in darkest england and the way out-第15节
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She was going to drown herself in desperation； when our Rescue Officers spoke to her； wrapped their own shawl around her shivering shoulders； took her home with them； and cared for her。 The baby was born dead a tiny； shapeless mass。 This state of things is all too common。
HOPELESSNESSSURROUNDINGS。The state of hopelessness and despair in which these girls live continually； makes them reckless of consequences； and large numbers commit suicide who are never heard of。 A West End policeman assured us that the number of prostitute…suicides was terribly in advance of anything guessed at by the public。
DEPTHS TO WHICH THEY SINK。There is Scarcely a lower class of girls to be found than the girls of Woolwich 〃Dusthole〃where one of our Rescue Slum Homes is established。 The women living and following their dreadful business in this neighbourhood are so degraded that even abandoned men will refuse to accompany them home。 Soldiers are forbidden to enter the place； or to go down the street； on pain of twenty…five days' imprisonment； pickets are stationed at either end to prevent this。 The streets are much cleaner than many of the rooms we have seen。
One public house there is shut up three or four times in a day sometimes for fear of losing the licence through the terrible brawls which take place within。 A policeman never goes down this street alone at nightone having died not long ago from injuries received there but our two lasses go unharmed and loved at all hours； spending every other night always upon the streets。
The girls sink to the 〃Dusthole〃 after coming down several grades。 There is but one on record who came there with beautiful clothes； and this poor girl； when last seen by the officers； was a pauper in the workhouse infirmary in a wretched condition。 The lowest class of all is the girls who stand at the pier…headthese sell themselves literally for a bare crust of bread and sleep in the streets。 Filth and vermin abound to an extent to which no one who has not seen it can have any idea。 The 〃Dusthole〃 is only one； alas of many similar districts in this highly civilised land。
SICKNESS； FRIENDLESSNESSDEATH。In hospitals it is a known fact that these girls are not treated at all like other cases； they inspire disgust； and are most frequently discharged before being really cured。 Scorned by their relations； and ashamed to make their case known even to those who would help them； unable longer to struggle out on the streets to earn the bread of shame； there are girls lying in many a dark hole in this big city positively rotting away； and maintained by their old companions on the streets。 Many are totally friendless； utterly cast out and left to perish by relatives and friends。 One of this class came to us； sickened and died； and we buried her； being her only followers to the grave。
It is a sad story； but one that must not be forgotten； for these women constitute a large standing army whose numbers no one can calculate。 All estimates that I have seem purely imaginary。 The ordinary figure given for London is from 60；000 to 80；000。 This maybe true if it is meant to include all habitually unchaste women。 It is a monstrous exaggeration if it is meant to apply to those who make their living solely and habitually by prostitution。 These figures； however； only confuse。 We shall have to deal with hundreds every month； whatever estimate we take。 How utterly unprepared society is for any such systematic reformation may be seen from the fact that even now at our Homes we are unable to take in all the girls who apply。 They cannot escape； even if they would； for want of funds whereby to provide them a way of release。
CHAPTER 7。 THE CRIMINALS。
One very important section of the denizens of Darkest England are the criminals and the semi…criminals。 They are more or less predatory； and are at present shepherded by the police and punished by the gaoler。 Their numbers cannot be ascertained with very great precision； but the following figures are taken from the prison returns of 1889：
The criminal classes of Great Britain； in round figures； sum up a total of no less than 90；000 persons； made up as follows：
Convict prisons contain。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 11；660 persons Local prisons contain。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 20；883 ；； Reformatories for children convicted of crime 。。 1；270 ；； Industrial schools for vagrant and refractory children 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 21；413 ；； Criminal lunatics under restraint。。 。。 。。 。。 910 ；； Known thieves at large 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 14；747 ；； Known receivers of stolen goods 。。 。。 。。 。。 1；121 ；； Suspected persons 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 17；042 ；； … Total 89；046 …
The above does not include the great army of known prostitutes； nor the keepers and owners of brothels and disorderly houses； as to whose numbers Government is rigidly silent。 These figures are； however； misleading。 They only represent the criminals actually in gaol on a given day。 The average gaol population in England and Wales； excluding the convict establishments； was； in 1889； 15；119 but the total number actually sentenced and imprisoned in local prisons was 153；000； of whom 25；000 only came on first term sentences； 76；300 of them had been convicted at least 10 times。 But even if we suppose that the criminal class numbers no more than 90；000； of whom only 35；000 persons are at large； it is still a large enough section of humanity to compel attention。 90；000 criminals represents a wreckage whose cost to the community is very imperfectly estimated when we add up the cost of the prisons； even if we add to them the whole cost of the police。 The police have so many other duties besides the shepherding of criminals that it is unfair to saddle the latter with the whole of the cost of the constabulary。 The cost of prosecution and maintenance of criminals； and the expense of the police involves an annual outlay of #4；437；000。 This； however； is small compared with the tax and toll which this predatory horde inflicts upon the community on which it is quartered。 To the loss caused by the actual picking and stealing must be added that of the unproductive labour of nearly 65；000 adults。 Dependent upon these criminal adults must be at least twice as many women and children； so that it is probably an under…estimate to say that this list of criminals and semi…criminals represents a population of at least 200；000； who all live more or less at the expense of society。
Every year； in the Metropolitan district alone； 66；100 persons are arrested； of whom 444 are arrested for trying to commit suicidelife having become too unbearable a burden。 This immense population is partially； no doubt； bred to prison； the same as other people are bred to the army and to the bar。 The hereditary criminal is by no means confined to India； although it is only in that country that they have the engaging simplicity to describe themselves frankly in the census returns。 But it is recruited constantly from the outside。 In many cases this is due to sheer starvation。 Fathers of the Church have laid down the law that a man who is in peril of death from hunger is entitled to take bread wherever he can find it to keep body and soul together。 That proposition is not embodied in our jurisprudence。 Absolute despair drives many a man into the ranks of the criminal class； who would never have fallen into the category of criminal convicts if adequate provision had been made for the rescue of those drifting to doom。 When once he has fallen； circumstances seem to combine to keep him there。 As wounded and sickly stags are gored to death by their fellows； so the unfortunate who bears the prison brand is hunted from pillar to post； until he despairs of ever regaining his position； and oscillates between one prison and another for the rest of his days。 I gave in a preceding page an account of how a man； after trying in vain to get work； fell before the temptation to steal in order to escape starvation。 Here is the sequel of that man's story。 After he had stolen he ran away； and thus describes his experiences：
〃To fly was easy。 To get away from the scene required very little ingenuity； but the getting away from one suffering brought another。 A straight look from a stranger； a quick step behind me； sent a chill through every nerve。 The cravings of hunger had been satisfied； but it was the cravings of conscience that were clamorous now。 It was easy to get away from the earthly consequences of sin； but from the fact never。 And yet it was the compulsion of circumstances that made me a criminal。 It was neither from inward viciousness or choice； and how bitterly did I cast reproach on society for allowing such an alternative to offer itself'to Steal or Starve；' but there was another alternative that here offered itselfeither give myself up； or go on with the life of crime。 I chose the former。 I had travelled over 100 miles to get away from the scene of my theft； and I now find myself outside the station house at a place wh
