The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 46: what you’re looking at

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which is so extravagantly paid by cempulsion, bat to the sphere of Dissent, which is by vo- luntary contributions. And, again, if the votary of Education be seen amongst the swarming regious of the poor, rest assured that-he is no paid emissary of a National System of Instruction, but a philas- thropist who seeks to impart knowledge om an eleemosynary principle | At the time of which we are writing, there were aumerous public-houses and booszing-kens of the vilest description in Grub Street: but none was more notorious, with an evil renown, than a certain flash crib denominated the Kinchin-Ken.* As its name implied, it was a resort for juveniles of both eexes, — boy-thieves and prostitutes: of the most tender age; and no phase of human we are speaking. Let the reader picture to himeelf a small room, filled with rude tables and ruder ; the vicious courses which she led, though her forth was bloated aud preeocioualy matured from the sanée cause ;—and her features indicated a compound é! low cunning.and brazen assarance. She was koowh amongst her associates as Shicknter Sal®—the titular portion of the name being from the fatt acquired ‘that this wretched young girl had been well axid evd> tenderly brought up until about the age of twelve, when she was enticed away from her home arn parents by some vile old woman; and ever since slic had clung to the life of dissipation and profligady which we now find her pursuing. It wanted about twenty minutes to the midnight hour, when Mr. Page, dressed in the shabbiest suit of clothes which the porter at Hodeon and Morley's had to lend him, and with his face and hands pur posely smeared over with dirt, entered the Kinchiz- Ken. But searcely had he reached the threshold of the door opening into the front room, when the scerie that burst upon his sight produced such a poignant sensation of loathing, that he steod for a few mo- ments almost motionless with nutingled surprise, horror, and disgust. For simultaneously as his cyés were seared by the spectacle of half-naked girls and wretched boys wrepped in rays, all engaged in « hideous orgie—his ears were assailed by the jabber of many tongues, all enunciating language of the most obseene, filthy, and profane description. In fact, the Beggar's Staff was-a perfect paradise compared with this pagdemonium that now broke upon his view; and the society he had seen at the former place appeared ‘angels of light in contrast with the face is quite unbeknown,” exclaimed one of the twe,—the | thieves, catching sight of Mz. Page: “we'll male hammer table when- risen. We may as well observe that his pasamear whe about his-own age: her face was pale and sickly with —_—_ —|_eeeOee * Literally “Children’s-house.” § Chiliren-"Tbheves. him stand a pot or two, or I'm jiggered! Come in, old feller—don’t stand on nothink like cezemony-— we'll make room for yer.” Page, recovering his self-pestession, instantly ae- the invitation thus blurted forth at the tdp of a voice which sounded like an asthmatic bag-pipe; and immediately three or fear little wretches of empty. “TI shall be very glad to stand a few quarts of betr for this goed company,” enid Page, throwiniz into his manner and voi “ Well—-what.fe it now?” demanded thet indivi- t deal-who wat-echert, thia, distyold umn, with a wety wrinkled and- cadaverute eohattnnics end surly looks. ® Hess a filler as is gette't> ctand heavy vet for © Michster meant “ Lally.” RR eae aa aan COLT ©) NOG) CO