A NIGHT IN A WORKHOUSE.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 99, 6 April 1866, Page 5

A NIGHT IN A WORKHOUSE.

[From the Pall Mall Oazettee.]

At about nine o'clock on the evening of Monday, the Bth instant (January, 1866), a neat but unpretentious carriage might have been seen turning cautiously from the Kennington Road into Princes Road, Lambeth. The curtains were closely drawn, and the coachman wore an unusually responsible air. Approaching a public house which retreated a little from the street, he pulled up ; but not so close that thfi lights should fall upon the carriage door, nor so distant as to unsettle the mind of any one who chose to imagine that he had halted to drink beer before proceeding to call for the children at a juvenile party. He did not dismount, nor did any one alight m the usual way ; but the keen observer who happened to watch his intelligent countenance might have seen a furtive glance directed to the wrong door : that is to say, to the door of the carriage which opened into the dark and muddy road From that door emerged a sly and ruffianly figure, marked with every sign of squalor. He was dressed m what had once been a snuff-brown coat, but which had faded to the hue of bricks imperfectly baked It was not strictly a ragged coat, though it had lost its cuffs— a bereavement -which obliged the wearer's arms to project through the sleeves two long inelegant inches. The coat altogether was too small, and was only made to meet over the chest by means of a bit of twine. The wretched garment was surmounted by a " birds-eye" pocket-handkerchief of cotton, wisped about the

throat, hangman fashion ; above all was a battered billy-cock hat, with a dissolute drooping brim. Between the neckerchief and the lowering brim of the hat appeared part of a face, unshaven, and not scrupulously clean. The man's hands were plunged into his pockets, and he shuffled hastily along m boots which were the boots of a tramp indifferent m miry ways. In a moment he was out of sight ; and the brougham, after waiting a little while, turned about and comfortably departed This mysterious figure was that of the present writer. He was bound for Lambeth Workhouse, there to learn by actual experience how casual paupers are lodged and fed, and what the "casual" is like, and what the porter who admits him, and the master who rules over him ; and how the ni<rht passes with the outcasts whom we have all seen crowding about workhouse doors on cold and rainy evenings. Much has been said on the subject -on behalf of the paupers— on behalf of the officials ; but nothing by any one who, with no motive but to learn and make known the truth, had ventured the experiment of passing the night m a workhouse, and trying what it actually is to be a " casual. ' The day had been windy and chill — the night was cold ; and therefore I fully expected to begin my experiences amongst a dozen of ranged wretches squatting about the steps and waiting for admission. 13ut my only companion at the door was a decently dressed woman, who, as 1 afterwards learned, they declined to admit until she had recovered from a fit of intoxication from which she had the misfortune to be still suffering, i lifted the big knocker and knocked ; the door was promptly opened, and I entered. J ust within, a comfortable-looking clerk sat at a comfortable desk, ledger before him. Indeed the spacious hall m every way was as cheery as cleanliness and great mats and plenty of gaslight could make it. " What do you want?" asked the man who opened the door. " I want a lodging." "Go and stand before the desk," said the porter ; and I obeyed. " You are late," said the clerk. " Am I, sir ? " " Yes. If you come m you'll have a bath, and you'll have to sleep m the shed." " Very well, sir." " What's your name ? " " Joshua Mason, sir." " What are you ?" "An engraver." (This taradiddle I invented to account for the look of my hands. ) '• Where did you sleep last night ?" " Hammersmith," I answered— as I hope to be forgiven ? "How many times have you been here?" " Never before, Sir." ' ' Where do you mean to go when you are turned out m the morning? "Back to Hammersmith, sir." These humble answers being entered m a book, the clerk called the porter, saying, "Take him through. You may as well take his bread with you." Near the clerk stood a basket containing some pieces of bread of equal size. Taking one of these and unhitching a bunch of keys from the wall, the porter led me through some passages all so scrupulously clean that my most serious misgivings were laid to rest. Then we passed into a dismal yard Crossing this, my guide led me to a door, calling out, "Hillo! Daddy, I've, brought you another! 7 ' Whereupon Duddy opened to us, and let a little of his gaslight stream into the darkness where we stood. " Gome m," said Daddy, very hospitably. "There's enough of you to-night, anyhow! What made you so late ?" " I didn't like to come m earlier." "Ah! that's a pity now, because you've missed your skilley (gruel). It's the first night of skilley, don't you know, under the new Act. " Just like my luck !" I muttered dolefully. The porter went his way, and I followed Daddy into another apartment where were ranged three great baths, each one containing a liquid so disgustingly like weak mutton broth that my worst apprehensions crowded back. " Come on, there's a dry place to stand on up at this end," said Daddy kindly. "Take off your clothes, tie 'em up m your hank'sher, and I'll lock 'em up till the morning." Accordingly, I took off my coat and waistcoat, and was about to tie them together when Daddy cried, " That ain't enough, I mean everything." " Not my shirt, sir, I suppose ?" " Yes, shirt and all ; but there, I'll lend you a shirt," said Daddy. " Whatever you take m of your own will bo nailed, you know. You might take m your boots, though — they'd be handy if you happened to want to leave the shed for anythiug ; but don't blame me if you lose 'em." With a fortitude, for which I hope some day to be rewarded, I made up my bundle (boots and all), and the moment Daddy's face was turned away shut my eyes and plunged desperately into the mutton broth. 1 wish from the bottom of my heart my courage had been less hasty ; for, hearing the splash, Daddy looked round and said, ' ' Lor now ! there was no occasion for that ; you look a clean and decent sort of man. It's them tilthy beggars" (only he used a word more specific than " filthy") "that want washing. Don't use that towel —here's a clean one ! That's the sort ! and now there's your shirt" (handing me a blue striped one from a heap), "and there's your ticket. Number 34 you are, and a ticket to match is tied to your bundle. Mind you don't lose it. They'll nail it from you if they get a chance. Put it under your head This is your rug — take it with you." " Where am I to sleep, please, sir ?" " I'll show you." And so he did With no other rag but the checked shirt to cover me, and with my rug over my shoulders, he accompanied me to the door at which I had entered, and, opening it, kept me standing with naked feet on the stone threshold, full m the draught of the frosty air, while he pointed out the way I should go. It was not a long way, but I would have given much not to have trodden it. It was open as the highway — with flagstones below and the stars overhead ; and, as I said before, and cannot help saying again, a frosty wind was blowing. "Straight across," said Daddy, "to where you see the light shining through. Go m there and turn to the left, and you'll find the beds m. a

heap. Take one of 'em and make yourself comfortable." And straight across I went ; my naked feet seemed to cling to the stones as though they were burning hot instead of icy cold (they had just stepped out of a bath, you should remember), till I reached the spot through which the light was shining, and I entered m.

No language with which I am acquainted is capable of conveying an adequate conception of the spectacle 1 then encountered Imagine a space of about thirty feet by thirty enclosed on three sides by a dingy whitewashed wall, and roofed with naked tiles which were furred with the damp and tilth which reeked within. As for the fourth side of the shed, it was boarded iv for (saj r ) a third of its breadth ; the remaining space being hung with flimsy canvas, m which was a gap Uo feet wide at top, widening to at least four feet at bottom. This far too airy shed was paved with stone, the flags so thickly encrusted with filth that I mistook it at first for a iloor of natural earth. Extending from one end of my bedroom to the other, m three rows, were certain iron ' • cranks" (of which I subsequently learned the use), with their many arms raised m various attitudes, as the stiffened arms of men are on a battle-field My bedfellows lay amongst the cranks, distributed over the flagstones m a double low, on narrow bags scantily stuffed with hay. At one gUnce my appalled vision took m thirty of them — thirty men and boys stretched upon shallow pallets which put only sis inches of comfortable hay between them and the stony floor. These beds were placed close together, every occupant being provided with a rug like that which 1 was fain to hug across my shoulders. In not a few cases two gentlemen had clubbed beds and rugs and slept together. In one case (to be further mentioned presently) four gentlemen had so clubbed together. Many of my fellow casuals were awake— others asleep or pretending to sleep ; and shocking as were the waking ones to look upon, they were quite pleasant when compared with the sleepers. For this reason : the practised and well-seasoned casual seems to have a peculiar way of putting himself to bed He rolls himself m his rug, tucking himself m, head and feet, so that he is completely enveloped ; and, lying quite still on his pallet, he looks precisely like a corpse covered because of its hideousness. Some were stretched out at full length ; some lay nose and knees together; some with an arm or leg showing crooked through the coverlet. It was like the result of a railway accident ; these ghastly figures were awaiting the coroner. From the moral point of view, however, the wakeful ones were more dreadful stilL Towzled, dirty, villainous, they squatted up m their beds, and smoked foul pipes, and sang snatches of horrible songs, and bandied jokes so obscene as to be absolutely appalling. Eight or ten were so enjoying themselves — the majority with the check shirt on and the frowsy rug pulled about their legs ; but two or three wore no shirts at all, squatting naked to the waist, their bodies fully exposed m the light of the single flaring jet of gas lixed high up on the walL My entrance excited very little attention. There was a horse-pail three parts full of water standing by a post m the middle of the shed, with a little tin pot beside it. Addressing me as "old pal," one of the naked ruffians begged me to "haud him a swig," as he was "werry nigh garspin." Such an appeal of course no "old pal," could withstand, and I gave him a pot full of water. He showed himself grateful for the attention. " I should lay over there if I was you," he said, pointing to the left side of the shed ; '* it's more out of the wind than this 'ere side is •" I took the good-natured advice and (by this time shivering with the cold) stepped over the stones to where the beds or straw bags were heaped, and dragged one of them to the spot suggested by my naked comrade. But I had no more idea of how to arrange it than of making an apple-pudding, and a certain little discovery added much to my embarrassment. In the middle of the bed I had selected was a stain of blood bigger than a man's hand ! I did not know what to do now. To lie on such a horrid thing seemed impossible ; yet to carry back the bed and exchange it for another might betray a degree of fastidiousness repugnant to the feelings of my fellow lodgers, and possibly excite suspicions that I was not what 1 seemed Just m the nick of time m came that good man Daddy. "What! not pitched yet?" he exclaimed; "here, I'll show you. Hallo! somebody's been a-bleediu ' ! Never mind ; let's turn him over. There you are, you see ! Now lay down, and cover your rug over you. " There was no help for it. It was too late to go back. Down I lay, and spread the rug over me. I should have mentioned that I brought m with me a cotton handkerchief, and this I tied round my head by way of a nightcap ; but not daring to pull the rug as high as my face. Before I could m any way settle my mind to reflection, m came Daddy once more to do me a further kindness, and point out a stupid blunder which I had committed " Why, you are a rummy chap !" said Daddy, " You forgot your bread ! Lay hold And look here, I've brought you another rug ; it's perishing cold to-night," So saying, he spread the rug over my legs and went away. I was very thankful for the extra covering, - but I was m a dilemma about the bread 1 couldn't possibly eat it ; -what, then, was to be done with it ? I broke it, however, and m view of such of the company as might happen to be looking, made a ferocious bite at a bit as large as a bean, and munched violently. By good luck, however, I presently got half way over my difficulty very neatly. Just behind me, so close indeed that their feet came within half a yard of my head, three lads were sleeping together. '• Did you 'ear that, Punch V one of these boys asked. '• 'Ear -what f answered Punch, sleepy and snappish. " Why, a cove forgot his toke ! Gordstruth ! you wouldn't ketch me a-forgettin' mine." " You may have half of it, old pal, if you're hungry," I observed, learning up on my elbows. " Chuck it here, good luck to yer ! " replied my young fnend, starting up with an eager clap of his dirty hands. I " chucked it here," and, slipping the other half under the side of my bed, lay my head on my folded arms. It^waa about half -past nine when, having

made myself as comfortable aa circumstances permitted, I closed my eyes m the desperate hope that I might fall asleep, and so escape from the horrors with which I was surrounded. •' At seven to-morrow morning the bell will ring," Daddy had informed me, " and then you will give up your bundle." Between that time and the present full nine long hours had to wear away. But I was speedily convinced that, at least for the present, sleep was impossible. The young fellow (one of the three who lay m one bed, with their feet to my head) whom my bread had refreshed, presently swore with frightful imprecations that he was going to have a smoke ; and immediately put his threat into execution. Thereupon his bedfellows sat up and lit their pipe 3 too. But oh ! if they had only smoked — if they had not taken such an unfortunate fancy to spit at the leg of a crank distant a few inche3 from my head, how much misery and apprehension would have been spared me ! To make matters worse, they united with this American practice an Eastern one : as they smoked they related little autobiographical anecdotes— so abominable that three or four decent men who lay at the further end of the shed were so provoked that they threatened, unless the talk abated m filthiness, to get up and stop it by main forca Instantly, the voice of every blackguard m the place was raised against the decent ones. They were accused of loathsome afflictions^ stigmatised as "fighting men out of work," (which must be something very humiliating, I suppose), and invited to a "round" by boys young enough to be their grand-sons. For ' several minutes there was such a storm of oaths, threats, and taunts — such a deluge of foul words raged m the room— that I could not help thinking of the fate of Sodom ; as, indeed, I did several times during the night. Little by littlo the riot died out, without the slightest- interference on the part of the officers. Soon afterwards the ruffian majority was strentbened by the arrival of a lanky boy of about fifteen, who evidently recognised many acquaintances, and was recognised by them as "Kay," or perhaps I should write it "K." He was a very remarkable looking lad, and hisappearance pleased me much. Short as his hair was cropped, it still looked soft and silky ; he had large blue eyes set wide apart, and a mouth that would have been faultless but for its great width ; and his voice was as soft and sweet as any woman's. Lightly as a woman, too, he picked his way over the stones towards the place where the beds lay, carefully hugging his cap beneath his arm. " What cheer, Kay f " Out again then, old son!" "What yer got m yer cap, Kay?" cried his friends; to which the sweet voice replied, "Who'll give me part of his doss (bed) ! my eyes and limbs if I ain't perishin' ! Who'll let me turn m with him for halt my toke (bread) ?" I feared how it would be 1 The hungry young fellow who had so readily availed himself of half my "toke" snapped at Kay's offer, and after a little re-arrangement and bedmaking four young fellows instead of three reposed upon the hay-bags at my head. " You was too late for skilley, Kay. There's • skilley now, nights as well as mornin's." " Don't you tell no bleeding lies," K»y answered incredulously. " Blind me, it's true ! Ain't it, Punch ? " " Bight you are ! " said Punch, " and spoons to eat it with, that's more 1 There used to be spoons at all the houses one time. Poplar used to have 'em ; but one at a time they was all nicked, don't you know." ("Nicked" means "stolen," obviously.) " Well, I don't want no skilley, leastways not • to-night," said Kay. "I've had some rum. Two glasses of it ; and a blow out of puddin' — regler Christmas plum puddin'. You don't know the cove as give it me, but, thinks I this mornin' when 1 come out, blessed if I don't go and see my old chum. Lordstruth ! he teas struck ! 1 Come along,' he ses, ' I saved you some puddin' from Christmas.' 'Whereabouts is it?' I ses. ' In that box under my bed,' he ses, and he forks it out. That's the sort of pal to have ! And he stood a quarten, and half a ounce of hard- up (tobacco. ) That wasn't all neither ; when I come away ses he, ' How about your breakfus ? ' ' Oh, I shall do,' ses I. ' You take some of my bread and butter,' he ses, and he cuts me off four chunks butcered thick. I eat two on 'em comiu' along." "What's m your cap, Kay?" repeated the' devourer of "toke." " Them other slices," said Kay; generously adding, "There, share 'em amongst yer, and somebody give us a whiff of 'bacca." Kay showed himself a pleasant companion ; what m a higher grade of society is called "quite an acquisition." He told stones of thieving, and of a certain " silver cup" he had been " put up to," and avowed that he meant to nick it afore the end of the week, if he got seven stretch (? seven years) for it. The cup was worth ten quid ('! pounds), and he knew where to melt it within ten minutes of nicking it. He made this statement without any moderation of his sweet voice, and the others received it as a serious statement. Nor was there any affectation of secrecy m another gentleman, who announced amid great applause that he had stolen a towel from the bathroom : " And s'help me ! it's as good as new ; never been washed more'n once !" " Tell us a ' rummy' story, Kay," said somebody ; and Kay did. He told stories of so - "rummy" a character that the decent men at the farther end of the room (some of whom had their own little boys sleeping with them) must have lain m a sweat of horror as they listened. Indeed, when Kay broke into a "rummy" song with a roaring chorus, one of the decent men rose m his bed, and swore that he would smash Kay's head if he didn't desist. Bat Kay Bang on till he and his admirers were tired of the entertainment. " Now," said he, " let's have a swearing club ! - you'll all be m it" The principle of this game seemed to rest on the impossibility of either of the young gentlemen making half-a-dozen observations without introducing a blasphemous or obscene word ; and, either the basis is a very sound one, or for the sake of keeping the "club" alive the members purposely made slips. The penalty for " swearing 1 ' was a punch on any part of the body, except a few which the club rules protected. The game was highly successful. Warming with the snort, and indifferent to punches, the members vied with each other m audacity, and ' m a few minutes Bedlam m its prime couldscarcely have produced such a spectacle as was • to be seen on the beds behind me. One inle of the club was that any word to be found m the ' Bible might be used with impunity, and if one member "punched" another for using such a word the error was to be visited upon nun with a double punching all round. - This naturally led to much argument ; for m vindicating the Bible as his authority, a member became sometimesso much heated as to launch into a flood of " real swearing," which brought the fists of the dab - upon his naked carcase quick as haiL These and other pastimes beguiled the time until, to my delight, the church chimes audibly tolled twelve. After this the noise gradually subsided, and it seemed as though everybody ' was going to sleep at- last. I should have " mentioned that during the story-telling and-song-singing a few "casuals" had dropped in,but they were not habitues, and cuddled down - with their rugs over their heads without a word* to any one. (To be continued.).-