File:East London (1901) (14589775778).jpg

Identifier: eastlondon00besa (find matches)
Title: East London
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Besant, Walter, Sir, 1836-1901
Subjects: Poor
Publisher: New York, The Century Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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ercongregations; they are solid piles of stone, signifying rankin the mercantile marine. The tombs are in the churchyardaround the church, and in the churchyard on the other sideof the road. As you look upon the old-fashioned church,this Georgian church, time runs back; the ancient days re-turn : there stands in the pulpit the clergyman, in his full wig,reading his learned and doctrinal discourse in a full, richmonotone; below him sit the captains and the mates and thequartermasters, with them the master craftsman, all withwigs; the three-cornered hat is hanging on the door of thehigh pew; for better concentration of thought, the eyes ofthe honest gentlemen are closed. The ladies, however, situpright, conscious of the Sunday best; besides, one might, infalling asleep, derange the nice balance of the head. Whenthe sermon is over they all walk home in neighborly conver-sation to the Sunday dinner and the after-dinner bottle ofport. The tombs in the churchyard belong to the time when CfQ
Text Appearing After Image:
THE POOL AND THE RIVERSIDE 77 a part of Wapping was occupied by this better class, whichhas long since vanished, though one or two of the housesremain. Of the baser sort who crowded all the lanes I havespoken already. They did not go to church; always on Sun-day the doors stood wide open to them if they would comein, but they did not accept the invitation; they stayed outside;the church received them three times—for the christening, forthe wedding, for the burial; whatever their lives have been,the church receives all alike for the funeral service, and asksno questions. After this brief term of yielding to all temp-tations, after their sprightly course along the primrose path,they are promised, if in the coffin one can hear, a sure andcertain hope. Here are Wapping Old Stairs. Come with me throughthe narrow court and stand upon the stairs leading down tothe river. They are now rickety old steps and deserted.Time was when the sailors landed here when they returnedfrom a voyage; then

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