The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 170: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

mr TT A A A NNER A rt tt a ae aya cl A if ier ee ry eee eee i ae ee ae ee rm re ee er ee ee ee ee eee me ney eee THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, walls as an inmate, he must resign himself to the treat- ment of a pauper. The authorities lool upon us in that light; and the servants behavo to us accordingly. The very porter will sometimes call us by our Christian or surnames, without the prefatory Afister. If the surgeon visit us, if is evident that he considers himself to be doing us a great favour—just as you may suppose that the medical man belonging to an Union of Parishes behaves towards the pauper invalids requiring his services. Should the Matron have occa- sion to call upon us, itis with all the airs of a fine lady—~she who curtseys and does not dare sit down in the presence of the Archdeacon’s wife! The man- ciple, or steward, is likewise a great man;—and woe tothe Poor Brother who does not receive him with all possible respect. The nurses attend upon usina slovenly, negligent manner; and we dare not com- plain nor remonstrate—for we know that they are spies ready to report us for every incautious word that we nay utter, or even to ¢navent charges against us. It was but the other day that one of the inmates—a poor old man of nearly seventy—did venture to com- plain of the shamefal neglect which he experienced at the hands of his nurse. What was the consequence? She made a counter-charge, to the effect that he had taken liberties with her! The woman's statement— her unsupported statement was believed in preference to the denial and the complaint of the old man, and he was expelled the Charter House for six months— turned out upon the wide world to live how he could, or die as heemight!* Oh! vou have no idea of the tremendous tvranny that is perpetrated within these walls, where all is so silent and all appears to be so serene and tranquil! <A short time ago a Brother, driven to despair by the horrors of the place, went ayvayv-—took an obscure lodging—and put an end to his life by means of poison. The authoritics hushed up the matter as well as they could—prevented the in- terference of the Coroner—and had the man buried within three days from the moment of his self-destrye- tion ‘These are ali facts, sir—stubborn facts; and the public should know them. Yes—the public should learn that there are cighty old men dwelling ina monastic institution in the very heart of London— enduring a discipline as severe, and subject to a system as despotic and oppressive as in the olden times and in those very cloistral establishments which Henry the Eighth destroved! The public should be informed that these eighty old men are the victims of eccle- siastical tyranny, and that they are compelled to endure neglect and even insult at the hands of the very servants who are so liberally paid to attend upon them.” ‘Be the power-r-s! it’s a bur-r-ning shame!” cried Captain O’Blunderbuss: “and what’s worse ofall, is that it ’s the parsons who are your governors and by consequence your opprissors in this establisment. Bad luck to ’em, say 1!” ‘A good parson isa most estimable, a3 well as a most necessary’ character in society,” said Mr. Scales; _“and this every sensible man must admit. But an intolerant, illiberal, tyrannical parson is the greatest curse that can be inflicted upon a community, Such is our case—suchi is our misfortune. We have half-a- dozen parsons belonging to the institution; and their main obiect is to get all the loaves and fishes to them- * Fact. Fact. This incident shows how the Ministers of the E3- tablished Church will at times unsermpulously set the laws of tho land at defiance. i ee Ea selves, Though they rile us with a rod of iron, they do not mind breaking the regulations themselves. For instance, if a Poor Brother remains away from chapel without the surgeon’s Ieaye, or returns home a little after hours in the evening, he is reported and fined—fined out of the beggarly pittance of seven pounds ten shillings a quarter alowol him to purchase tea, sugar, milk, and the many other necessaries which the establishment does not supply. But though the regulations specify in distinct terms that the Master is to reside constantly upon the premises, he laughs at the cnactments, and passes weeks or months together in the country. No fine—no punishment for him! Who would dareto talk of calling the Very Reverend Archdeacon Hale over the coals? hesitate to kick Poor Brother Gray, or Poor Brother Jones, or Poor Brother Scales from pillar to post, and from post to pillar, if he be caught tripping in the slightest degree?” derbuss, looking particularly fierce, ‘ye assured me tuat ye had n’t 9n inimy in the wor-r-ld: but it sames pritty clare to me that I must be afther punching the head of your Archdacon—or manciple—or porter—or some one, jist to revinge your wrongs and create a little sinsation for the Poor Brothers, as yo call your- selves.” Scales, positively believing at the moment that the formidable Irishman was about to declare war against the authorities of the institution, and that he would experimentalise with his fists upon the first of those functionares who might chance to come in his way. “All that 1 have been telling you is sacred between you and me ;~and as a man of honour, I must appeal to you——” pale,” interrupted the captain, slapping his left breast with the palm of his right hand, “I?ll not brathe a wor-rd to a sowl that I’m acquainted with any gra- vaneces at all, at all. should come when ye may feel inclined to adminis - ther a thrifling dhrubbing or so to any of thim spal- peens of whom we’ve been talking ——” ascending the stairs. Let us pretend to be speaking on matters quite indifferent.” elevating his voice for the behoof of the person who was approaching the room from the stairs, he ex- claimed, ‘‘Yes—’tis a very fine mornin’, Misther Scales—-a very fine mornin’ indeed! *—just as if, in the natural course of things, ho would have made, after a visit of nearly three hours, the remark with which a conversation is usually commenced. new friend’s ingenuity ; and the captain laughed heartily likewise—though he know not precisely at what. and the nurse, or charwoman, entered to Jay the cloth for dinner Tire nurse was a tall, middle-aged, powerfully-built .woman, with brawny arms, and acountenance that | indicated a slight affection for an occasional drop of “163 ~ But who does not “Jist now, me frind,” exclaimed Captain O’Blun- “ My dearfellow, do nothing mad or rash!” cried Mr. “Tbe Jasus! and if it’s to me honour-r-r ye ap- But, remimber, if the time “Wush!” cried Mr. Scales, suddenly: ‘*some one ig “With all my heart!” said the captain: and, Mr. Scales burst out laughing at this display of his In the midst of this cachinnation, the door opened, ——— CHAPTER CXLIX, A STRANGE NARRATIVE. a 48 ree ee SS . 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