and on the strength of this they took a furnished room at tenpence per day （payable nightly）。 His work lasted a few weeks； when he was again taken ill； lost his job； and spent all their money。 Pawned a shirt and apron for a shilling； spent that； too。 At last pawned their tools for three shillings； which got them a few days' food and lodging。 He is now minus tools and cannot work at his own job； and does anything he can。 Spent their last twopence on a pen'orth each of tea and sugar。 In two days they had a slice of bread and butter each； that's all。 They are both very weak through want of food。
〃Let things alone；〃 the laws of supply and demand； and all the rest of the excuses by which those who stand on firm ground salve their consciences when they leave their brother to sink； how do they look when we apply them to the actual loss of life at sea？ Does 〃Let things alone〃 man the lifeboat？ Will the inexorable laws of political economy save the shipwrecked sailor from the boiling surf？ They often enough are responsible for his disaster。 Coffin ships are a direct result of the wretched policy of non…interference with the legitimate operations of commerce； but no desire to make it pay created the National Lifeboat Institution； no law of supply and demand actuates the volunteers who risk their lives to bring the shipwrecked to shore。
What we have to do is to apply the same principle to society。 We want a Social Lifeboat Institution； a Social Lifeboat Brigade； to snatch from the abyss those who； if left to themselves； will perish as miserably as the crew of a ship that founders in mid…ocean。
The moment that we take in hand this work we shall be compelled to turn our attention seriously to the question whether prevention is not better than cure。 It is easier and cheaper； and in every way better； to prevent the loss of home than to have to re…create that home。 It is better to keep a man out of the mire than to let him fall in first and then risk the chance of plucking him out。 Any Scheme； therefore； that attempts to deal with the reclamation of the lost must tend to develop into an endless variety of ameliorative measures； of some of which I shall have somewhat to say hereafter。 I only mention the subject here in order that no one may say I am blind to the necessity of going further and adopting wider plans of operation than those which I put forward in this book。 The renovation of our Social System is a work so vast that no one of us； nor all of us put together； can define all the measures that will have to be taken before we attain even the Cab…Horse Ideal of existence for our children and children's children。 All that we can do is to attack； in a serious； practical spirit the worst and most pressing evils； knowing that if we do our duty we obey the voice of God。 He is the Captain of our Salvation。 If we but follow where He leads we shall not want for marching orders； nor need we imagine that He will narrow the field of operations。
I am labouring under no delusions as to the possibility of inaugurating the Millennium by any socia
