DARBY AND JOAN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8867, 18 July 1907, Page 4

DARBY AND JOAN.

The heroic struggles of an East End “Darby and Joan” against poverty were told at the inquest on May Ist on Solomon Hailes, aged 75, a wood-carver, living at Winchester street, Bethnal-green. The widow, & neatly-dressed old woman of 80, said her husband had been ill for several months, but he used to go out to earn a few shillings. He came in wet and cold from the streets, where he had been trying to sell pictures, and died the same night. The Coroner: Did you have enough to live on? Mrs Hailes ; He could earn perhaps twelve, ten or eight shillings a week, but sometimes not that, and we had to pay 3s (id a week rent. But there was never any complaint if he brought nothing home. I am not much of an eater. Did he have enough to eat?—Yes, he was a very hearty man, dreadful hearty. What are yon going to do now.—i might do a bit of work, and get a little bit of food, but I am sure I can’t earn enough to pay the rent. Why 'don’t you go into the workhouse? —I never asked for anything in my life yet. I think I’ll struggle on a little longer. The coroner said it was a pathetic story, and these old people would put to shame many younger persons. It appeared to bo a very deserving case, and if any charitable person sent him anything he would see that the money was properly expended.