A young ham-sandwich seller
c. 1850 · London, England · A young man who sold ham sandwiches at theatre doors every night. Customers ask for more ham in them, he says, though he is starving on what he makes.
“But mine’s a wretched life, and so is most ham sandwich-men. I’ve no enjoyment of my youth, and no comfort.”
Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. 1 · the ham-sandwich sellers
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A seller of flower roots
c. 1850 · London, England · A man who sold flower roots in the street. He adds this just after saying that he earns less than a few years before.
“But it’s no use complaining; there’s lots worse off than I am--lots. I’ve given pennies and twopences to plenty that’s seen better days in the streets”
Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. 1 · the sellers of roots
1 in 100 Billion · The social network of those who came before us