Chapter 38
AFTER we left the spike at Lower Binfield, Paddy and I earned half a crown at weeding and sweeping in somebody's garden, stayed the night at Cromley, and walked back to London. I parted from Paddy a day or two later. B. lent me a final two pounds, and, as I had only another eight days to hold out, that was the end of my troubles. My tame imbecile turned out worse than I had expected, but not bad enough to make me wish myself back in the spike or the Auberge de Jehan Cottard.
Paddy set out for Portsmouth, where he had a friend who might conceivably find work for him, and I have never seen him since. A short time ago I was told that he had been run over and killed, but perhaps my informant was mixing him up with someone else. I had news of Bozo only three days ago. He is in Wandsworth — fourteen days for begging. I do not suppose prison worries him very much.
My story ends here. It is a fairly trivial story, and I can only hope that it has been interesting in the same way as a travel diary is interesting. I can at least say, Here is the world that awaits you if you are ever penniless. Some days I want to explore that world more thoroughly. I should like to know people like Mario and Paddy and Bill the moocher, not from casual encounters, but intimately; I should like to understand what really goes on in the souls of plongeurs and tramps and Embankment sleepers. At present I do not feel that I have seen more than the fringe of poverty.
Still I can point to one or two things I have definitely learned by being hard up. I shall never again think that all tramps are drunken scoundrels, nor expect a beggar to be grateful when I give him a penny, nor be surprised if men out of work lack energy, nor subscribe to the Salvation Army, nor pawn my clothes, nor refuse a handbill, nor enjoy a meal at a smart restaurant. That is a beginning.
THE END
Orwell Daily will return on the 31st January 2023. For now, however, our story also ends here, on the 90th anniversary of the publication of Down and Out in Paris and London.
If you would like to find out more about the book, The Orwell Foundation will be celebrating the anniversary with a new podcast exploring key themes - and asking how Orwell might help us rethink homelessness today. Sign up to our regular newsletter for the latest news.
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I have so enjoyed this, both the perceptive writing and the rhythm of the serial presentation. I looked forward to it every day. That homelessness has only increased since Orwell wrote this is a tragedy. I definitely will take the lessons he says he learned to heart myself.
Thankyou for producing this it has been wonderful to re-read Down and Out in this format. Looking forward to the next one!