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6
During the time the water is running, the inhabitants of the court and
sometimes the inhabitants of other courts, where the water supply is equally
scanty, crowd round the stand-tap, with jugs, buckets, and such other vessels
as they have for holding water. At these stand-taps scones of quarrelling
often occur, and in most cases where the supply is very short, the strongest
only get their vessels filled, the water being shut off before the weaker can
get near to the stand-post. What water is not required for immediate use
they keep in their rooms (which are used both as sleeping and day-rooms,
and in which cooking and washing are carried on), until the next day, when
the water is again turned on, and they can obtain a fresh supply. The water
thus preserved in their ill-ventilated rooms (frequently the sleeping-place of
a large family) soon becomes unfit for drinking or even culinary purposes, and
can be used for washing and cleansing only.
Under these circumstances there can be but little doubt that the poor
suffer great privations, and we ought to regard with charitable feelings the
absence of personal and household cleanliness among them ; more especially,
when we reflect upon the labour which, is entailed upon a poor woman, living
in a garret two or three stories high, who has to fetch every pail of water
either from the cellar of the house, or from the source of the supply in the
court or alley, and also to carry down that portion of it which has been used
in washing and other cleansing purposes.
It was a matter of comparatively rare occurrence, when water was supplied
only three or four times a week, to hear complaints from the poor of the
want of water. An ample supply of water, like education, appears to be
appreciated just in proportion as the people are in possession of it. The less
the mind is educated, the less is the want of education felt; and the more
dirty the people are, and consequently the greater necessity for cleanliness,
the less is the demand for water. It is stated by some landlords that the
inhabitants of those courts, where the supply of water is very scanty and
intermittent, that they do not desire any additional supply; and this is given
as a reason why they do not afford their tenants facilities for obtaining water
at all times. But I am happy to be able to say that few persons are now
found with such a low state of their mental faculties as not to desire the comforts
and advantages of cleanliness; and I have no hesitation in saying that
if water were at all times as readily accessible as it ought to be, habits of
cleanliness would soon be acquired. On the contrary, unless means are at
hand of removing, by an ample supply of water, the dirt from their persons
and the filth from their habitations, the reverse of cleanly habits will prevail
among the poorer classes.
I may here observe that I have had my attention directed upon more
than one occasion by a Lady, moving in the upper ranks of society, to the
want of a proper supply of water to some of the localities in this District,
inhabited by Jews of the poorer class. This is undoubtedly true; hut
although at present, comparatively little has been done, owing to the reluc-