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the uncommercial traveller-第68部分

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beauty but for the restraining consideration of expense。  However;

the manners; being always of a sanguine temperament; comfort

themselves with plans and elevations of Loomings in the future; and

are influenced in the present by philanthropy towards the railway

passengers。  For; the question how prosperous and promising the

buildings can be made to look in their eyes; usually supersedes the

lesser question how they can be turned to the best account for the

inmates。



Why none of the people who reside in these places ever look out of

window; or take an airing in the piece of ground which is going to

be a garden by…and…by; is one of the wonders I have added to my

always…lengthening list of the wonders of the world。  I have got it

into my mind that they live in a state of chronic injury and

resentment; and on that account refuse to decorate the building

with a human interest。  As I have known legatees deeply injured by

a bequest of five hundred pounds because it was not five thousand;

and as I was once acquainted with a pensioner on the Public to the

extent of two hundred a year; who perpetually anathematised his

Country because he was not in the receipt of four; having no claim

whatever to sixpence:  so perhaps it usually happens; within

certain limits; that to get a little help is to get a notion of

being defrauded of more。  'How do they pass their lives in this

beautiful and peaceful place!' was the subject of my speculation

with a visitor who once accompanied me to a charming rustic retreat

for old men and women:  a quaint ancient foundation in a pleasant

English country; behind a picturesque church and among rich old

convent gardens。  There were but some dozen or so of houses; and we

agreed that we would talk with the inhabitants; as they sat in

their groined rooms between the light of their fires and the light

shining in at their latticed windows; and would find out。  They

passed their lives in considering themselves mulcted of certain

ounces of tea by a deaf old steward who lived among them in the

quadrangle。  There was no reason to suppose that any such ounces of

tea had ever been in existence; or that the old steward so much as

knew what was the matter; … he passed HIS life in considering

himself periodically defrauded of a birch…broom by the beadle。



But it is neither to old Alms…Houses in the country; nor to new

Alms…Houses by the railroad; that these present Uncommercial notes

relate。  They refer back to journeys made among those common…place;

smoky…fronted London Alms…Houses; with a little paved court…yard in

front enclosed by iron railings; which have got snowed up; as it

were; by bricks and mortar; which were once in a suburb; but are

now in the densely populated town; gaps in the busy life around

them; parentheses in the close and blotted texts of the streets。



Sometimes; these Alms…Houses belong to a Company or Society。

Sometimes; they were established by individuals; and are maintained

out of private funds bequeathed in perpetuity long ago。  My

favourite among them is Titbull's; which establishment is a picture

of many。  Of Titbull I know no more than that he deceased in 1723;

that his Christian name was Sampson; and his social designation

Esquire; and that he founded these Alms…Houses as Dwellings for

Nine Poor Women and Six Poor Men by his Will and Testament。  I

should not know even this much; but for its being inscribed on a

grim stone very difficult to read; let into the front of the centre

house of Titbull's Alms…Houses; and which stone is ornamented a…top

with a piece of sculptured drapery resembling the effigy of

Titbull's bath…towel。



Titbull's Alms…Houses are in the east of London; in a great

highway; in a poor; busy; and thronged neighbourhood。  Old iron and

fried fish; cough drops and artificial flowers; boiled pigs'…feet

and household furniture that looks as if it were polished up with

lip…salve; umbrellas full of vocal literature and saucers full of

shell…fish in a green juice which I hope is natural to them when

their health is good; garnish the paved sideways as you go to

Titbull's。  I take the ground to have risen in those parts since

Titbull's time; and you drop into his domain by three stone steps。

So did I first drop into it; very nearly striking my brows against

Titbull's pump; which stands with its back to the thoroughfare just

inside the gate; and has a conceited air of reviewing Titbull's

pensioners。



'And a worse one;' said a virulent old man with a pitcher; 'there

isn't nowhere。  A harder one to work; nor a grudginer one to yield;

there isn't nowhere!'  This old man wore a long coat; such as we

see Hogarth's Chairmen represented with; and it was of that

peculiar green…pea hue without the green; which seems to come of

poverty。  It had also that peculiar smell of cupboard which seems

to come of poverty。



'The pump is rusty; perhaps;' said I。



'Not IT;' said the old man; regarding it with undiluted virulence

in his watery eye。  'It never were fit to be termed a pump。  That's

what's the matter with IT。'



'Whose fault is that?' said I。



The old man; who had a working mouth which seemed to be trying to

masticate his anger and to find that it was too hard and there was

too much of it; replied; 'Them gentlemen。'



'What gentlemen?'



'Maybe you're one of 'em?' said the old man; suspiciously。



'The trustees?'



'I wouldn't trust 'em myself;' said the virulent old man。



'If you mean the gentlemen who administer this place; no; I am not

one of them; nor have I ever so much as heard of them。'



'I wish I never heard of them;' gasped the old man:  'at my time of

life … with the rheumatics … drawing water…from that thing!'  Not

to be deluded into calling it a Pump; the old man gave it another

virulent look; took up his pitcher; and carried it into a corner

dwelling…house; shutting the door after him。



Looking around and seeing that each little house was a house of two

little rooms; and seeing that the little oblong court…yard in front

was like a graveyard for the inhabitants; saving that no word was

engraven on its flat dry stones; and seeing that the currents of

life and noise ran to and fro outside; having no more to do with

the place than if it were a sort of low…water mark on a lively

beach; I say; seeing this and nothing else; I was going out at the

gate when one of the doors opened。



'Was you looking for anything; sir?' asked a tidy; well…favoured

woman。



Really; no; I couldn't say I was。



'Not wanting any one; sir?'



'No … at least I … pray what is the name of the elderly gentleman

who lives in the corner there?'



The tidy woman stepped out to be sure of the door I indicated; and

she and the pump and I stood all three in a row with our backs to

the thoroughfare。



'Oh!  HIS name is Mr。 Battens;' said the tidy woman; dropping her

voice。



'I have just been talking with him。'



'Indeed?' said the tidy woman。  'Ho!  I wonder Mr。 Battens talked!'



'Is he usually so silent?'



'Well; Mr。 Battens is the oldest here … that is to say; the oldest

of the old gentlemen … in point of residence。'



She had a way of passing her hands over and under one another as

she spoke; that was not only tidy but propitiatory; so I asked her

if I might look at her little sitting…room?  She willingly replied

Yes; and we went into it together:  she leaving the door open; with

an eye as I understood to the social proprieties。  The door opening

at once into the room without any intervening entry; even scandal

must have been silenced by the precaution。



It was a gloomy little chamber; but clean; and with a mug of

wallflower in the window。  On the chimney…piece were two peacock's

feathers; a carved ship; a few shells; and a black profile with one

eyelash; whether this portrait purported to be male or female

passed my comprehension; until my hostess informed me that it was

her only son; and 'quite a speaking one。'



'He is alive; I hope?'



'No; sir;' said the widow; 'he were cast away in China。'  This was

said with a modest sense of its reflecting a certain geographical

distinction on his mother。



'If the old gentlemen here are not given to talking;' said I; 'I

hope the old ladies are? … not that you are one。'



She shook her head。  'You see they get so cross。'



'How is that?'



'Well; whether the gentlemen really do deprive us of any little

matters which ought to be ours by rights; I cannot say for certain;

but the opinion of the old ones is they do。  And Mr。 Battens he do

even go so far as to doubt whether credit is due to the Founder。

For Mr。 Battens he do say; anyhow he got his name up by it and he

done it cheap。'



'I am afraid the pump has soured Mr。 Battens。'



'It may be so;' returned the tidy widow; 'but the handle does go

very hard。  Still; what I say to myself is; the gentlemen MAY not

pocket the difference between a good pump and a bad one; and I

would wish to think well of them。  And the dwellings;' said my

hostess; glancing round her room; 'perhaps they were convenient

dwellings in the Founder's time; considered AS his time; and

therefore he should not be blamed。  But Mrs。 Saggers is very hard

upon them。'



'Mrs。 Saggers is the oldest here?'



'The oldest but one。  Mrs。 Quinch being the oldest; and have

totally lost her head。'



'And you?'



'I am the youngest in residence; and consequently am not looked up

to。  But when Mrs。 Quinch makes a happy release; there will be one

below me。  Nor is it to be expected that Mrs。 Saggers will prove

herself immortal。'



'True。  Nor Mr。 Battens。'



'Regarding the old gentlemen;' said my widow slightingly; 'they

count among themselves。  They do not count among us。  Mr。 Battens

is that exceptional that he have written to the gentlemen many

times and have worked the case against them。  Therefore h
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