按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
strong legs booted and tipped for kicking。 Number three is forty
years of age； is short； thick…set； strong； and bow…legged； wears
knee cords and white stockings； a very long…sleeved waistcoat； a
very large neckerchief doubled or trebled round his throat； and a
crumpled white hat crowns his ghastly parchment face。 This fellow
looks like an executed postboy of other days； cut down from the
gallows too soon； and restored and preserved by express diabolical
agency。 Numbers five； six； and seven； are hulking； idle； slouching
young men； patched and shabby； too short in the sleeves and too
tight in the legs； slimily clothed； foul…spoken； repulsive wretches
inside and out。 In all the party there obtains a certain twitching
character of mouth and furtiveness of eye； that hint how the coward
is lurking under the bully。 The hint is quite correct； for they
are a slinking sneaking set； far more prone to lie down on their
backs and kick out； when in difficulty； than to make a stand for
it。 （This may account for the street mud on the backs of Numbers
five； six； and seven； being much fresher than the stale splashes on
their legs。）
These engaging gentry a Police…constable stands contemplating。 His
Station； with a Reserve of assistance； is very near at hand。 They
cannot pretend to any trade； not even to be porters or messengers。
It would be idle if they did； for he knows them； and they know that
he knows them； to be nothing but professed Thieves and Ruffians。
He knows where they resort； knows by what slang names they call one
another； knows how often they have been in prison； and how long；
and for what。 All this is known at his Station； too； and is （or
ought to be） known at Scotland Yard； too。 But does he know； or
does his Station know； or does Scotland Yard know； or does anybody
know； why these fellows should be here at liberty； when； as reputed
Thieves to whom a whole Division of Police could swear； they might
all be under lock and key at hard labour？ Not he； truly he would
be a wise man if he did！ He only knows that these are members of
the 'notorious gang；' which； according to the newspaper Police…
office reports of this last past September； 'have so long infested'
the awful solitudes of the Waterloo Road； and out of which almost
impregnable fastnesses the Police have at length dragged Two； to
the unspeakable admiration of all good civilians。
The consequences of this contemplative habit on the part of the
Executive … a habit to be looked for in a hermit； but not in a
Police System … are familiar to us all。 The Ruffian becomes one of
the established orders of the body politic。 Under the playful name
of Rough （as if he were merely a practical joker） his movements and
successes are recorded on public occasions。 Whether he mustered in
large numbers； or small； whether he was in good spirits； or
depressed； whether he turned his generous exertions to very
prosperous account； or Fortune was against him； whether he was in a
sanguinary mood； or robbed with amiable horse…play and a gracious
consideration for life and limb； all this is chronicled as if he
were an Institution。 Is there any city in Europe； out of England；
in which these terms are held with the pests of Society？ Or in
which； at this day； such violent robberies from the person are
constantly committed as in London？
The Preparatory Schools of Ruffianism are similarly borne with。
The young Ruffians of London … not Thieves yet； but training for
scholarships and fellowships in the Criminal Court Universities …
molest quiet people and their property； to an extent that is hardly
credible。 The throwing of stones in the streets has become a
dangerous and destructive offence； which surely could have got to
no greater height though we had had no Police but our own riding…
whips and walking…sticks … the Police to which I myself appeal on
these occasions。 The throwing of stones at the windows of railway
carriages in motion … an act of wanton wickedness with the very
Arch…Fiend's hand in it … had become a crying evil； when the
railway companies forced it on Police notice。 Constabular
contemplation had until then been the order of the day。
Within these twelve months； there arose among the young gentlemen
of London aspiring to Ruffianism； and cultivating that much…
encouraged social art； a facetious cry of 'I'll have this！'
accompanied with a clutch at some article of a passing lady's
dress。 I have known a lady's veil to be thus humorously torn from
her face and carried off in the open streets at noon； and I have
had the honour of myself giving chase； on Westminster Bridge； to
another young Ruffian； who； in full daylight early on a summer
evening； had nearly thrown a modest young woman into a swoon of
indignation and confusion； by his shameful manner of attacking her
with this cry as she harmlessly passed along before me。 MR。
CARLYLE； some time since； awakened a little pleasantry by writing
of his own experience of the Ruffian of the streets。 I have seen
the Ruffian act in exact accordance with Mr。 Carlyle's description；
innumerable times； and I never saw him checked。
The blaring use of the very worst language possible； in our public
thoroughfares … especially in those set apart for recreation … is
another disgrace to us； and another result of constabular
contemplation； the like of which I have never heard in any other
country to which my uncommercial travels have extended。 Years ago；
when I had a near interest in certain children who were sent with
their nurses； for air and exercise； into the Regent's Park； I found
this evil to be so abhorrent and horrible there； that I called
public attention to it； and also to its contemplative reception by
the Police。 Looking afterwards into the newest Police Act； and
finding that the offence was punishable under it； I resolved； when
striking occasion should arise； to try my hand as prosecutor。 The
occasion arose soon enough； and I ran the following gauntlet。
The utterer of the base coin in question was a girl of seventeen or
eighteen； who； with a suitable attendance of blackguards； youths；
and boys； was flaunting along the streets； returning from an Irish
funeral； in a Progress interspersed with singing and dancing。 She
had turned round to me and expressed herself in the most audible
manner； to the great delight of that select circle。 I attended the
party； on the opposite side of the way； for a mile further； and
then encountered a Police…constable。 The party had made themselves
merry at my expense until now； but seeing me speak to the
constable； its male members instantly took to their heels； leaving
the girl alone。 I asked the constable did he know my name？ Yes；
he did。 'Take that girl into custody； on my charge； for using bad
language in the streets。' He had never heard of such a charge。 I
had。 Would he take my word that he should get into no trouble？
Yes； sir； he would do that。 So he took the girl； and I went home
for my Police Act。
With this potent instrument in my pocket； I literally as well as
figuratively 'returned to the charge；' and presented myself at the
Police Station of the district。 There； I found on duty a very
intelligent Inspector （they are all intelligent men）； who；
likewise； had never heard of such a charge。 I showed him my
clause； and we went over it together twice or thrice。 It was
plain； and I engaged to wait upon the suburban Magistrate to…morrow
morning at ten o'clock。
In the morning I put my Police Act in my pocket again； and waited
on the suburban Magistrate。 I was not quite so courteously
received by him as I should have been by The Lord Chancellor or The
Lord Chief Justice； but that was a question of good breeding on the
suburban Magistrate's part； and I had my clause ready with its leaf
turned down。 Which was enough for ME。
Conference took place between the Magistrate and clerk respecting
the charge。 During conference I was evidently regarded as a much
more objectionable person than the prisoner； … one giving trouble
by coming there voluntarily； which the prisoner could not be
accused of doing。 The prisoner had been got up； since I last had
the pleasure of seeing her； with a great effect of white apron and
straw bonnet。 She reminded me of an elder sister of Red Riding
Hood； and I seemed to remind the sympathising Chimney Sweep by whom
she was attended； of the Wolf。
The Magistrate was doubtful； Mr。 Uncommercial Traveller； whether
this charge could be entertained。 It was not known。 Mr。
Uncommercial Traveller replied that he wished it were better known；
and that； if he could afford the leisure； he would use his
endeavours to make it so。 There was no question about it； however；
he contended。 Here was the clause。
The clause was handed in； and more conference resulted。 After
which I was asked the extraordinary question： 'Mr。 Uncommercial；
do you real