LIFE IN LONDON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1141, 19 February 1884, Page 3

LIFE IN LONDON.

Articles have recently appeared in one of the London papers under the heading of ‘ Horrible London.’ Herein has been brought to light the terrible havoc occasioned by drink and dissipation amongst men, and Mr George It. Sims, the author, mentions cases he met with in wretched abodes of men who had seen better days. In one ‘ den’ alone he found there had resided at some time or other within the past four years a paymaster of the Royal Navy ; two men who had been college elm ms at Cambridge, and met accidentally here one night both reduced to penury—one who had kept a pack of hounds and inherited a large fortune ; a physician’s son, himself a doctor, who now sold matches in the Strand ; a clergyman who had taken high honors, last seen in the Borough drunk ; a commercial traveller and superintendent of a Sunday school ; a member of the Stock Exchange, found suffering from delirium tremens, and removed to the workhouse ; the brother of a clergyman and scholar of repute died eventually in this slum ; and the wife of a West-end physician, who became one of the lowest outcasts in the neighborhood and died in the woikhouse. This is horrible, but the mysteries of London have more terrible revelations for those who will search them, and Mr Sims and Sir Charles Dilke will scarcely muster the requisite courage fot the work. The moral state of the London poor (writes a correspondent of The Times) is on a par with the slate of their dwellings. They use the words ‘ husband’ and ‘ wife,’ buttheir alliances are only during pleasure, and the sale of their women is not unknown. I heard of one lady who had been bought from her father by her first proprietor. He became weary of iter and Avislted to find another purchaser, but was ultimately obliged to give a shilling with her as a premium in order that she might be taken away. The second owner found it impossible to get rid of her unless he would give a premium of half-a-crown, and as this was too great a demand on his resources, for the present she remains on his hands. The very institution of

marriage is spoken of contumelious!} 7 . 1 What is the good of marryine V a-ked a girl who was talked to on the subject. ‘ Only them marries as can’t believe one another.’