CHAPTER V

THE SLUMS

The black dream--A fulcrum--The docks and their levers--The people of the abyss--Dialect, priests and a postulate--Esther--The suburban attitude--A matter of technique--Marooned--Ameliorations--The official tides--Free-lance efforts--The approach of the change--Portents--The Liverpool of the future 141

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE TOWN HALL _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

BIRKENHEAD FROM THE RIVER 8

THE LANDING-STAGE, SOUTH END 16

THE DOCK BOARD OFFICES FROM THE CANNING GRAVING DOCK 22

DOCK BOARD OFFICES FROM THE ALBERT DOCK 28

CUSTOM HOUSE FROM THE SALTHOUSE DOCK 32

THE “LUCANIA” 40

BOLD STREET 46

LIME STREET STATION 50

LIME STREET WITH WELLINGTON MONUMENT 54

ELECTRIC CAR TERMINUS, PIER-HEAD 56

LITTLE SHOP, MOUNT PLEASANT 60

THE QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL 62

ST. JOHN’S MARKET 68

ST. NICHOLAS’ CHURCH AND THE LAST OF TOWER BUILDINGS 70

ST. PETER’S CHURCH 76

EVENING AT NEW BRIGHTON 82

THE WALKER ART GALLERY: INTERIOR 86

OVERHEAD RAILWAY FROM JAMES STREET 92

THE HORNBY LIBRARY 96

OLD HAYMARKET 106

CALDERSTONES PARK 128

HERCULANEUM DOCK 136

BIDSTON HILL 138

ALBERT DOCK: TWILIGHT 142

LIVERPOOL