The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-09 00:00:00

A COSTERMONGERS' FESTIVAL.

In London, on Monday night, the costermongers of
St. Luke's.. to whom • concession has iust been made by
a majority of veetrymen of that parish giving to this in-
dustrious class of the cornmneity the right to pitch their
stalls and barrows in White-crow-street on Sundays,
held what they termed a "festival in honour I their
Recent victory, ' under the directions of Mr.
Catlin. Notwithstanding the drenching rain that set
in and continued during the evening, upwards of one
hundred and fifty men, women, and children assembled
in Whitecroes street, and proceeded in procession,
headed by a band of music, to the Mission Hall,
cow-cones, a distance of about a mile. They
were greeted upon arrival by the loud cheers
of their brother rosters, who lined the approaches to
the hall. Upon enterinz the building, wet to the skin.
Mr. Catlin expressed a hope that they would " make
themselver at home." Seats and tables were ranged on
either side of the room, in the centre was a large
magic lantern, and on the platform at the end were
seated several of the vestrymen who had fought the
tight of the rosters, and by whose influence the boasted
victory had been brought about. At the back of these
gentlemen, on the spread sheet opal which the shadows
of the magic figures were subsequently thrown, were
pinned a couple of newly-printed bills. The one
ensued by the Coetermongers' Defence Committee
stated "that on and after the 18th of December
no business would be done on any barrow or stall in
Whftecrompetrert alter loaf-past ten o'clock on
Sunday mornings," the other bill announced the
fact "that the shops would be closed at eleven
'clock non Sunday mornings according to promise
given to the vestry by the tradesmen of Whitecross-
street." It was the work of not many minutes to be
seated, although a large number of both men and
women advisedly divested themselves of their jackets
and shawls before settling down to the enjoyment of
their feast. The feast itself was not of a very sump-
tuous character. It consisted simply of tea, bread and
butter, and plum cake. The circumstances, however,
under which this repast was served being rather un-
usual, the guests, influenced, no doubt, by the novelty
of the occasion, did all they could in the time allowed
for this part of the entertainment to testify their un-
qoalified appreciation of the fare. Indeed, so enthu-
siastic were they in the cause, that Mr. Catlin deemed
it expedient to mount a table in the centre of the room
and call upon them to "stop," informing them at
the same time that they had " put away" 501 b. of the
best plum cake, which was valued at one shilling per
pound, 1601 b. of bread (he knew not how much butter),
and 50 gallons of tea. He thought that everybody
ought to have had enough ; at the same time, he ob-
served that those who had not were at liberty to go us
into the gallery, and there have a "mortal gorge."
Before the feast was served this same authority, ad-
dressing the meeting, said--" Tea's already, chaps.
You won't be kept not five minutes, but before it's
served I know you will like to sing a word of praise to
God." Every individual instantly rose, and sang the
first verse of a hymn in a manner that proved many
of them to be by no means unacquainted with church
music.
At the conclusion of this opening ceremony, Mr.
Catlin said, "That's it, as Shakespeare says, All's
well that ends welt' Now here's tea," and simultaneous
with this announcement three or four stalwart rosters,
with their shirt sleeves tucked up to their armpits,
entered the ro us carrying cans of tea and plates of
cake, to which, as alrwady mentioned, the guests de-
voted their exclusive attention, which was only
diverted by the timely interruption of their °chair-
man. At the comlusion of the tea, while the
cups and saucers were being cleared away, Mr.
Catlin, in reply to a broad-shouldered youth,
who complained that he had had only "one
piece of cake," again quoted Shakespeare. He said,
No matter, my chap, ' all's well that ends well.'"
The young roster, however, appeared to think that the
tea had not ended so well as far as he was concerned,
acid at once resorted LI his short pipe as a solace for his
shortcomings. The business of the evening then com-
menced by the addresses of Mr. Bilby, Mr. Brook,
and Mr. Pedder, the vestrymen of St. Luke's, who had
interested themselves in the cause.

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An exhibition, a diorama of scenes of the metropolis,
then took place, whiLli was followed by several songs,
with pianoforte accompaniment, and the meeting,
which WAS very orderly throughout, separated.