the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第30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！
found that even the union； say twenty thousand strong； could not hold up
wages if twenty thousand idle men were trying to displace the union men。
106
… Page 107…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
This is admirably instanced； just now； by the return and disbandment of
the soldiers from South Africa。 They find themselves； by tens of
thousands； in desperate straits in the army of the unemployed。 There is a
general decline in wages throughout the land； which； giving rise to labour
disputes and strikes； is taken advantage of by the unemployed； who gladly
pick up the tools thrown down by the strikers。
Sweating； starvation wages； armies of unemployed； and great numbers
of the homeless and shelterless are inevitable when there are more men to
do work than there is work for men to do。 The men and women I have
met upon the streets； and in the spikes and pegs； are not there because as a
mode of life it may be considered a 〃soft snap。〃 I have sufficiently
outlined the hardships they undergo to demonstrate that their existence is
anything but 〃soft。〃
It is a matter of sober calculation； here in England； that it is softer to
work for twenty shillings a week； and have regular food； and a bed at night；
than it is to walk the streets。 The man who walks the streets suffers more；
and works harder； for far less return。 I have depicted the nights they
spend； and how； driven in by physical exhaustion； they go to the casual
ward for a 〃rest up。〃 Nor is the casual ward a soft snap。 To pick four
pounds of oakum； break twelve hundredweight of stones； or perform the
most revolting tasks； in return for the miserable food and shelter they
receive； is an unqualified extravagance on the part of the men who are
guilty of it。 On the part of the authorities it is sheer robbery。 They give
the men far less for their labour than do the capitalistic employers。 The
wage for the same amount of labour； performed for a private employer；
would buy them better beds； better food； more good cheer； and； above all；
greater freedom。
As I say； it is an extravagance for a man to patronise a casual ward。
And that they know it themselves is shown by the way these men shun it
till driven in by physical exhaustion。 Then why do they do it？ Not
because they are discouraged workers。 The very opposite is true； they
are discouraged vagabonds。 In the United States the tramp is almost
invariably a discouraged worker。 He finds tramping a softer mode of life
than working。 But this is not true in England。 Here the powers that be
107
… Page 108…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
do their utmost to discourage the tramp and vagabond； and he is； in all
truth； a mightily discouraged creature。 He knows that two shillings a day；
which is only fifty cents； will buy him three fair meals； a bed at night； and
leave him a couple of pennies for pocket money。 He would rather work
for those two shillings than for the charity of the casual ward； for he
knows that he would not have to work so hard； and that he would not be so
abominably treated。 He does not do so； however； because there are more
men to do work than there is work for men to do。
When there are more men than there is work to be done； a sifting…out
process must obtain。 In every branch of industry the less efficient are
crowded out。 Being crowded out because of inefficiency； they cannot go
up； but must descend； and continue to descend； until they reach their
proper level； a place in the industrial fabric where they are efficient。 It
follows； therefore； and it is inexorable； that the least efficient must
descend to the very bottom； which is the shambles wherein they perish
miserably。
A glance at the confirmed inefficients at the bottom demonstrates that
they are； as a rule； mental； physical； and moral wrecks。 The exceptions
to the rule are the late arrivals； who are merely very inefficient； and upon
whom the wrecking process is just beginning to operate。 All the forces
here； it must be remembered； are destructive。 The good body （which is
there because its brain is not quick and capable） is speedily wrenched and
twisted out of shape； the clean mind （which is there because of its weak
body） is speedily fouled and contaminated。
The mortality is excessive； but； even then； they die far too lingering
deaths。
Here； then； we have the construction of the Abyss and the shambles。
Throughout the whole industrial fabric a constant elimination is going on。
The inefficient are weeded out and flung downward。 Various things
constitute inefficiency。 The engineer who is irregular or irresponsible
will sink down until he finds his place； say as a casual labourer； an
occupation irregular in its very nature and in which there is little or no
responsibility。 Those who are slow and clumsy； who suffer from
weakness of body or mind； or who lack nervous； mental； and physical
108
… Page 109…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
stamina； must sink down； sometimes rapidly； sometimes step by step； to
the bottom。 Accident； by disabling an efficient worker； will make him
inefficient； and down he must go。 And the worker who becomes aged；
with failing energy and numbing brain； must begin the frightful descent
which knows no stopping…place short of the bottom and death。
In this last instance； the statistics of London tell a terrible tale。 The
population of London is one…seventh of the total population of the United
Kingdom； and in London； year in and year out； one adult in every four
dies on public charity； either in the workhouse； the hospital； or the asylum。
When the fact that the well…to…do do not end thus is taken into
consideration； it becomes manifest that it is the fate of at least one in every
three adult workers to die on public charity。 As an illustration of how a
good worker may suddenly become inefficient； and what then happens to
him； I am tempted to give the case of M'Garry； a man thirty…two years of
age； and an inmate of the workhouse。 The extracts are quoted from the
annual report of the trade union。
I worked at Sullivan's place in Widnes； better known as the British
Alkali Chemical Works。 I was working in a shed； and I had to cross the
yard。 It was ten o'clock at night； and there was no light about。 While
crossing the yard I felt something take hold of my leg and screw it off。 I
became unconscious； I didn't know what became of me for a day or two。
On the following Sunday night I came to my senses； and found myself in
the hospital。 I asked the nurse what was to do with my legs； and she told
me both legs were off。
There was a stationary crank in the yard； let into the ground； the hole
was 18 inches long； 15 inches deep； and 15 inches wide。 The crank
revolved in the hole three revolutions a minute。 There was no fence or
covering over the hole。 Since my accident they have stopped it
altogether； and have covered the hole up with a piece of sheet iron。 。 。 。
They gave me 25 pounds。 They didn't reckon that as compensation； they
said it was only for charity's sake。 Out of that I paid 9 pounds for a
machine by which to wheel myself about。
I was labouring at the time I got my legs off。 I got twenty…four
shillings a week； rather better pay than the other men； because I used to
109
… Page 110…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
take shifts。 When there was heavy work to be done I used to be picked
out to do it。 Mr。 Manton； the manager； visited me at the hos
