The Red Lion was a four-ale bar with a handful of lowbrowed sons of toil who looked as though they might be related to one another in ways frowned on by the Old Testament.
The Red Lion is depicted as a no-frills bar that serves four types of beer, attracting a rough crowd. The patrons are described as working-class men, whose close resemblance to one another suggests an unconventional familial connection, implying a sense of shared struggle and possibly dubious background. This description sets an unrefined and gritty tone for the establishment.
The phrase hints at a deeper social commentary, suggesting that the lives of these men may reflect hardships that push them into a communal bond, despite the moral implications of their relationships. Overall, the imagery evokes a vivid sense of place and character, setting the scene for the interactions that might unfold within such a setting.
