the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第21节
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！
have yet to look for work。
〃I want to go；〃 I said to a couple of waking men near me。
〃Got ter sty fer the service；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you want to stay？〃 I asked。
They shook their heads。
〃Then let us go and tell them we want to get out；〃 I continued。 〃Come
on。〃
But the poor creatures were aghast。 So I left them to their fate； and
went up to the nearest Salvation Army man。
〃I want to go；〃 I said。 〃I came here for breakfast in order that I might
be in shape to look for work。 I didn't think it would take so long to get
breakfast。 I think I have a chance for work in Stepney； and the sooner I
start； the better chance I'll have of getting it。〃
He was really a good fellow； though he was startled by my request。
〃Wy；〃 he said； 〃we're goin' to 'old services； and you'd better sty。〃
〃But that will spoil my chances for work；〃 I urged。 〃And work is the
most important thing for me just now。〃
As he was only a private； he referred me to the adjutant； and to the
adjutant I repeated my reasons for wishing to go； and politely requested
that he let me go。
〃But it cawn't be done；〃 he said； waxing virtuously indignant at such
ingratitude。 〃The idea！〃 he snorted。 〃The idea！〃
〃Do you mean to say that I can't get out of here？〃 I demanded。 〃That
you will keep me here against my will？〃
〃Yes；〃 he snorted。
I do not know what might have happened； for I was waxing indignant
myself； but the 〃congregation〃 had 〃piped〃 the situation； and he drew me
over to a corner of the room； and then into another room。 Here he again
demanded my reasons for wishing to go。
74
… Page 75…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
〃I want to go；〃 I said； 〃because I wish to look for work over in Stepney；
and every hour lessens my chance of finding work。 It is now twenty…five
minutes to twelve。 I did not think when I came in that it would take so
long to get a breakfast。〃
〃You 'ave business； eh？〃 he sneered。 〃A man of business you are； eh？
Then wot did you come 'ere for？〃
〃I was out all night； and I needed a breakfast in order to strengthen me
to find work。 That is why I came here。〃
〃A nice thing to do；〃 he went on in the same sneering manner。 〃A
man with business shouldn't come 'ere。 You've tyken some poor man's
breakfast 'ere this morning； that's wot you've done。〃
Which was a lie； for every mother's son of us had come in。
Now I submit； was this Christian…like； or even honest？after I had
plainly stated that I was homeless and hungry； and that I wished to look
for work； for him to call my looking for work 〃business；〃 to call me
therefore a business man； and to draw the corollary that a man of business；
and well off； did not require a charity breakfast； and that by taking a
charity breakfast I had robbed some hungry waif who was not a man of
business。
I kept my temper； but I went over the facts again； and clearly and
concisely demonstrated to him how unjust he was and how he had
perverted the facts。 As I manifested no signs of backing down （and I am
sure my eyes were beginning to snap）； he led me to the rear of the building
where； in an open court； stood a tent。 In the same sneering tone he
informed a couple of privates standing there that 〃'ere is a fellow that 'as
business an' 'e wants to go before services。〃
They were duly shocked； of course； and they looked unutterable horror
while he went into the tent and brought out the major。 Still in the same
sneering manner； laying particular stress on the 〃business；〃 he brought my
case before the commanding officer。 The major was of a different stamp
of man。 I liked him as soon as I saw him； and to him I stated my case in
the same fashion m before。
〃Didn't you know you had to stay for services？〃 he asked。
〃Certainly not；〃 I answered； 〃or I should have gone without my
75
… Page 76…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
breakfast。 You have no placards posted to that effect； nor was I so
informed when I entered the place。〃
He meditated a moment。 〃You can go；〃 he said。
It was twelve o'clock when I gained the street； and I couldn't quite
make up my mind whether I had been in the army or in prison。 The day
was half gone； and it was a far fetch to Stepney。 And besides； it was
Sunday； and why should even a starving man look for work on Sunday？
Furthermore； it was my judgment that I had done a hard night's work
walking the streets； and a hard day's work getting my breakfast； so I
disconnected myself from my working hypothesis of a starving young man
in search of employment； hailed a bus； and climbed aboard。
After a shave and a bath； with my clothes all off； I got in between
clean white sheets and went to sleep。 It was six in the evening when I
closed my eyes。 When they opened again； the clocks were striking nine
next morning。 I had slept fifteen straight hours。 And as I lay there
drowsily； my mind went back to the seven hundred unfortunates I had left
waiting for services。 No bath； no shave for them； no clean white sheets
and all clothes off； and fifteen hours' straight sleep。 Services over； it was
the weary streets again； the problem of a crust of bread ere night； and the
long sleepless night in the streets； and the pondering of the problem of
how to obtain a crust at dawn。
76
… Page 77…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XIICORONATION
DAY
O thou that sea…walls sever From lands unwalled by seas！ Wilt thou
endure forever； O Milton's England； these？ Thou that wast his Republic；
Wilt thou clasp their knees？ These royalties rust…eaten； These worm…
corroded lies That keep thy head storm…beaten； And sun…like strength of
eyes From the open air and heaven Of intercepted skies！
… SWINBURNE。
Vivat Rex Eduardus！ They crowned a king this day； and there has
been great rejoicing and elaborate tomfoolery； and I am perplexed and
saddened。 I never saw anything to compare with the pageant； except
Yankee circuses and Alhambra ballets； nor did I ever see anything so
hopeless and so tragic。
To have enjoyed the Coronation procession； I should have come
straight from America to the Hotel Cecil； and straight from the Hotel Cecil
to a five…guinea seat among the washed。 My mistake was in coming
from the unwashed of the East End。 There were not many who came
from that quarter。 The East End； as a whole； remained in the East End
and got drunk。 The Socialists； Democrats； and Republicans went off to
the country for a breath of fresh air； quite unaffected by the fact that four
hundred millions of people were taking to themselves a crowned and
anointed ruler。 Six thousand five hundred prelates； priests； statesmen；
princes； and warriors beheld the crowning and anointing； and the rest of us
the pageant as it passed。
I saw it at Trafalgar Square； 〃the most splendid site in Europe；〃 and the
very innermost heart of the empire。 There were many thousands of us；
all checked and held in order by a superb display of armed power。 The
line of march was double…walled with soldiers。 The base of the Nelson
Column was triple…fringed with bluejackets。 Eastward； at the entrance to
the square； stood the Royal Marine Artillery。 In the triangle of Pall Mall
77
… Page 78…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
and Cockspur Street； the statue of George III。 was buttressed on either side
by the Lancers and Hussars。 To the west were the red…coats of the Royal
Marines； and from the Union Club to the embouchure of Whit
