Arthur Morrison

Name: Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS
Author: Arthur Morrison

Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

Summary

“Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS”, published in 1894, is a work by Arthur Morrison. It explores elements such as Dave Burge, cordion and Joey.

Quotes from Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (Arthur Morrison)

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ Dave Burge lighted on a lone shed of thatched hurdles with loose hay in it, and Newman straightway curled in the snuggest corner on most of the hay. Dave Burge pulled some from under him, and, having helped Joey Clayton to build a nest in the best place left, was soon snoring. But Joey lay awake all night, and sat up and coughed and turned restlessly, being unused to the circumstances and apprehensive of those months in jail which (it is well known) are rancorously dealt forth among all them that sleep in barns. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ Along the Great North Road such men might be seen in silent companies of a dozen or twenty, now and again singly or in couples. At the tail of one such gang, which gathered in the Burdett Road and found its way into the Enfield Road by way of Victoria Park, Clapton, and Stamford Hill, walked a little group of three: a voluble young man of thirty, a stolid workman rather older, and a pale, anxious little fellow, with a nasty spasmic cough and a canvas bag of tools. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ Every rise and every turn, the eternal yellow road lay stretch on stretch before them, flouting their unrest. Joey, now unimpressionable, endured more placidly than even Dave Burge. Late in the afternoon, "No," he said, "it ain't so rough for them as plays the 'cordion. They 'as the best of it. . . . S'elp me," he added suddenly, "we're all 'cordions!" He sniggered thoughtfully, and then burst into a cough that left him panting. "We're nothin' but a bloomin' lot o' 'cordions ourselves," he went on, having got his breath, "an' they play any toon they like on us ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ One army of men, having been prepared, was ordered to strike—and struck. Other smaller armies of men, with no preparation, were ordered to strike to express sympathy—and struck. Other armies still were ordered to strike because it was the fashion—and struck. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ Newman had a habit of practising this sort of thing in snatches whenever he saw the chance. He had learnt the trick in a debating society; and Joey Clayton was always an applausive audience. There was a pause, the accordion started another tune, and Newman tried a different passage of his harangue.
"In the shop they call me Skulky Newman. Why? 'Cos I skulk, o' course" ("'Ear, 'ear," dreamily—from Dave this time) . "I ain't ashamed of it, my friends. I'm a miker out an' out, an' I 'ope I shall always remain a miker. The less a worker does the more 'as to be imployed, don't they? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ After a long silence, "Which 'll be nearest, Dave," asked little Joey Clayton, "Newcastle or Middlesborough?"
"Middlesborough," said Dave; "I done it afore."
"Trampin' ain't so rough on a man, is it, after all?" asked Joey wistfully. "You done all right, did n't you?"
"Got through. All depends, though it's rough enough. Matter o' luck. I 'ad the bad weather."
"If I don't get a good easy job where we're goin'," remarked the voluble young man, "I'll 'ave a strike there too."
"'Ave a strike there?" exclaimed Joey. "'Ow? Who'd call 'em out?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ An' she's on'y got a bob for 'erself an' the kids." He broke into a sweat of uneasiness. "I'll 'ave to send it back at the next post-office, that's all."
"Send it back? not you!" Thus with deep scorn the voluble young man at his side. "She'll be all right, you lay your life. A woman allus knows 'ow to look after 'erself. You'll bleed'n' soon want it, an' bad. You do as I tell you, Joey: stick to it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ For a space Joey was silent, save for the cough. Then he went on: "Comes o' not bringing 'cordions with 'em. Every one ought to take a 'cordion what goes trampin'. I knew a man once that went trampin', an' 'e took a 'cordion. He done all right. It ain't so rough for them as plays on the 'cordion." And Dave Burge rubbed his cap about his head and stared ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Morrison, Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (1894)

“ That's right, Dave, ain't it?"
"Matter o' fancy," replied the stolid man. "My missis cleared my pockets out 'fore I got away. Shouldn't wonder at bein' sent after for leavin' 'er chargeable if I don't soon send some more. Women's different." ”

Arthur Morrison

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Quotes from Tales of mean streets — WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS (Arthur Morrison)

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