The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-09-03
MISCELLANY.
From the New Monthly Magazine.

GREAT art 10 walking the streets OF London;
the conntryman is long while before he
gets into the practice, aud his awkward
ness. i'm this respect, is one of the marks by
which he is very readily distinguished, ey-
On if he have doffed his country cut coat
md hat, and mGgnes that he is altogether
one of the right Sort How quickly will a
pickpocket fix him in his eye, and keep
close 10 his heels in crowd for a whole
street together. The habit Of gazing at
the shop windows, and at every triiiing
novelty in the great thoroughfares, aud the
want Of that utter Indifference to every
thing but the object towards which he is
iournevDg. distinguishes The indigenous
individual from the stranger in the streets.
The genuine Londoner is to appearance,
mn absent man in the most crowded parts
Of The city. lie proceeds on his way cool
ly, casting up bis bills in his mind, arrrang
ing to norrow's business, or projecting
new schemes Of profit. as unmoved and alb
stracted as if he were walking alone across
desert. lie never jostles those he meets
either right or left, but proceeds along.
clear Of porters aud draymen, gliding with
the current Of vitality that flows on his way
ut the general rate, not breaking in upon
"
continued strham; he could peruse book
or newspaper unlDerruptedly during his
progress from Charing Cross to the India
House, IN the midst ofthousands, undi5turb
inc and undisturbed--h habitual ease in
such circumstances being the distinguish
ing trait Of his Character solourner
OF the provinces, on the other hand, when
visiting the metropolis, is sadly puzzled to
etoer clear of the mnltitudcs he meets
There is a story of one of them on record,
who mounted tho step of door at MONDAY
to wait as sho said, until the people coming
out Of church had gone by 1t 10 pleasant
10 see him launched forth in the metropo.
lis tor the first time, raw from Cumberland
and Wcslmoreland. Now he gets into the
urrent Of people passing the opposite way
himself and finds himself pushed off the
avcment into the middle Of the street,
ow he staggers among those who have
tleir right hand to the wall, and not keep
ing the pace with tho Fest Of the passen
gers, and is pushed forward, or jostled, or,
Itopping at window TO see sonie common
place thing, obs.ructs the passeEgers, Is
pushed through the glass, or loses bis
pocket handkerchief Disasters orc for
ever occurring. lie is bewildcred by the
noise and confusion around him, and is
h hippy 10 return aud take his res, at his mn
IL IS scarcely credible TO Londoner, but
thcre are well authenticated instances Of
temporary madness in persons bred up in
the privacy aud solitude of remote country
vliaTps, from being left alone and getting
beWlldrred IN the streets of The metropolis.
Tho great secret ofwa king the streets
in comfort, is an adherence 10 the rules
established by cuslom-namely, to Toxic
the inside Of the pavement when the ight
hand is to The wall, and the outside when
thc right hand is towards the street to
catch the pace of the going or returning
current, as the case may he, and never To
attempt giving Others the law. but to pro
ceed with what Johnson calls the tide of
human existence
"Nevcr stop 10 listen 10 street ninst rolls.
nor stand looking up at the figures of st,
Dnnstan's church; ifyou do, yon will ntal
llbly discover the meaning of the proyerb
OF being penny wise and pound foolish.
"Nevsr delay your hOmcward steps at a
late hour gong ont of your direct path mp
on seeing mob assembled, or on hearing
III waichman's rattle; proceed imperturb
ably.
"Ncver give any aims, nor pay the least
attention TO night hcggars. nor notice Tho
appeals of strangers, nor suffer any convrr
so,lon to- b. maintained with you bv them.
"lr drayman bring his whip acros
your eycsdo not stop To resent it,nnlcse yol
arc sureyou are the better man Of the two
and have little money in your pocket 70
the bystanders to rob YOU Of. II YOU ar
right III these respects, knock him down n
once; you have no better mode of 9b,anln!
justice.
'lfa porter drive his load against YOU
spcc'acles, forcing them into your nose
oyerturn him, burden and all. Ifvou ar,
not strong enough, you must pocket III,
injury.
Never buy a cheap box of cigars,
watch, ring, pencil case. or similar ar
tcles, when offered you b. any one in tn,
streets.
'- "Never buy or a street low, not bccaus,
Of his faith, but because all Christians hav
jng united To persccu,c him he very larl
thinks himself bound To rotaliate by takiu.
thcm in whenever he can.
"When yen meet ladies on a crowdc
pavement you must forget your rallan,ry
and not think OF giving them the inside, fo
those you meet compose counter curren
70 your own,--fn your own current 20
may be as polite as you please 10 the sex
"Amusc yourself as you walk in contem
plating character in the faces Of those vo
meet, and thence guessing their protssso
sr class.
About Change you will find tho genu
inc counting house phz.--'thrty pence
two and siypence.' About the Hay mar
ke'. on merke, days, you may contcmplat
the country farmer mingled with the oti
securing of Palais Roynl upc,a dancers, i
the scum of Italy, in fur or brrcadc, pale
cmascn'alcd, idealcss, and nsolent I