The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-15 00:00:00

THE GREEKS.

NEW REGULATIONS AMONGST THE

CHIMNEY SWEEPERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
When
one of our periodical meetings,
When the sages of the craft dine with the as-
pirants,
and afterwards retire to the benches in
an inner room to revel in the luxuries of heavy-
Wet and tobacco, and wind up with a glass of
.11,e'roill, supplied by a damsel regularly bred
41" called to the bar (the sages of other crafts
are said to revel in the luxury of port instead of
Potter, and finish with Bordeaux and Burgundy),
de state of the Honourable Society of
hinmey Sweepers, their melancholy increase of
'mnbers, and the more melancholy division of
fees,
became the subject of a gloomy but ani-
ma•
ted discussion ; when at length a veteran sweep,
Indignant at the countless intrusions since he
started as a member of the craft, blushed nearly
scarlet through the professional sables that
covered the outward man, as he rose to suggest
some
resolutions to remedy these monstrous
sellis, recover the lost dignity of our profession,
01•
1(1 (though last not least) secure the fees to
ourselves or those only whom we shall hence-
' fnrth permit to share them. He admitted we
enjoyed and exercised a veto, but ably con-
tended that so many persons had nevertheless
'been permitted to creep in and nestle among the
honourable Fraternity of Chimney Sweepers,
. that it was highly expedient some more effectual
•Mode of exclusion should be resorted to, with-
out exposing, however, our real objects, more
tPeetally as to the fees ;—for you must know,
Editor, ours 'is not an ordinary calling
Pursued for the mere purposes of lucre. No,
o
• it is both an honourable and an honorary
craft, we scorn anylegal demand for fees, and
!nerdy take care to finger the fee before we do the
osiness ; which is " the perfection of reason,"
1Y to be acquired in our Honourable Society,
and the only thing ever learned there. But to re-
al"- Otir worthy next demonstrated, with more
an mathematical clearness, that an individual
. Possessed of 4001. per annum was neces-
sarily
tell times better qualified to become a
nleMber of the Honourable Fraternity of Chimney
hweepers, than one who possessed only 401., and
e necessity that each aspirant should thence-
ierth he examined and cross-examined as to his
knowledge of Greek, before allowed to enter
o
,roi! his novitiate, (a deep acquaintance with
GasslLeal lore, and a thorough knowledge of
eh.eeK being excellent whets to the dry study of
h RnneY sweeping), which double qualification
not "'embers of the learned Universities, and the
qualification even many of them.
• rPropositions so wise in themselves, so ably
ihotoreed, and promising such vast advantages to
ee raft; allowed of no debate, they were re-
Efewe ca
with deafening cheers, and resolutions of
:miler effect unanimously carried. It was then
eihre.Posed that the heir-at-law to his Majesty's
the new office of Examining Cerberus, and
charged with the care that thenceforth no new
members were admitted who did not come pre-
Pared with the requisite sop.
Before proceeding, however, to carry these re-
solutions into effect, it was deemed expedient to
hint the matter to the young aspirants in the
.outer room, and through them to let it leak out
to the public, taking care, in order to avert op-
position, to intimate that the new regulations
should not apply to them, which was admirably
Panaged by the mover, who put forth and drew
.back his-feelers, with a tact and intelligence -that
• "would have done honour even to an Attorney-
when conducting a horse cause.
e Public, on hearing the whisper, at first
looked Incredulous, and then seemed as though
Struck
.mute by the modest assurance of the
hear when presently a hollow murmur was
1(1 of "a, job, a job," and it was felt
\-le nie to give up the first qualification (at
to4t temporarily), in order the more securely
carry the second, which it was confidently
ex
nuPeeted would ultimately be equally efficaci-
-1 working exclusion ; our friends accord-
••ang, disclaimed our ever having entertained
Idea of the first,* while they energetically as-
..aert_ ed that the honour of the craft, and welfare of
thenl Public, alike required that chimnies should
whY be swept by persons who understood Greek ;
is teh point, once effectually carried, little doubt
beePtertained a convenient opportunity will soon
of "nd to declare that Masters of Arts of one
the learned Universities are the only persons
(N
nitslified for admission to the Honourable Frater-
• tot/ia Chimney Sweepers ;t a regulation abso-
tiretY indispensable, since our learned Univer-
enles are now such monopolists of learning and
Nitirnon sense, that they have not left a single
/ of either to be shared amongst the rest of the
Public. .
OTI •s
affair •
hl It is really one of vast importance.—
Y Consider, Sir, in Holland, chin-lilies are
• for the decimal part of a florin t (barely
pp Mee), and how dreadful it will be if the
iClePle of England shall ever become so unfor-
:ate and degraded as to have their chimnies
welt at the same miserable rate, which will in-
toltably be the case unless some ode be resorted
~%veefkeeping the Honourable Society of Chimney
fro ePers select. The advantages that will result
Ion) chimnies being swept by none but persons
",° understand Greek, are too numerous to be
te
• ! forth in a letter,—what immense benefits will
blse to the public from the classical use of the
4,,11,811 and scraper, when none but Masters of
, toils are permitted to wind their way through the
I,:ttlons flues of our modern structures, ascend
hi Lthe chimney-tops, and then look from the
og" station they have attained with ineffable
•• ti "tempt on the canaille below,—moreover, gen-
.. tillitllett of the craft, need not then waste any
ide in acquiring a knowledge of the art, since,
th hen none can be employed but themselves,
t• 0447 Must sack the fees, whatever their qualifi-
',,t4:ens, and the public will have the great advan-
'•4 of paying, and attic chimney sweepers the
wh in tag advantage of being paid like gentlemen,
~piatever fashion they perform the work.
the`tie vulgar have hitherto considered it to be
• trlproud privilege of Englishmen that the
i blest of his Majesty's subjects, if possessed
144"stry, integrity, and talent, may rise to the
tr hest offices of the state,—that the Constitu-
-4,lllhas no predelictions, knows no favourites,
Nes of no exclusions. Away with such trash,
e, infallible sages of the Honourable Society
nit s
net,• 'they Sweepers will shortly prove all such
• iens
mere fallacies. Our Universities, it is
are numerously attended ; the students,
thkti'Ait feat would certainly be insolent and cruel to require' a
t 64 tion iu money."— Times, Aug. 1.
a We would at once assign to the Universities the
' detre: right of introduction, by making the Master's
4tlg. j, Ike• an indispensible requisite." Standard,
'll4l4:rhi
, •ze following seems analagous :—" If the English
`.ltittisliet. is to be saved from falling below the calling of a
glq;` Advocate, whose fee is half a florin (91d.")—
,
41:d? Au&. 11.