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Many of them sat and brooded over the crumbs of their repast； and made
me wonder； as Childe Roland wondered； what evil they had done that they
should be punished so。
From the kitchen came the sounds of more genial life； and I ventured
into the range where the men were cooking。 But the smell I had noticed
on entering was stronger here； and a rising nausea drove me into the street
for fresh air。
On my return I paid fivepence for a 〃cabin；〃 took my receipt for the
same in the form of a huge brass check； and went upstairs to the smoking…
room。 Here； a couple of small billiard tables and several checkerboards
were being used by young working…men； who waited in relays for their
turn at the games； while many men were sitting around； smoking； reading；
and mending their clothes。 The young men were hilarious； the old men
were gloomy。 In fact； there were two types of men； the cheerful and the
sodden or blue； and age seemed to determine the classification。
But no more than the two cellar rooms did this room convey the
remotest suggestion of home。 Certainly there could be nothing home…
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
like about it to you and me； who know what home really is。 On the walls
were the most preposterous and insulting notices regulating the conduct of
the guests； and at ten o'clock the lights were put out； and nothing remained
but bed。 This was gained by descending again to the cellar； by
surrendering the brass check to a burly doorkeeper； and by climbing a long
flight of stairs into the upper regions。 I went to the top of the building
and down again； passing several floors filled with sleeping men。 The
〃cabins〃 were the best accommodation； each cabin allowing space for a
tiny bed and room alongside of it in which to undress。 The bedding was
clean； and with neither it nor the bed do I find any fault。 But there was
no privacy about it； no being alone。
To get an adequate idea of a floor filled with cabins； you have merely
to magnify a layer of the pasteboard pigeon…holes of an egg… crate till each
pigeon…hole is seven feet in height and otherwise properly dimensioned；
then place the magnified layer on the floor of a large； barnlike room； and
there you have it。 There are no ceilings to the pigeon…holes； the walls are
thin； and the snores from all the sleepers and every move and turn of your
nearer neighbours come plainly to your ears。 And this cabin is yours
only for a little while。 In the morning out you go。 You cannot put your
trunk in it； or come and go when you like； or lock the door behind you； or
anything of the sort。 In fact； there is no door at all； only a doorway。 If
you care to remain a guest in this poor man's hotel； you must put up with
all this； and with prison regulations which impress upon you constantly
that you are nobody； with little soul of your own and less to say about it。
Now I contend that the least a man who does his day's work should
have is a room to himself； where he can lock the door and be safe in his
possessions； where he can sit down and read by a window or look out；
where he can come and go whenever he wishes； where he can accumulate
a few personal belongings other than those he carries about with him on
his back and in his pockets； where he can hang up pictures of his mother；
sister； sweet…heart； ballet dancers； or bulldogs； as his heart listethin short；
one place of his own on the earth of which he can say： 〃This is mine； my
castle； the world stops at the threshold； here am I lord and master。〃 He
will be a better citizen； this man； and he will do a better day's work。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
I stood on one floor of the poor man's hotel and listened。 I went from
bed to bed and looked at the sleepers。 They were young men； from
twenty to forty； most of them。 Old men cannot afford the working…man's
home。 They go to the workhouse。 But I looked at the young men；
scores of them； and they were not bad…looking fellows。 Their faces were
made for women's kisses； their necks for women's arms。 They were
lovable； as men are lovable。 They were capable of love。 A woman's
touch redeems and softens； and they needed such redemption and
softening instead of each day growing harsh and harsher。 And I
wondered where these women were； and heard a 〃harlot's ginny laugh。〃
Leman Street； Waterloo Road； Piccadilly； The Strand； answered me； and I
knew where they were。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XXITHE
PRECARIOUSNESS OF LIFE
I was talking with a very vindictive man。 In his opinion； his wife had
wronged him and the law had wronged him。 The merits and morals of
the case are immaterial。 The meat of the matter is that she had obtained a
separation； and he was compelled to pay ten shillings each week for the
support of her and the five children。 〃But look you；〃 said he to me；
〃wot'll 'appen to 'er if I don't py up the ten shillings？ S'posin'； now； just
s'posin' a accident 'appens to me； so I cawn't work。 S'posin' I get a
rupture； or the rheumatics； or the cholera。 Wot's she goin' to do； eh？
Wot's she goin' to do？〃
He shook his head sadly。 〃No 'ope for 'er。 The best she cawn do is
the work'ouse； an' that's 'ell。 An' if she don't go to the work'ouse； it'll be a
worse 'ell。 Come along 'ith me an' I'll show you women sleepin' in a
passage； a dozen of 'em。 An' I'll show you worse； wot she'll come to if
anythin' 'appens to me and the ten shillings。〃
The certitude of this man's forecast is worthy of consideration。 He
knew conditions sufficiently to know the precariousness of his wife's grasp
on food and shelter。 For her game was up when his working capacity
was impaired or destroyed。 And when this state of affairs is looked at in
its larger aspect； the same will be found true of hundreds of thousands and
even