in darkest england and the way out-第43节
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f eight said； last Christmas Day； 〃I remember when we had only dry bread for Christmas； but to…day we had a goose and two plum…puddings。〃 Brother X。 was dismissed in disgrace from his situation as commercial traveller before his conversion； to…day he is chief man； next to his employer； in a large business house。
He says：
I and perfectly satisfied that very few of the lowest strata of Society are unwilling to work if they could get it。 The wretched hand…to…mouth existence many of them have to live disheartens them； and makes life with them either a feast or a famine； and drives those who have brains enough to crime。
The results of our work in the Slums may be put down as：
1st。 A marked improvement in the cleanliness of the homes and children； disappearance of vermin； and a considerable lessening of drunkenness。
2nd。 A greater respect for true religion； and especially that of the Salvation Army。
3rd。 A much larger amount of work is being done now than before our going there。
4th。 The rescue of many fallen girls。
5th。 The Shelter work seems to us a development of the Slum work。
In connection with our Scheme； we propose to immediately increase the numbers of these Slum Sisters； and to add to their usefulness by directly connecting their operations with the Colony； enabling them thereby to help the poor people to conditions of life more favourable to health； morals； and religion。 This would be accomplished by getting some of them employment in the City； which must necessarily result in better homes and surroundings； or in the opening up for others of a straight course from the Slums to the Farm Colony。
SECTION 2。THE TRAVELLING HOSPITAL。
Of course； there is only one real remedy for this state of things； and that is to take the people away from the wretched hovels in which they sicken； suffer； and die； with less comfort and consideration than the cattle in the stalls and styes of many a country Squire。 And this is certainly our ultimate ambition； but for the present distress something might be done on the lines of district nursing； which is only in very imperfect operation。
I have been thinking that if a little Van； drawn by a pony； could be fitted up with what is ordinarily required by the sick and dying； and trot round amongst these abodes of desolation； with a couple of nurses trained for the business； it might be of immense service； without being very costly。 They could have a few simple instruments； so as to draw a tooth or lance an abscess； and what was absolutely requisite for simple surgical operations。 A little oil…stove for hot water to prepare a poultice； or a hot foment； or a soap wash； and a number of other necessaries for nursing； could be carried with ease。
The need for this will only be appreciated by those who know how utterly bereft of all the comforts and conveniences for attending to the smallest matters in sickness which prevails in these abodes of wretchedness。 It may be suggested； why don't the people when they are ill go to the hospital？ To which we simply reply that they won't。 They cling to their own bits of rooms and to the companionship of the members of their own families； brutal as they often are； and would rather stay and suffer； and die in the midst of all the filth and squalor that surrounds them in their own dens； than go to the big house； which； to them； looks very like a prison。
The sufferings of the wretched occupants of the Slums that we have been describing； when sick and unable to help themselves； makes the organisation of some system of nursing them in their own homes a Christian duty。 Here are a handful of cases； gleaned almost at random from the reports of our Slum Sisters； which will show the value of the agency above described：
Many of those who are sick have often only one room； and often several children。 The Officers come across many cases where； with no one to look after them； they have to lie for hours without food or nourishment of any kind。 Sometimes the neighbours will take them in a cup of tea。 It is really a mystery how they live。
A poor woman in Drury Lane was paralyzed。 She had no one to attend to her； she lay on the floor； on a stuffed sack； and an old piece of cloth to cover her。 Although it was winter； she very seldom had any fire。 She had no garments to wear； and but very little to eat。
Another poor woman； who was very ill； was allowed a little money by her daughter to pay her rent and get her food； but very frequently she had not the strength to light a fire or to get herself food。 She was parted from her husband because of his cruelty。 Often she lay for hours without a soul to visit or help her。
Adjutant McClellan found a man lying on a straw mattress in a very bad condition。 The room was filthy； the smell made the Officer feel ill。 The man had been lying for days without having anything done for him。 A cup of water was by his side。 The Officers vomited from the terrible smells of this place。 Frequently sick people are found who need the continual application of hot poultices； but who are left with a cold one for hours。
In Marylebone the Officers visited a poor old woman who was very ill。 She lived in an underground back kitchen； with hardly a ray of light and never a ray of sunshine。 Her bed was made up on some egg boxes。 She had no one to look after her； except a drunken daughter； who very often； when drunk； used to knock the poor old woman about very badly。 The Officers frequently found that she had not eaten any food up to twelve o'clock； not even a cup of tea to drink。 The only furniture in the room was a small table； an old fender； and a box。 The vermin seemed to be innumerable。
A poor woman was taken very ill； but； having a small family； she felt she must get up and wash them。 While she was washing the baby she fell down and was unable to move。 Fortunately a neighbour came in soon after to ask some question； and saw her lying there。 She at once ran and fetched another neighbour。 Thinking the poor woman was dead； they got her into bed and sent for a doctor。 He said she was in consumption and required quiet and nourishment。 This the poor woman could not get； on account of her children。 She got up a few hours afterwards。 As she was going downstairs she fell down again。 The neighbour picked her up and put her back to bed； where for a long time she lay thoroughly prostrated。 The Officers took her case in hand； fed； and nursed her； cleaned her room and generally looked after her。
In another dark slum the Officers found a poor old woman in an underground back kitchen。 She was suffering with some complaint。 When they knocked at the door she was terrified for fear it was the landlord。 The room was in a most filthy condition； never having been cleaned。 She had a penny paraffin lamp which filled the room with smoke。 The old woman was at times totally unable to do anything for herself。 The Officers looked after her。
SECTION 3。 REGENERATlON OF OUR CRIMINALS。THE PRISON GATE BRIGADE
Our Prisons ought to be reforming institutions； which should turn men out better than when they entered their doors。 As a matter of fact they are often quite the reverse。 There are few persons in this world more to be pitied than the poor fellow who has served his first term of imprisonment or finds himself outside the gaol doors without a character； and often without a friend in the world。 Here； again； the process of centralization； gone on apace of late years； however desirable it maybe in the interests of administration； tells with disastrous effects on the poor wretches who are its victims。
In the old times； when a man was sent to prison； the gaol stood within a stone's throw of his home。 When he came out he was at any rate close to his old friends and relations； who would take him in and give him a helping hand to start once more a new life。 But what has happened owing to the desire of the Government to do away with as many local gaols as possible？ The prisoners； when convicted； are sent long distances by rail to the central prisons； and on coming out find themselves cursed with the brand of the gaol bird； so far from home； character gone； and with no one to fall back upon for counsel； or to give them a helping hand。 No wonder it is reported that vagrancy has much increased in some large towns on account of discharged prisoners taking to begging； having no other resource。
In the competition for work no employer is likely to take a man who is fresh from gaol； nor are mistresses likely to engage a servant whose last character was her discharge from one of Her Majesty's prisons。 It is incredible how much mischief is often done by well…meaning persons； who； in struggling towards the attainment of an excellent end such； for instance； as that of economy and efficiency in prison administrationforget entirely the bearing which their reforms may have upon the prisoners themselves。
The Salvation Army has at least one great qualification for dealing with this question I believe I am in the proud position of being at the head of the only religious body which has always some of its members in gaol for conscience' sake。 We are also one of the few religious bodies which
