Page 274 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

248 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

LICENSED FOR PRINT FROM ALAMI

He described the drudgery of the despairing souls who lived and worked in
such places. The language is poetic and in the dialect of a worker, a family
man of that time and place, but its poignant echo reverberates across two
centuries to the feelings of those who are burned out today.
‘Sir, I canna, wi’ my little learning an’ my common way, tell the genelman what
will better aw this - though some working men o’ this town could, above my
powers - but I can tell him what I know will never do ’t. The strong hand will
never do ’t. Vict’ry and triumph will never do ’t. Agreeing fur to mak one side
unnat’rally awlus and for ever right, and toother side unnat’rally awlus and for
ever wrong, will never, never do ’t. Nor yet lettin alone will never do ’t. Let
thousands upon thousands alone, aw leading the like lives and aw faw’en into
the like muddle, and they will be as one, and yo will be as anoother, wi’ a black
unpassable world betwixt yo, just as long or short a time as sich-like misery can
last. Not drawin nigh to fok, wi’ kindness and patience an’ cheery ways, that so
draws nigh to one another in their monny troubles, and so cherishes one another
in their distresses wi’ what they need themseln - like, I humbly believe, as no
people the genelman ha seen in aw his travels can beat - will never do ’t till th’