SEEING LONDON
I am not going to write at length on what we saw at Waterloo station, and
in its vicinity. In a way, our experiences were interesting beyond
words, and while there was much which made one rejoice, there was also
much to sadden. While we were there, a train came in laden with troops.
Hundreds of men had come home on leave, and they had now arrived at this
great terminus. What rejoiced me was to see the number of Y.M.C.A.
workers, as well as others from various Christian bodies, who met the men
and welcomed them. Of course there were numbers who were eagerly
welcomed by their friends; others had evidently made their plans to get
back to their homes quickly, while many more seemed bewildered and
lonely. Lads who had originally hailed from Canada and Australia, and
who knew nothing of London, looked around the huge station as though not
knowing what to do, and if ever I felt glad because of the work of the
Y.M.C.A., I felt it then. They seemed to have a kind of genius for
knowing the men who were without friends, and for giving them a hearty
welcome back.
I knew that, scattered all over London, were Huts and Hostels which they
have provided for these lads who were strangers in a strange city, and
that many of them would be taken to these places, given a hot supper, and
provided with a comfortable bed. I know, too, while the lads were under
the influence of the Y.M.C.A., no harm would happen to them, that they
would be surrounded by good and healthy influences, and that as many of
them who had no homes in England could stay at the Hostels during their
leave.
But there were other influences at work. Not only were there these noble
bands of workers, who existed for our soldiers' comfort and
salvation,--there were scores of evil women who hovered around waiting
like vultures to swoop upon their prey.
It is difficult to write about, difficult to contemplate. Scores of
these boys, who for months had been away at the front, living without
many refining influences, living, too, under strict discipline amidst all
the stress and horror of war, were suddenly given their liberty, and let
loose in our great City. Most of them would have plenty of money, for
there are few opportunities of spending at the front, and they would be
freed from all restrictions. Then their danger began. Lads, many of
them inspired by no religious ideals, excited by their liberty, with no
restraint of any sort placed upon them, became an easy prey to those who
looked upon them as victims. The angels of light were there to help
them, but there were also many creatures of darkness who lured them to
destruction, and these creatures of darkness were allowed to ply their
ghastly trade often without let or hindrance.
I could not help feeling the tragedy of it. These lads who had been
living from hour to hour, and from minute to minute, amidst the roar of
great guns, the shriek of shells, the pep-pep-pep of machine-guns, never
knowing when death would come, were suddenly and without preparation
thrown upon the bosom of our great modern Babylon; and on their return
they were met by these creatures.
'It is ghastly, it is hellish!' said Edgecumbe, as we returned across
Waterloo Bridge.
'What can be done?' I asked helplessly.
'These fellows should be safeguarded,' he replied. 'Oh, I know the
difficulties, but those creatures should be dealt with with a strong
hand; they should not be allowed in such places. The boys coming home
from danger and death should be protected from such temptations. It is
not a thing to talk about, not a thing to discuss in public; but think of
the inwardness of it, think of the ghastly diseases, the loss of manhood,
the corruption of soul, that follows in the train of what we have
seen,--and it is going on all over London.'
'You can't put down vice by Act of Parliament,' I replied.
'No, but a great deal more can be done than is done,' was his answer.
'People don't talk about these things in their drawing-rooms, or in their
social circles, but they exist,--my God, they exist! And this is
supposed to be a holy war! Still, thank God for the good that is being
done, for the organizations which exist for men's comfort and salvation.'
And then he did not speak another word until we reached the hotel.
The next day was Saturday, and directly after lunch we started to go
together to a matinee, for Edgecumbe had stated his determination to
visit the places of amusement and see how London enjoyed itself.
We begun by going to one of the largest and most popular music-halls in
the City, where a revue which was much commented on was produced for the
delectation of all who cared to see it.
I was informed that this particular place was much patronized by
soldiers, and that the entertainment was one of the most popular in
London. The prices of the seats varied from half a guinea, plus the War
tax, to a shilling, and as we entered we found a vast concourse of
people, among whom were many men in khaki. I discovered too that the
management had been generous, for there were numbers of wounded soldiers,
many of them in the stalls, and who had been given free admission.
'After all, it is fine,' I said, as we waited for the curtain to rise,
'that these lads should have a place of brightness and amusement to go
to.'
'Yes,' replied Edgecumbe, 'in a way it is splendid.'
'The people of the country are wonderfully good,' I went on; 'soldiers in
the hospitals, as well as others home on leave, are constantly being
given hospitality by the best and kindest people in England. I hope
these chaps'll have a good laugh this afternoon, and be able to forget
the horrors through which they have passed. They have had enough of the
tragedy of life, poor chaps. I hope they'll get some comedy this
afternoon.'
'I hope they will,' he replied.
I will not attempt to give a description of the revue they witnessed that
afternoon. I suppose it was similar to a score of others that might be
seen in various parts of the metropolis. There was an excellent
orchestra, the music was light and pleasing, the whole atmosphere of the
place was merry. The lights were dazzling, the dresses were gay, the
scenery almost magnificent. As a spectacle it would, I suppose, be
regarded as gorgeous. Apparently, too, most of the auditors enjoyed it,
although a look of boredom was on some faces. As to the revue itself,
while one could not help admitting that some of the songs were humorous,
and some of the repartee clever, the thing as a whole was cheap and silly
and vulgar.
I do not say there was anything positively wrong in it, but there were a
great many vulgar suggestions and unpleasant innuendoes. As a dramatic
critic said in my hearing a day or two later, when discussing the popular
entertainments of London, 'Most of these shows consist of vulgar,
brainless twaddle.' Still, the audience laughed and cheered, and when
the curtain finally fell, there was a good deal of applause. Certainly
the entertainment would be a great contrast to the experiences which the
lads who were home on leave had been going through. But as I reflect on
it now, and think of the great struggle through which the nation was
going, and the ideals for which it was fighting, I cannot remember one
single word that would help or inspire. Of course places of amusement
are not intended to instruct or to fill one with lofty emotions. All the
same, I could not help feeling that laughter and enjoyment were in no way
incompatible with the higher aims of the drama. In fact, what we saw was
not drama at all; it was a caricature of life, and a vulgar one at that.
Indeed, the author's purpose seemed to be--that is, assuming he had a
purpose--to teach that virtue was something to be laughed at, that vice
was pleasant, and that sin had no evil consequences.
Indeed, while I am anything but a puritan, I felt sorry that the hundreds
of lads home from the front, many of whom were wounded, had no better
fare offered to them. God knows I would be the last to detract from
their honest enjoyment, and I would make their leave bright and happy;
but after all, the nation was at war, life was a struggle, and death
stalked triumphant, and this was but a poor mental and moral food for men
who, for months, had been passing through an inferno, and many of whom
would, in a few weeks or days, go back again to see 'hell let loose.' If
those men had been merely fighting animals, if they were mere creatures
of a day, who went out of existence when the sun went down, then one
could understand; but they were men with hopes, and fears, and longings;
men into whose nostrils God had breathed the breath of His own life, men
destined for immortality. And this show was pagan from end to end.
When the entertainment was over, I led the way to a fashionable hotel for
tea, where a large and handsomely decorated room was set apart for that
purpose. A gay crowd of some hundreds had already gathered when we
arrived, so that there was a difficulty in obtaining a table. This crowd
had evidently, like ours, come from the various places of amusement in
the immediate vicinity, and had managed to get there earlier than we.
The men folk were mostly officers, while the women were, I imagine, in
the main their relatives and friends. The latter were very gaily and
expensively dressed. As far as I can remember, the cost of a very poor
tea was half a crown for each person. Every one appeared in great good
humour, and laughter was the order of the day.
'Not much suggestion here that the country's at war, eh?' I said, looking
round the room, 'and but few evidences that the appeals to the public to
economize have been taken very deeply to heart.'
'No,' replied Edgecumbe, 'except for the khaki, it would be difficult to
believe that the country is at war. Still, I suppose it is natural.
Most of these lads are home on leave, and their women folk want them to
enjoy themselves. This is their way of doing it.'
'It shows that money is plentiful,' I said; 'we are a long way from
bankruptcy yet.'
'But the big bill will have to be paid, my friend. There are no signs of
it now, but the country can't spend all these millions every day without
suffering for it later on,' and I saw a thoughtful look come into his
eyes as they wandered round the room.
After tea we went for a walk along the streets, and then, at half-past
seven, I took him to another fashionable hotel, where I had ordered
dinner. Again we saw a similar crowd, met with similar scenes. Whatever
London might be feeling, the fashionable part of it had determined to
enjoy itself. At night we went to another theatre, which was also packed
to the ceiling with a gay throng. Here also were crowds of soldiers,
many of whom were, I judged, like ourselves, home from the front.
Edgecumbe passed no opinion on the play, or on the spectators. That he
was deeply interested, was evident, although I think his interest was
more in the audience than the performers.
'I am tired,' I said, when the entertainment was over; 'let's get to bed.'
'No, not yet, I want to see London by night. All this, to you, Luscombe,
is commonplace. I dare say it would be to me if my memory came back. As
it is, it is all new and strange to me. It is exciting me tremendously.
I am like one seeing the show for the first time.'
By this time London was at its busiest, crowds surged everywhere.
'Buses, taxi-cabs, and motors threaded their way through the streets,
while the foot pavements were crowded. Places of amusement were emptying
themselves on every hand, and although the streets were darkened, it
seemed to have no effect upon the spirits of the people. The night was
fairly clear, and a pale moon showed itself between the clouds.
'What a city it is!' said Edgecumbe, after we had been walking some time.
'Think of it, the centre of the British Empire, the great heart which
sends its life-blood through the veins of a mighty people! But is the
life-blood pure, my friend?'
We passed up Charing Cross to Leicester Square, and then on through
Piccadilly Circus up Regent Street, then we came down again, through the
Haymarket, into Pall Mall. I am not going to describe what we saw, nor
tell in detail the experiences through which we passed. That ghastly
story of gilded vice, and of corruption which is not ashamed, was too
sad, too pathetic. The Empire might be in danger, even then there might
be Zeppelins hovering in the near distance, waiting to drop missiles of
destruction and death. Less than two hundred miles away our armies were
fighting, guns were booming, shells were shrieking, men were dying. But
here in London, on the eve of the Day of Rest, the tide of iniquity
rolled. Young men were tempted, and falling; many of the very lads who
had done heroic deeds were selling their souls for half an hour's
pleasure.
In spite of the drink regulations, too, it was easy to see that numbers,
both men and women, had been able to obtain it, often to their own
degradation.
'Come on,' said Edgecumbe presently, 'let's get back to the hotel. I've
had enough.'