The Mysteries of Modern LondonSims, George R. (George Robert)
History
The Mysteries of Modern London
Sims, George R. (George Robert)
Criminals -- England -- London; London (England) -- History
He was orderly to the colonel of the regiment. When the regiment was
about to leave on active service, the colonel thought that Marcovitch
was too good to go out and get shot. He did not, however, like to tell
him in so many words to desert, so this is what he did. The regiment was
stationed on the German frontier, so the colonel told Marcovitch he
wanted him to cross over into the nearest German town to make some
purchases for him there. At the same time he gave him two sealed
envelopes, which Marcovitch was not to open till he got into German
territory. When he opened them he found that one contained instructions
how to get to England, and the other rouble notes for £10. Marcovitch
took the hint and the money, and arrived safely in Whitechapel.
These are exceptional cases. Most of the stories that are told are tales
of misery and despair, of homes broken up, of wives and children
left behind, of terrible journeys and hairbreadth escapes, of freedom
purchased at a price almost as terrible as death itself.
Almost every man of the hundreds thronging the Shelter and its annexes
to-night has served his time with the colours. Hardly any are recruits.
Most of the men have left dear ones behind them--dear ones who are still
ignorant of the fate that may have befallen the fugitive. And all of
them are prepared to go anywhere--to the most distant parts of the
earth--if only they can be free to work and make a new home for their
kindred in some land of liberty.
All, before they are sent away, even though they have the money to pay
their passage, will have to pass a medical examination. If they are
suffering from certain forms of disease they will be refused on the
other side. The victims of persecution in Russia and Roumania have ere
this made the journey of thousands of miles to the New World only to be
refused admittance, and to be sent back again across the sea. It is a
terrible picture to dwell upon--a miserable fellow-creature, ill, weak,
despairing, refused a foothold everywhere--a storm-tossed human waif,
whose one crime is that he dared to cling to the faith of his fathers in
the land of the Great White Tsar.
Those who cannot hope to be received in America or Canada, or who are
unfit to be sent to the Jewish colonies, are told so plainly, and at
once. Every effort is made to get them out of London, and they are
kindly treated.
But these Jewish immigrants are never utterly disheartened.
Self-preservation is an instinct of the race.
I saw a man turned away regretfully by the committee one night. He had
but a few shillings in his pocket. A week later I saw the same man with
a basket in the Lane selling stockings at a shilling a pair. A fortnight
later he had a little barrow with goods for sale on it. When I heard
from him last, he had sent to Russia for his wife, and had opened a
little shop in the Ghetto.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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