3-070-901 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Italian organ-grinders, Saffron-Hill, 1881. 'The condition of a large number of poor foreigners, men and boys, chiefly from Parma and the neighbouring villages, who are induced by speculative caterers of London street-music to come to this country, has repeatedly been discussed. They are too often held in a wretched bondage for pretended advances of money on account of their wages, or for the cost of their miserable food, lodging, and clothing, advantage being fraudulently taken of their ignorance of our language and the ways of London life. Our Illustration shows the scene in a squalid kitchen near Saffron-hill, where some of these poor Italians were taking their comfortless meal, after tramping about town all day with a heavy instrument, of Paris or Geneva manufacture, contrived by the turning of a handle to emit melodious strains'. Note monkey on back of chair. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.