New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS

EP9 "LOEDoN LABOR AND THE LONDON POoR,'
by HENRY MAYHrw, Part l., is republication by
Harper Brothers of the articles in tina 1S"' n'''"
Chronicle on the condition OF the London Poor,
from which we gave variety OF statistical do
tails in The Tribune at the time OF their original
appearance They are now presented in re-
vised and greatly enlarged form, illustrated with
daeuerreotype engravings, and issued in semi
monthly numbers, which, when completed, will
furnish the most comprehensive view OF the sub
ject, that has ever been given to the public. Mr..
MAYHEM has made an ample collection of facts
from personal observations he describes them in
lively and attractive style and his book cannot
fail to prove OF great interest to every reader.
The present number commences the general d.
vision of the "Street Folk under which head
the "Costermonsers are portrayed IN striking
colors. This term is applied to those street sell
lers, who deal in fish, fruit and vegetables, pur
chasing their goods at the wholesale green and
hsh markets. The word, written costard-monger
by Dr. johnson, is derived from the sale of apples
or costards ground and bulky like the head but
n now used to denote the whole class OF vendors
above alluded to. The number Of c0ster-mongers
IN London is estimated by Mr.. Mayhem to be
10000 men, women and children it is greatly in
creasipg; and for the last five years it has in
creased faster than the general metropolitan pop
ulaton. We copy the following sketch Of
HABITS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF CoSTERMoNGERs.
( find it impossible TO separate these two head
ngs; for the habits of the costermonger are nOt
domestic. his busy life is passed In the markets
or the streets, and as his leisure is devoted TO
the beer.shop, the dancing room, or the theater,
we must look for bis habits TO his demeanor at
those places. Home has few attractions to
man whose life is a street life. Even those who
are influenced by family ties and affections, prefer
TO "home'--indeed that word is rarely mentioned
among then-the conversation, warmth, aud mer.
riment of the beer shop, where they can take
their ease among their mates Excitement or
Amusement are indispensable to uneducated men.
OF beer.shops resorted to by cOstermongers, and
principally supported by them, it is computed
that there are 400 in London.
Those who meet first in the beer. shop talk over
the state of trade and Of the markets, while the
later corners enter at once into what may be
styled the serious business Of the evening
amusement.
Business topics are discussed in a most pc
cuhar styie. One man takes the pipe from his
mouth and says, "Bill made doogheno hit this
morning. "Jem, says another. to a man Just
entering you'll stand a top o reeb p "On,"
answers Jem, I've had q trosseno t0l, and have
been doing dab" For an explanation OF what
may be obscure IN TINS ulalOSue, must refer my
readers 10 my remarks concerning the language
OF the class If any strangers are present the
conversation is still further clothed in slang, so as
20 be unintelligible even TO the partially initiated
The evident puzzlement Of any listener is Of
course gratifying to the costermoDgers vanity,
for be feels that he possesses knowledge pecu-
larly his own.
Among the 10 door amusements Of the coster-
mOnger is card play ing, at waich many Of them
are adopts. The usual games are sill iours, all
nves, crlbbage, and pat. Whist is known b. a
lew, but is never played, being considered dull
arc slow OF short Whist they have not heard
out said one, whom ! questioned on the SUB.
gect niss come into fashion, it'll soon DO among
as ahe play is usually for beer bat the game
renueFee exciting by beta both among the play
ers ana tue lockers on " IN back jam for
ysnepatine, says one. "Iack for a gen" cries
another. a penny is the lowest sum laid and
live shllllngs generally the highest, bat shilling
IL not often exceeded. 1--WE plsv fair amorSS
ourselves said eOEtermonger to me-"av'
fairer than the sristocrAts- we take in AM
body else" Where it is known that the landlord
will not supply cards, a sporting coster' carries
pack or two with him. The cards PLAYED win
have rarely been stamped they are generally
dirty, and sometimes almost illegble, from long
handling and spilled beer. Some men will sit
patiently for hours at these games, and they
wstch the dealing round of the dngy cards in.