The Ballad Of The Slums

[Howard Brown]

This thread starter continues on the second post.
The third post appeared in the Gazette a week later.


St. James's Gazette
London
December 1, 1888
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[Howard Brown]

Part Two

[Howard Brown]

St. James's Gazette
December 8, 1888
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[Howard Brown]

St. James's Gazette
December 18, 1888
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[Joshua Rogan]

Good post!
Only yesterday I read a report that said people selling food and ballad sheets were amongst the crowd that gathered outside Miller's Court. Now I have an idea what was on those sheets.

[jerryd]

Good post!
Only yesterday I read a report that said people selling food and ballad sheets were amongst the crowd that gathered outside Miller's Court. Now I have an idea what was on those sheets.

Thomas Conway was a poet of sorts and pinched his ballads on the streets for years. He and Catherine made a living together selling his ballads. Her fate was to have one written about her own self after her murder, entitled "Kidney Kate". Chris Scott posted a long article taken from the Black Country Bugle. This is the end of that press clip.

Now listen, ladies of the town,
On who red Jack has got a down.
For pence you lift your petticoats,
For Love this gent will slit your throats,
And if there's time midst death's red spout
He'll cut and carve your kidneys out.
Like your late sister "Kidney" Kate
You might end up on Red Jack's plate
And like some other slags and sinners
Provide the Ripper's tasy dinners.

Nice find, Howard. The ballads are interesting to me. Always like to see different ones posted. Thanks!