Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-11-21
LONDON BY NIGHT.
A Lecture by John b. Cough, at the
academy of Music, in Philadelphia,

Last evening the Academy of Musl
was filled from paraquette to ampithes
ter by n-intelligent and enthusiast
audience, the occasion being lectur
by John B. Cough, ESQ.,, under the au
spices OF the Young Mems Christian
Association. The lecturer was appre
ciated by the audience by frequen
manifestations Of applause, sometime
almost deatening. The speaker wa
introduced by P. B. Simons, Esq, in
few appropriate remarks, at the conclu
sion of which Mr. Cough came forward
and spoke as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.-Five YEAR
since L prepared a lecture entitled
"London by Night" principally for tn,
purpose of enlisting the sympathies o
the people in behalf of the poor, tn,
destitute and the outcast. Having de
liveTed it several times, l did not in
tend to deliver it again to the public
but it has been called for so often thai
l was induced, somewhat against my
own will, to revise this lecture-re
write it, take out some and make new
additions to it-and bring it out again
before the public. The longer we con
template London, the more impressed
We are with the fact that it is a world
within itself. Instead of becoming ia.
miliar with it, you seem to become
more amazed and bewildered with its
enormous extent; and the greater and
more constant your explorations, the
less satisfied you become with your
knowledge of London.
To see London, you should visit it in
the hight of the season; for when every
body is out of town it presents a very
dlnerent appearance. London is full
from February, when Parliament opens,
until July, at which time every one
who can afford it goes to the seaside or
Scotland, shooting grouse, or to the
Alps and those who cannot afford to
leave London shut their blinds, and at
tend another place of worship, to make
believe that they have gone, because it
is style-fashion.
The law courts are closed at the time
the members of Parliament are rusti-
eating in the country the parks are
desolate, and London is. dull. The
hight of the season is after Easter. In
the month of Msy comes the shopping,
and Regent street rejoices. At night
the places of amusement are thronged.
London supports forty theatres and
thirty-two principal club-houses, while
there are also exhibitions, such as the
British Museum, the National Gallery
and other places of resort, open to the
public gratuitously.
1t is astonishing in what masses the
Londoners congregate. About two mil
lions one hundred thousand persons
visited the Crystal Palace in 1860. 1
saw myself, in one day. 10000 persons
at a review of q, 900 volunteers by Her
Majesty, in 1860. fyou walk in Re-
gent street you will see a sight that is
gorgeous. Belgravia is occupied by the
rich, PimlIco by the poor and preten-
tious, and Russell square is what they
call "well-to-do." The different trades
and professions occupy different por-
tions of the city. For instance, the
caterers live about Brompton the
medical students take possession of
whole streets In the vicinity of their
respective hospitals. The French, the
Italians, the.Swede, the Dane, the Span
lard, the American, and all nations you
will find represented.
In my lecture tonight, on London
by Night" you will find many things
that are as new to those who live in the
metropolis as to those before me. This
lecture is the result of many explora-
tions by night, in company with detec-
tives and policemen. To see London
by night we must avoid the city prop
er. At 6 o'clock it is almost desolate,
and at midnight it is quiet as country
town. We will hire cab for the night
and start about 9 o'clock in the even
ing, and will visit first, if you please, a
'gin palace"
There are 4.5OO gin palaces" 5000
beer shops which do not sell spirits, and
800 public houses. London consumes
65 900 pipes Of wine, 100000 gallons
of spirits, and 43. 200, 900 gallons of beer.
They say, Drink beer, drink beer"
and l do not know but that is one rea.
son why some Englishmen areso obtuse.
Applause. The breweries in England
are enormous. The works in some of
the largest is carried on by steam
300 barrels of malt are brewed in a
day. The capacity of their vats is TO-
300 barrels. There are millions of
money invested in the destroying of
Gods good gifts.
But here, at this corner, is the ''gin
are some called more
than others we see a light |
within. We enter, and we find the |
'oom filed with people. Before the
par stands eighty people drinking gin.
etc. The "gin palace" not only sells
liquor retail, but wholesale also. There
s a wholesale entrance, a retail en-
rance and the jug and bottle entrance;
'ut wholesale or retail, jug or bottle,
t means gin. The bar is covered with
pewter. perforated to allow the drain
ngs and spillings of the glasses to run
through into trough, and this is dealt |
'ut again under the name of call sorts"
Laughter The profit from this source
to something.
At the back of the bar you see vari-
'us placsrds with names on them, such
IS "The Balmoral Mixture. patronized
" His Royal Highness." Look at the
andlord. He.is very corpulent, and
tands with bis hands on his pockets,
s the French say, Every much devel.
ped" Laughter.
We leave this disgusting place, and
rider the cabman to drive us down to
'Whitechapel." We push through
'Cheapside," and find ourselves in
Butchers Row." Here is where all
hat can be desired in the meat line is
old, such as legs, Gvers, kidneys, etc.,
he butchers crying out "Buy buy
iuy p' On the other side of this place
7e find baskets of fruit, women with
ysters, everything in the way of cook
ry ware, tin pans, gridirons, frying
ans, ETC., etc.
In some of the "gin palaces" which
re in this neighborhood, it is hardly
afe to enter without the police. The
are strong fighting men. 1
hink it is better position to put a
ghting man behind the bar than to
end him to Congress. Tremendous
pplause.l Places of Amusement are
bundant in this locality. Here is a
anorama-only penny entrance fee.
aging our penny, and going in to see
he panorama, we say to ourselves, "the
est part of the panorama is outside"
his part of London always has a
Tong odor from fish, etc. You will
nd men of all nations-men who wor-
nip God, and men who do not. Here
L Al =