LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4817, 2 March 1925, Page 2

LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS.

-—- — ■ LONDON’S HUMAN DERELICTS. . . r GIFTS FROM ONE WHO MADE GOOD There has been an intensely human sequel to a recent. article in “The Daily Mail headed "Night Haunters of the Thames Embankment” and describing the lot of those who through force of circumstances are compelled to walk the Embankment at night, a prey to hunger, disconsolate, and outcast. ' That article w.ats read by a correspondent whose name, -at his own request, is withheld. He nas written to the editor of "The Daily Mail” as follow's: “As a subscriber since my return permanently from 20 years’ residence in Canada IS months ago, will you do me a favour ? I was much struck with your article in Saturday’s paper re ‘Nijdit Haunters of the Thames En.bankment.’ I spent a night there 20 years ago, quite friendless and penniless, probably my own fault. I gave my last 2d to another unfortux nate and my luck turned. Will you send the enclosed £5 to someone—say, the Salvation Army—at your discretion, to give as many' half-crowns,' after expenses, to any unfortunate people may be there at or after 1 a.m. on Christmas morning? I wish I could afford more. Still, what I send may help someone, even if they do spend it in beer and forget misery pro tern.” WORLD WANDERER. The money was Kent to the Salvation Army and the donor’s wishes were carried out. He is a man wno has met fortune and misfortune unafraid in all parts of the .world.. He fought in the Zulu war ; was at !s--andhlwana and with General SniithDorrien (then a lieutenant), was at Rorke’s Drift, being one bf the few survivors. The Boer war saw hiih holding a commission in a Colonial corps. Then came soldiering in other parts of. the Empire, a farewell to the Army, and a period of prosperity a? a civilian earning £lOOO a year in Australia. Domestic complications followed, and he found himself wandering among the South Sea Islands. F inally he came home to England and tried to live by writing his experiences. Failure dogged him, and he was reduced first to the accommodation of a 4d lodginghouse in the St. Giles district, and then to the casual wards of the workhouses, niid finallj' came the Embankment episode he mentions in his letter.

Eventually he made his way to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and there obtained a job as a night clerk in an hotel. He learnt carpentry and went in for bridge-building, and so on to railway construction, gradually improving his position until 18 months pgo he returned to England with a modest competency.