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food. The older children were ricketty, underfed, badly clothed
and badly shod. Some families lived in dark, dilapidated,
domestically dirty basements. These the family are sometimes
unable to leave because they cannot pay the arrears of rent, and
if they attempt to move, the landlord will "sell them up." In
other tenements the parents may receive two or three pounds a
week, and yet live in a dirty, slatternly home with every appearance
of extreme poverty. Some of the mothers in the poorer parts
were homeworkers, or took in washing or mangling. Many of
the tenements were verminous—many were crowded. Some
families took in relatives or lodgers, so that their homes became
overcrowded. Nearly all the parents drank ale or stout—some
drank to excess.
Illustrative Cases.
1. The baby was two months old. There had been eight
children, but only five now lived. The family occupied two
rooms, which were almost bare. The father had been out of work
for three years, and the family went into the workhouse. Latterly,
they had come out, and the father got work as a carman at 25s.
a week, which was just enough to keep the family in food. They
were unable to buy any furniture.
2. The baby was five weeks old. There were three children,
all living. The family occupied one room. The father did odd
jobs, and earned from 10s. to 18s. per week. His average earnings
were 12s. 6d. With this he paid 5s. rent, and provided
firing, food and clothes for the family of five. The mother was
helped from time to time by her father, a blind man who sang to
theatre queues and at the doors of public-houses.
3. The baby was a few weeks old. There were eight children,
but only five now lived. The family occupied two rooms. The
parents lived on their wits. They obtained tickets for food and
clothing from clergymen and from missions. They stole wood
and coal. Their children were sent away to institutions and convalescent
homes by kindly disposed and well-meaning people.