登陆注册
15458700000110

第110章 CHAPTER XXV - THE BOILED BEEF OF NEW ENGLAND(2)

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.

同类推荐
  • 黄箓斋十天尊仪

    黄箓斋十天尊仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 医家秘奥之脉法解

    医家秘奥之脉法解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 平濠记

    平濠记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 上清大洞真经

    上清大洞真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 杨氏家藏方

    杨氏家藏方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 永恒与瞬间

    永恒与瞬间

    新坑(不算是啦~)和上一篇一样,都是女穿男,微外挂。她,凭借着看火影的经验,是凭着外挂称霸忍者世界,和喜欢的人在一起,还是……按照剧情的发展,甘愿去做一个‘反派’?
  • 雪如嫣

    雪如嫣

    有些事情,我们不曾看到,有些人,我们终将错过,回望岁月,那个一直在背后默默支持你的人,你可曾珍惜?白色的衣袍,宽厚的肩膀。那个曾经想让你放下一切的人,到头来,你却唯独放不下他。
  • 天才傻妻

    天才傻妻

    八面玲珑独立聪慧的沈家大小姐出国旅个游回来就又失忆又自闭,是意外还是另有隐情?沈氏集团第一继承人遭此横祸,对众人是福是祸?他是经营天才也是振兴集团的二公子,可惜只是私生子。他娶她是为了沈氏集团这个助力还是有其他不可说的秘密?这场商界联姻,有人看到利益,有人看到危机,只有女主角不知所谓。什么都不知道的沈凡唯一知道的只是:不知道,找晨风。机器脸的木晨风一脸宠溺,吓得众人鸡皮疙瘩直冒:明明接了一堆烂摊子,他怎么就像捡了宝?木晨风OS:愚蠢的人类!
  • 科学发展观概论

    科学发展观概论

    科学发展观是一个大家都耳熟能详的词汇。但是对于其本质、目的、内涵和基本要求,又都知之甚少。这不仅是一个理论问题,而是一个实践问题。改革开放以来,中国高层对发展的指导思想是步步深化的;在继承中发展,在发展中创新,是有重大突破的。
  • 星辰强者

    星辰强者

    这本书是我的处女作,有网友和朋友说写的好,但是我表弟说,人物太多了一点,而且没有给人兴奋,或者热血沸腾的感觉,我知道有很多的缺点。这本是介绍的是一个少年通过前世的记忆体教导其修行的故事,可能前面1到9章有些不管紧要,和有些人觉得不好看,但是请耐心看下去,我相信我会看我的用心改正,看出这本书的越来越好,希望看到这本小说的人能够继续看下去,没看的人也来看看,希望能让你觉得这本小说还行,是你喜欢的类型。(前面写的不好请耐心看下去,我相信后面会让你满意)
  • 火系神奇宝贝大师之路

    火系神奇宝贝大师之路

    我叫小檬,也叫离合,这个世界的火神使。我,就是这个世界的救世主。可惜,我拯救了全世界,却拯救不了你。“谁说的?我这不是回来了吗?”某个年轻男人轻笑着说道,“不过,我要走了哦。”“我这一去,就再也不回来了。”“你要照顾好自己,记得带着我的份,对我们的孩子好一点。”“好了,我不得不离开了,这些年来谢谢你了,那么,再见了”
  • 宛如约

    宛如约

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 宠你一生:竹马爱吃小青梅

    宠你一生:竹马爱吃小青梅

    不一样的玛丽苏!异世界,超能力,超大脑洞!“诶?你干嘛呢?”小青梅笑眯眯地看他,“偷吃东西干嘛?”竹马温和的笑,吃掉小青梅,就把你栓在我身边,再也逃不掉了。loveyouasmylife超甜超甜的哟!
  • 刀剑神域之永恒之歌

    刀剑神域之永恒之歌

    新人处女座,SAO另一条线路,在死亡的恐惧中,谁能解放这个大陆?
  • 叶影

    叶影

    人也好,妖也罢,在世间,最难逃避的是命运——那莫测的,无奈的,刚开始便已注定的命运……只有可见真情的故事才能震撼人心!