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progeny； were out by thousands； taking the air。 It was not a pleasant
sight for them； those horrible； unkempt； sleeping vagabonds； while the
vagabonds themselves； I know； would rather have done their sleeping the
night before。
And so； dear soft people； should you ever visit London Town； and see
these men asleep on the benches and in the grass； please do not think they
are lazy creatures； preferring sleep to work。 Know that the powers that
be have kept them walking all the night long； and that in the day they have
nowhere else to sleep。
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CHAPTER XITHE PEG
But； after carrying the banner all night； I did not sleep in Green Park
when morning dawned。 I was wet to the skin； it is true； and I had had no
sleep for twenty…four hours； but； still adventuring as a penniless man
looking for work； I had to look about me； first for a breakfast； and next for
the work。
During the night I had heard of a place over on the Surrey side of the
Thames； where the Salvation Army every Sunday morning gave away a
breakfast to the unwashed。 （And； by the way； the men who carry the
banner are unwashed in the morning； and unless it is raining they do not
have much show for a wash； either。） This； thought I； is the very thing
breakfast in the morning； and then the whole day in which to look for
work。
It was a weary walk。 Down St。 James Street I dragged my tired legs；
along Pall Mall； past Trafalgar Square； to the Strand。 I crossed the
Waterloo Bridge to the Surrey side； cut across to Blackfriars Road； coming
out near the Surrey Theatre； and arrived at the Salvation Army barracks
before seven o'clock。 This was 〃the peg。〃 And by 〃the peg；〃 in the argot；
is meant the place where a free meal may be obtained。
Here was a motley crowd of woebegone wretches who had spent the
night in the rain。 Such prodigious misery！ and so much of it！ Old men；
young men； all manner of men； and boys to boot； and all manner of boys。
Some were drowsing standing up； half a score of them were stretched out
on the stone steps in most painful postures； all of them sound asleep； the
skin of their bodies showing red through the holes； and rents in their rags。
And up and down the street and across the street for a block either way；
each doorstep had from two to three occupants； all asleep； their heads bent
forward on their knees。 And； it must be remembered； these are not hard
times in England。 Things are going on very much as they ordinarily do；
and times are neither hard nor easy。
And then came the policeman。 〃Get outa that； you bloomin' swine！
Eigh！ eigh！ Get out now！〃 And like swine he drove them from the
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doorways and scattered them to the four winds of Surrey。 But when he
encountered the crowd asleep on the steps he was astounded。 〃Shocking！〃
he exclaimed。 〃Shocking！ And of a Sunday morning！ A pretty sight！
Eigh！ eigh！ Get outa that； you bleeding nuisances！〃
Of course it was a shocking sight； I was shocked myself。 And I
should not care to have my own daughter pollute her eyes with such a
sight； or come within half a mile of it； butand there we were； and there
you are； and 〃but〃 is all that can be said。
The policeman passed on； and back we clustered； like flies around a
honey jar。 For was there not that wonderful thing； a breakfast； awaiting
us？ We could not have clustered more persistently and desperately had
they been giving away million…dollar bank…notes。 Some were already off
to sleep； when back came the policeman and away we scattered only to
return again as soon as the coast was clear。
At half…past seven a little door opened； and a Salvation Army soldier
stuck out his head。 〃Ayn't no sense blockin' the wy up that wy；〃 he said。
〃Those as 'as tickets cawn come hin now； an' those as 'asn't cawn't come
hin till nine。〃
Oh； that breakfast！ Nine o'clock！ An hour and a half longer！ The
men who held tickets were greatly envied。 They were permitted to go
inside； have a wash； and sit down and rest until breakfast； while we waited
for the same breakfast on the street。 The tickets had been distributed the
previous night on the streets and along the Embankment； and the
possession of them was not a matter of merit； but of chance。
At eight…thirty； more men with tickets were admitted； and by nine the
little gate was opened to us。 We crushed through somehow； and found
ourselves packed in a courtyard like sardines。 On more occasions than
one； as a Yankee tramp in Yankeeland； I have had to work for my breakfast；
but for no breakfast did I ever work so hard as for this one。 For over two
hours I had waited outside； and for over another hour I waited in this
packed courtyard。 I had had nothing to eat all night； and I was weak and
faint； while the smell of the soiled clothes and unwashed bodies； steaming
from pent animal heat； and blocked solidly about me； nearly turned my
stomach。 So tightly were we packed； that a number of the men took
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advantage of the opportunity and went soundly asleep standing up。
Now； about the Salvation Army in general I know nothing； and
whatever criticism I shall make here is of that particular portion of the
Salvation Army which does business on Blackfriars Road near the Surrey
Theatre。 In the first place； this forcing of men who have been up all
night to stand on their feet for hours longer； is as cruel as it is needless。
We were weak； famished； and exhausted from our night's hardship and
lack of sleep； and yet there we stood； and stood； and stood； without rhyme
or reason。
Sailors were very plentiful in this crowd。 It seemed to me that one
man in four was looking for a ship； and I found at least a dozen of them to
be American sailors。 In accounting for their being 〃on the beach；〃 I
received the same story from each and all； and from my knowledge of sea
affairs this story rang true。 English ships sign their sailors for the voyage；
which means the round trip； sometimes lasting as long as three years； and
they cannot sign off and receive their discharges until they reach the home
port； which is England。 Their wages are low； their food is bad； and their
treatment worse。 Very often they are really forced by their captains to
desert in the New World or the colonies； leaving a handsome sum of
wages behind thema distinct gain； either to the captain or the owners； or
to both。 But whether for this reason alone or not； it is a fact that large
numbers of them desert。 Then； for the home voyage； the ship engages
whatever sailors it can find on the beach。 These men are engaged at the
somewhat higher wages that obtain in other portions of the world； under
the agreement that they shall sign off on reaching England。 The reason
for this is obvious； for it would be poor business policy to sign them for
any longer time； since seamen's wages are low in England； and England is
always crowded with sailormen on the beach。 So this fully accounted for
the American seamen at the Salvation Army barracks。 To get off the
beach in other outlandish places they had come to England； and gone on
the beach in the most outlandish place of all。
There were fully a score of Americans in the crowd； the non…sailors
being 〃tramps royal；〃 the men whose 〃mate is the wind that tramps the
world。〃 They were all cheerful； facing things with the pluck which is
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their chief characteristic and which seems never to desert them； w