No census of London shelter-inmates has been taken recen so
far as I know, but the number of people sleeping in pub, shelters is surprisingly high, in view of the fact that Load has had no raids for something like two months. The curt fact is that the shelters, at any rate the better-organised o have become social centres of some importance. An old-a pensioner of 74 was asked the other day why he still came the shelter regularly night after night. His reason, whi was convincing enough, casts light on a real social need. live in one room," he said, " and now that I'm not working don't see many people to talk to during the day. Here at ni I get to know a lot of people, and I can smoke my pipe, have a game of darts, and get a cup of coffee and some to eat at the canteen, and sleep pretty well as comfortably as should at home." Incidentally, he saves a little fuel—and that he said something that deserves to be recorded. He rem tioned, without complaining, the high cost of coal. But ma' you buy broken wood cheap from demolished houses? he sus asked. " Yes," he said, " you can, and I used to do it." That after a pause, " But somehow I don't like feeling that Pm burning what was part of someone's home—bits of the tablo they've sat at, and the chairs they've sat on, in my grate. It seems like keeping myself warm with their suffering. So I don't get that wood any more."
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