the uncommercial traveller-第59部分

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them。



Is　it　only　in　the　matter　of　clothes　that　fashion　descends　here　in

London　…　and　consequently　in　England　…　and　thence　shabbiness

arises？　　Let　us　think　a　little；　and　be　just。　　The　'Black　Country'

round　about　Birmingham；　is　a　very　black　country；　but　is　it　quite　as

black　as　it　has　been　lately　painted？　　An　appalling　accident

happened　at　the　People's　Park　near　Birmingham；　this　last　July；　when

it　was　crowded　with　people　from　the　Black　Country　…　an　appalling

accident　consequent　on　a　shamefully　dangerous　exhibition。　　Did　the

shamefully　dangerous　exhibition　originate　in　the　moral　blackness　of

the　Black　Country；　and　in　the　Black　People's　peculiar　love　of　the

excitement　attendant　on　great　personal　hazard；　which　they　looked　on

at；　but　in　which　they　did　not　participate？　　Light　is　much　wanted　in

the　Black　Country。　　O　we　are　all　agreed　on　that。　　But；　we　must　not

quite　forget　the　crowds　of　gentlefolks　who　set　the　shamefully

dangerous　fashion；　either。　　We　must　not　quite　forget　the

enterprising　Directors　of　an　Institution　vaunting　mighty

educational　pretences；　who　made　the　low　sensation　as　strong　as　they

possibly　could　make　it；　by　hanging　the　Blondin　rope　as　high　as　they

possibly　could　hang　it。　　All　this　must　not　be　eclipsed　in　the

Blackness　of　the　Black　Country。　　The　reserved　seats　high　up　by　the

rope；　the　cleared　space　below　it；　so　that　no　one　should　be　smashed

but　the　performer；　the　pretence　of　slipping　and　falling　off；　the

baskets　for　the　feet　and　the　sack　for　the　head；　the　photographs

everywhere；　and　the　virtuous　indignation　nowhere　…　all　this　must

not　be　wholly　swallowed　up　in　the　blackness　of　the　jet…black

country。



Whatsoever　fashion　is　set　in　England；　is　certain　to　descend。　　This

is　a　text　for　a　perpetual　sermon　on　care　in　setting　fashions。　　When

you　find　a　fashion　low　down；　look　back　for　the　time　（it　will　never

be　far　off）　when　it　was　the　fashion　high　up。　　This　is　the　text　for

a　perpetual　sermon　on　social　justice。　　From　imitations　of　Ethiopian

Serenaders；　to　imitations　of　Prince's　coats　and　waistcoats；　you

will　find　the　original　model　in　St。　James's　Parish。　　When　the

Serenaders　become　tiresome；　trace　them　beyond　the　Black　Country；

when　the　coats　and　waistcoats　become　insupportable；　refer　them　to

their　source　in　the　Upper　Toady　Regions。



Gentlemen's　clubs　were　once　maintained　for　purposes　of　savage　party

warfare；　working　men's　clubs　of　the　same　day　assumed　the　same

character。　　Gentlemen's　clubs　became　places　of　quiet　inoffensive

recreation；　working　men's　clubs　began　to　follow　suit。　　If　working

men　have　seemed　rather　slow　to　appreciate　advantages　of　combination

which　have　saved　the　pockets　of　gentlemen；　and　enhanced　their

comforts；　it　is　because　working　men　could　scarcely；　for　want　of

capital；　originate　such　combinations　without　help；　and　because　help

has　not　been　separable　from　that　great　impertinence；　Patronage。

The　instinctive　revolt　of　his　spirit　against　patronage；　is　a

quality　much　to　be　respected　in　the　English　working　man。　　It　is　the

base　of　the　base　of　his　best　qualities。　　Nor　is　it　surprising　that

he　should　be　unduly　suspicious　of　patronage；　and　sometimes

resentful　of　it　even　where　it　is　not；　seeing　what　a　flood　of　washy

talk　has　been　let　loose　on　his　devoted　head；　or　with　what

complacent　condescension　the　same　devoted　head　has　been　smoothed

and　patted。　　It　is　a　proof　to　me　of　his　self…control　that　he　never

strikes　out　pugilistically；　right　and　left；　when　addressed　as　one

of　'My　friends；'　or　'My　assembled　friends；'　that　he　does　not　become

inappeasable；　and　run　amuck　like　a　Malay；　whenever　he　sees　a　biped

in　broadcloth　getting　on　a　platform　to　talk　to　him；　that　any

pretence　of　improving　his　mind；　does　not　instantly　drive　him　out　of

his　mind；　and　cause　him　to　toss　his　obliging　patron　like　a　mad

bull。



For；　how　often　have　I　heard　the　unfortunate　working　man　lectured；

as　if　he　were　a　little　charity…child；　humid　as　to　his　nasal

development；　strictly　literal　as　to　his　Catechism；　and　called　by

Providence　to　walk　all　his　days　in　a　station　in　life　represented　on

festive　occasions　by　a　mug　of　warm　milk…and…water　and　a　bun！　　What

popguns　of　jokes　have　these　ears　tingled　to　hear　let　off　at　him；

what　asinine　sentiments；　what　impotent　conclusions；　what　spelling…

book　moralities；　what　adaptations　of　the　orator's　insufferable

tediousness　to　the　assumed　level　of　his　understanding！　　If　his

sledge…hammers；　his　spades　and　pick…axes；　his　saws　and　chisels；　his

paint…pots　and　brushes；　his　forges；　furnaces；　and　engines；　the

horses　that　he　drove　at　his　work；　and　the　machines　that　drove　him

at　his　work；　were　all　toys　in　one　little　paper　box；　and　he　the　baby

who　played　with　them；　he　could　not　have　been　discoursed　to；　more

impertinently　and　absurdly　than　I　have　heard　him　discoursed　to

times　innumerable。　　Consequently；　not　being　a　fool　or　a　fawner；　he

has　come　to　acknowledge　his　patronage　by　virtually　saying：　　'Let　me

alone。　　If　you　understand　me　no　better　than　THAT；　sir　and　madam；

let　me　alone。　　You　mean　very　well；　I　dare　say；　but　I　don't　like　it；

and　I　won't　come　here　again　to　have　any　more　of　it。'



Whatever　is　done　for　the　comfort　and　advancement　of　the　working　man

must　be　so　far　done　by　himself　as　that　it　is　maintained　by　himself。

And　there　must　be　in　it　no　touch　of　condescension；　no　shadow　of

patronage。　　In　the　great　working　districts；　this　truth　is　studied

and　understood。　　When　the　American　civil　war　rendered　it　necessary；

first　in　Glasgow；　and　afterwards　in　Manchester；　that　the　working

people　should　be　shown　how　to　avail　themselves　of　the　advantages

derivable　from　system；　and　from　the　combination　of　numbers；　in　the

purchase　and　the　cooking　of　their　food；　this　truth　was　above　all

things　borne　in　mind。　　The　quick　consequence　was；　that　suspicion

and　reluctance　were　vanquished；　and　that　the　effort　resulted　in　an

astonishing　and　a　complete　success。



Such　thoughts　passed　through　my　mind　on　a　July　morning　of　this

summer；　as　I　walked　towards　Commercial　Street　（not　Uncommercial

Street）；　Whitechapel。　　The　Glasgow　and　Manchester　system　had　been

lately　set　a…going　there；　by　certain　gentlemen　who　felt　an　interest

in　its　diffusion；　and　I　had　been　attracted　by　the　following　hand…

bill　printed　on　rose…coloured　paper：





SELF…SUPPORTING

COOKING　DEPOT

FOR　THE　WORKING　CLASSES



Commercial…street；　Whitechapel；

Where　Accommodation　is　provided　for　Dining　comfortably

300　Persons　at　a　time。



Open　from　7　A。M。　till　7　P。M。



PRICES。



All　Articles　of　the　BEST　QUALITY。



Cup　of　Tea　or　Coffee　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Bread　and　Butter　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Bread　and　Cheese　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Slice　of　bread　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　half…penny　or

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Boiled　Egg　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Ginger　Beer　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny



The　above　Articles　always　ready。



Besides　the　above　may　be　had；　from　12　to　3　o'clock；



Bowl　of　Scotch　Broth　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Bowl　of　Soup　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Plate　of　Potatoes　　　　　　　　　　　　　　One　Penny

Plate　of　Minced　Beef　　　　　　　　　　　Twopence

Plate　of　Cold　Beef　　　　　　　　　　　　　Twopence

Plate　of　Cold　Ham　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Twopence

Plate　of　Plum　Pudding　or　Rice　　One　Penny



As　the　Economy　of　Cooking　depends　greatly　upon　the　simplicity　of

the　arrangements　with　which　a　great　number　of　persons　can　be　served

at　one　time；　the　Upper　Room　of　this　Establishment　will　be

especially　set　apart　for　a



PUBLIC　DINNER　EVERY　DAY



From　12　till　3　o'clock；



CONSISTING　OF　THE　FOLLOWING　DISHES；



Bowl　of　Broth；　or　Soup；

Plate　of　Cold　Beef　or　Ham；

Plate　of　Potatoes；

Plum　Pudding；　or　Rice。



FIXED　CHARGE　4。5D。



THE　DAILY　PAPERS　PROVIDED。



N。B。　…　This　Establishment　is　conducted　on　the　strictest　business

principles；　with　the　full　intention　of　making　it　self…supporting；

so　that　every　one　may　frequent　it　with　a　feeling　of　perfect

independence。



The　assistance　of　all　frequenting　the　Depot　is　confidently　expected

in　checking　anything　interfering　with　the　comfort；　quiet；　and

regularity　of　the　establishment。



Please　do　not　destroy　this　Hand　Bill；　but　hand　it　to　some　other

person　whom　it　may　interest。





The　Self…Supporting　Cooking　Depot　（not　a　very　good　name；　and　one

would　rather　give　it　an　English　one）　had　hired　a　newly…built

warehouse　that　it　found　to　let；　therefore　it　was　not　established　in

premises　specially　designed　for　the　purpose。　　But；　at　a　small　cost

they　were　exceedingly　well　adapted　to　the　purpose：　　being　light；

well　ventilated；　clean；　and　cheerful。　　They　consisted　of　three

large　rooms。　　That　on　the　basement　story　was　the　kitchen；　that　on

the　ground　floor　was　the　general　dining…room；　that　on　the　floor

above　was　the　Upper　Room　referred　to　in　the　hand…bill；　where　the

Public　Dinner　at　fourpence…halfpenny　a　head　was　provided　every　day。

The　cooking　was　done；　with　much　economy　of　space　and　fuel；　by

American　cooking…stoves；　and　by　young　women　not　previously；　brought

up　as　cooks；　the　walls　and　pillars　of　the　two　dining…rooms　were

agreeably　brightened　with　ornamental　colours；　the　tables　were

capable　of　accommodating　six　or　eight　persons　each；　the　attendants

were　all　young　women；　becomingly　and　neatly　dressed；　and　dressed

alike。　　I　think　the　whole　staff　was　female；　with　the　exception　of

the　steward　or　manager。



My　first　inquiries　were　directed　to　the　wages　of　this　staff；

because；　if　any　establishment　claiming　to　be　self…supporting；　live

upon　the　spoliation　of　anybody　or　anything；　or　eke　out　a　feeble

existence　by　poor　mouths　and　beggarly　resources　（as　too　many　so…

called　Mechanics'　Institutions　do）；　I　make　bold　to　express　my

Uncommercial　opinion　that　it　has　no　business　to　live；　and　had

better　die。　　It　was　made　clear　to　me　by　the　account　books；　that

every　person　employed　was　properly　paid。　　My　next　inquiries　were

directed　to　the　quality　of　the　provisions　purchased；　and　to　the

ter