Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-30
THREE HOURS IN A LONDON DRAIN.

Field Lane is now thing Of the past. I
That odd-looking bower Of dangling silk
banners, beneath which colony of filthy
Jew-fence8 with villainous faces, and fat
Jewesses stinted in skirt and bare of ell
bow, burrowed, and sweltered in dark
ness and foul vapors, has at length van
ished. London has lost something by
the loss Of Field Lane.
For more than five-and-twenty years
never came within sight of it without
struggle and never passed, in all that
time, its Holborn outlet without involun-
tarily quickening my pace until it was at
least fifty yards in the rear. I am glad
at last to see it razed to the ground. You
will hardly wonder at that if you read
what am now going to set down.
In the Summer of1832 1 was a young
blockhead just turned twenty-one; to be
Sure, what an ass I was, half fop and all
fool I had served my time down in
Suffolk Il shan't say where) and had
aearned my trade as hairdresser, by dint
of seven years practice, tolerably well.
At the expiration of my apprenticeship I
came up to town with all my fortune
above hundred pounds-in my pocket,
Intending to see the world and enjoy my
self before settled down to business.
Well, Ibid enjoy myself, notwithstand-
ing. Every thing was pleasure to me
ia those days-and then, as to Vauxhall,
the theatres, the dancing-rooms, the free
and-easies, the shades-I thought them
Paradise ITSELF 1 made friends with
some young fellows as silly as myself and
together we fattered ourselves we did
the thing and many preposterous and
senseless thing we did.
One day, having made an appointment
to dine with one ofthese chance acquain-
tances, 1 was proceeding in full costume
along Holborn toward the place of assig-
nation, when mop-headed, ragged ur.
chin ran against me and nearly tripped
me up; and the next moment I discover
ed that had lost my handkerchief from
my pocket. 1 was too green to suspect
the little vagabond of haven taken it
besides, he had disappeared. The los:
was nothing; it was the trouble Of pur
chasing another. I proceeded onward
On the lookout for shop, when sudden
ii came upon the entrance TO Field Lane
which disclosed to my view thousands o
handkerchiefs dangling from the walls
and open windows and l walked up f
make my selection. The queer aspect 0
BE place tickled my fancy, and amuse
much-the chafering, squabbling, an,
bawling-the coarse jokes 1 heard, til
odd faces that peeped out on all sides
The myriads of silken spoils that 1uttere
around and alof-all struck me with a
agreeable sense of novelty, and, being
no hurry, and thinking I might as we
see the whole of it, wandered from en-
10 end of the Lane before troubling my
self about the business on hand. The 5
rens of the place, plump and unctuou
paid me marked attention, and would fai
have entrapped me into bargain, but
was callous to their compliments, ar
held on my way. Having at length sa
isfied my curiosity, l retraced my steT
and entering a shop at hazard, deman
ed to be shown some of the best of Il
wares. The shop was a sort of she
looking chamber, which was almost EN-
ty; the whole of the merchandise ha
ing been transferred TO the lines a
poles without, where, as it hung thick
leaves on a tree, it completely obscur
the view of what was passing in the lal
The man who rose up from behind
counter in answer to my chaAen:
seemed to my first view all nose a
scrubby hair; but pair of dark-bla
eyes twinkled beneath one broad bush
brow that covered them both, and
bristly jaw contorted with grin as
asked: Did yer want de vera pest,
tear?
Of course l wanted the best, and Y
not particular as to price.
The fellow eyed me leisurely all o
as l gave him to understand that mu
and no doubt he took my measure (
hair. Den viii de shentleman shtep
to the vareus, and look at some vo
fust-rate ?
He opened a white-washed door at
end of the shop, and beckoned me TO
low him. l obeyed and threaded
dark, narrow passage some few pace'
length, was shown into chamber
more than ten feet square, lighted b.
small window in the roof, and tot