The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 358: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

324 THE COURT OF LONDON enough to approach its walls in order to ascertain by close inspection whether it be really as solid, as faultless, and as beautiful as the lying tongues of sycophants, place-men, sinecurists, and pensioners have proclaimed it to be. One word more upon this subject. In this country we have illimitable luxury for a few and a misery as boundless for the many; we have the most gorgeous palaces over- looking the filthiest hovels, which the dwellers in those mansions would not have as sties for their pigs; we have the horses and dogs of the royal family better cared for, better lodged, and better fed than the human sons and daughters of toil; we have royal, aristocratic, and civic processions and festivals, where diamonds glitter like a galaxy of stars, while the countenances of the gazing multi- tudes are haggard with want, misery, and vice; we have families in whom vast estates are entailed, thus anticipating the property of the future, and others in whom appalling destitution is as certain a heritage, thus ensuring the sorrows of the future; in fine, we have a pampered aristocracy rolling in riches and revelling in luxury, and we have millions of honest, hard-working, meritorious people who are clothed in rags and can scarcely get a morsel of bread to eat. Now, then, gentle reader, tell us, and tell us truly, is Great Britain free? Are Britons happy and prosperous? And now to resume our tale. We said that it was about seven o’clock in the evening; and the candles were lighted in the public-room at the Beggar’s Staff. A blazing fire roared half-way up the wide- mouth chimney; and the heat therefrom was increased by the vapour which steamed from fifty pipes, and which impregnated the stifling atmosphere with the sickly odour of tobacco. Within the bar stood Carrotty Poll, serving the customers and rigidly enforcing the rhythmical injunction painted over the door leading into the parlour. Her appear- ance was more untidy ‘and slattern-like than ever; her flaming red hair was in a disorder so complete that it resem- bled a bundle of tow, and was as deficient in arrangement as anew mop; and her gown was all open in front, displaying the scraggy neck and chest, the skin of which resembled dirty tallow. In her avocations she was assisted by the slipshod waiter of whom mention has been before made in our narrative; (G(0) LG 6)(0)©) (©