Fors Clavigera (Volume 1 of 8): Letters to the workmen and labourers of Great BritainRuskin, John
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Fors Clavigera (Volume 1 of 8): Letters to the workmen and labourers of Great Britain
Ruskin, John
Aesthetics; Conduct of life; Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems; Working class -- Great Britain
Sir,--On Monday last I had the misfortune of taking a trip
per steamer to Margate. The sea was rough, the ship crowded,
and therefore most of the Cockney excursionists prostrate
with sea-sickness. On landing on Margate pier I must confess I
thought that, instead of landing in an English seaport, I had
been transported by magic to a land inhabited by savages and
lunatics. The scene that ensued when the unhappy passengers had
to pass between the double line of a Margate mob on the pier must
be seen to be believed possible in a civilized country. Shouts,
yells, howls of delight greeted every pale-looking passenger, as
he or she got on the pier, accompanied by a running comment of
the lowest, foulest language imaginable. But the most insulted
victims were a young lady, who having had a fit of hysterics on
board, had to be assisted up the steps, and a venerable-looking
old gentleman with a long grey beard, who, by-the-by, was not sick
at all, but being crippled and very old, feebly tottered up the
slippery steps leaning on two sticks. "Here's a guy!" "Hallo! you
old thief, you won't get drowned, because you know that you are
to be hung," etc., and worse than that, were the greetings of
that poor old man. All this while a very much silver-bestriped
policeman stood calmly by, without interfering by word or deed;
and myself, having several ladies to take care of, could do nothing
except telling the ruffianly mob some hard words, with, of course,
no other effect than to draw all the abuse on myself. This is not
an exceptional exhibition of Margate ruffianism, but, as I have
been told, is of daily occurrence, only varying in intensity with
the roughness of the sea.
Public exposure is the only likely thing to put a stop to such
ruffianism; and now it is no longer a wonder to me why so many
people are ashamed of confessing that they have been to Margate.
I remain, Sir, yours obediently,
C. L. S.
London, August 16.
II.--MARGATE.
To the Editor of the Times.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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