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set to scrubbing and cleaning； others to picking oakum； and eight of us
were convoyed across the street to the Whitechapel Infirmary where we
were set at scavenger work。 This was the method by which we paid for
our skilly and canvas； and I； for one； know that I paid in full many times
over。
Though we had most revolting tasks to perform； our allotment was
considered the best and the other men deemed themselves lucky in being
chosen to perform it。
〃Don't touch it； mate； the nurse sez it's deadly；〃 warned my working
partner； as I held open a sack into which he was emptying a garbage can。
It came from the sick wards； and I told him that I purposed neither to
touch it； nor to allow it to touch me。 Nevertheless； I had to carry the sack；
and other sacks； down five flights of stairs and empty them in a receptacle
where the corruption was speedily sprinkled with strong disinfectant。
Perhaps there is a wise mercy in all this。 These men of the spike； the
peg； and the street； are encumbrances。 They are of no good or use to any
one； nor to themselves。 They clutter the earth with their presence； and
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are better out of the way。 Broken by hardship； ill fed； and worse
nourished； they are always the first to be struck down by disease； as they
are likewise the quickest to die。
They feel； themselves； that the forces of society tend to hurl them out
of existence。 We were sprinkling disinfectant by the mortuary； when the
dead waggon drove up and five bodies were packed into it。 The
conversation turned to the 〃white potion〃 and 〃black jack；〃 and I found
they were all agreed that the poor person； man or woman； who in the
Infirmary gave too much trouble or was in a bad way； was 〃polished off。〃
That is to say； the incurables and the obstreperous were given a dose of
〃black jack〃 or the 〃white potion；〃 and sent over the divide。 It does not
matter in the least whether this be actually so or not。 The point is； they
have the feeling that it is so； and they have created the language with
which to express that feeling〃black jack〃 〃white potion；〃 〃polishing off。〃
At eight o'clock we went down into a cellar under the infirmary； where
tea was brought to us； and the hospital scraps。 These were heaped high
on a huge platter in an indescribable messpieces of bread； chunks of
grease and fat pork； the burnt skin from the outside of roasted joints； bones；
in short； all the leavings from the fingers and mouths of the sick ones
suffering from all manner of diseases。 Into this mess the men plunged
their hands； digging； pawing； turning over； examining； rejecting； and
scrambling for。 It wasn't pretty。 Pigs couldn't have done worse。 But
the poor devils were hungry； and they ate ravenously of the swill； and
when they could eat no more they bundled what was left into their
handkerchiefs and thrust it inside their shirts。
〃Once； w'en I was 'ere before； wot did I find out there but a 'ole lot of
pork…ribs；〃 said Ginger to me。 By 〃out there〃 he meant the place where
the corruption was dumped and sprinkled with strong disinfectant。 〃They
was a prime lot； no end o' meat on 'em； an' I 'ad 'em into my arms an' was
out the gate an' down the street； a… lookin' for some 'un to gi' 'em to。
Couldn't see a soul； an' I was runnin' 'round clean crazy； the bloke runnin'
after me an' thinkin' I was 'slingin' my 'ook' ＇running away＇。 But jest
before 'e got me； I got a ole woman an' poked 'em into 'er apron。〃
O Charity； O Philanthropy； descend to the spike and take a lesson from
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Ginger。 At the bottom of the Abyss he performed as purely an altruistic
act as was ever performed outside the Abyss。 It was fine of Ginger； and
if the old woman caught some contagion from the 〃no end o' meat〃 on the
pork…ribs； it was still fine； though not so fine。 But the most salient thing
in this incident； it seems to me； is poor Ginger； 〃clean crazy〃 at sight of so
much food going to waste。
It is the rule of the casual ward that a man who enters must stay two
nights and a day； but I had seen sufficient for my purpose； had paid for my
skilly and canvas； and was preparing to run for it。
〃Come on； let's sling it；〃 I said to one of my mates； pointing toward the
open gate through which the dead waggon had come。
〃An' get fourteen days？〃
〃No； get away。〃
〃Aw； I come 'ere for a rest；〃 he said complacently。 〃An' another
night's kip won't 'urt me none。〃
They were all of this opinion； so I was forced to 〃sling it〃 alone。
〃You cawn't ever come back 'ere again for a doss；〃 they warned me。
〃No fear；〃 said I； with an enthusiasm they could not comprehend； and；
dodging out the gate； I sped down the street。
Straight to my room I hurried； changed my clothes； and less than an
hour from my escape； in a Turkish bath； I was sweating out whatever
germs and other things had penetrated my epidermis； and wishing that I
could stand a temperature of three hundred and twenty rather than two
hundred and twenty。
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CHAPTER XCARRYING THE
BANNER
〃To carry the banner〃 means to walk the streets all night； and I； with
the figurative emblem hoisted； went out to see what I could see。 Men
and women walk the streets at night all over this great city； but I selected
the West End； making Leicester Square my base； and scouting about from
the Thames Embankment to Hyde Park。
The rain was falling heavily when the theatres let out； and the brilliant
throng which poured from the places of amusement was hard put to find
cabs。 The streets were so many wild rivers of cabs； most of which were
engaged； however； and here I saw the desperate attempts of ragged men
and boys to get a shelter from the night by procuring cabs for the cabless
ladies and gentlemen。 I use the word 〃desperate〃 adv