The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-03
LONDON LETTER.
| Regular Correspondent. !

LONDON, Dec 90. 1879.
We are threatened with Christmas such rs
that winch London was visited with 10 years
hardest ever known IN England. 1t is seldom
in the neighborlood of London, al any rate,
that skating commences 80 early rs the first
week in Dccem Der. London is surrounded by
belt of thicky wooded country. 1t is also
to certain extent, "a seaport town, and the
sea brcezes sweeping up the Thames render
its temperature comparatively equabc. When
the wind sets from the east it brings with it,
no doubt, that peculiarly horrible cloud known
rs l. ,ndon fog But the London fog, dense,
dirty unwhoesome and sitting rs it may
be, is yet warm, and, as those who have oh
served the weather cannot but have noticed,
when the frost commences the fOgs cease.
Meantime, severe weather of the good old
fashioned type has set in and almost every.
body is looking forward to winter such as
those known to our fathers, and in which
Dickens rcvelcd. In the streets for some
time past slight coating Of snow, aternated
done It's best to hinder traffic and thin the
ways The Metropolitan Railway has been
densey crowded with passengers, who, under
ordinary circumstances, would travel on foot
or by omnibus. Cabs have begun to disappear
at early hours, and belated dincrsout have had
only too often to wend their way home on
foot through the nlpping cold. The shops
have put on something more than their accus.
toned Christmas garment Of decoration. The
woodcNck, wild goose and capcrcalzie seem
TO be larger than ever. The boars' heads are
more rotund and more suggestive of baronia
halls and college banquets. The pelt on deer
and even on the hare, and the familiar rabbit
seems thicker than ever; while large importa
Of white ptarmlgan, and other such strange
denlzens of northern climes, serve to remind
US how steam is gradually welding the earth
INTO one, until Norway and California are
practically as near to London rs the Settles |
or the extreme Highlands On the tishmon.
gers marble slab lie hugh Dutch and Cana
dian salmon, frozen INTO solid masses, and
cells as stlif as rope that has been exposed
for hours to driving sleet, with the thcrmom.
eter at zero. Grocers and butchers are more
assidueus than ever IN the scenic effect with
which they display their wares. Never be.
fore has the show Of prime joints been more
prodgal, or the store of spice and sweetmeats
heaped up behind plate glass more lavish
Indeed, even in the suburbs it is impossible
to walk many yards without being reminded
from the appearance Of the shops alone, that,
apart from the still more patent reminders of
the weather, Christmas is close upon us, Add
to all this the huge posters announcing panto-
mines and other Christmas entertainments;
the show of bon ons and nicknacks and fancy t
articles destined for Christmas gifts; the ex.
lusitely designed subtctlcs of Christmas S
cards, the display Of scalskin jackets and
nulIs and fur,lined gloves and Langtry tip {
pets: the osten'", ito. - III "f ulstcrc in ,
very variety of style, color, texture ana M,
ern; the regular appearance with tho ...1rn r
ng post delivery of letters soic- ,
ng aid for charitable Institutions; and c
not the least significant token OF all
he increased civllty OF policemen, turncocks G
aiway guards, postmen, and others whose {
ncome is supplemented by Christmas boxes I
md you shall find It difficult indeed to assent
o the sceptical proposition that Christmas rs C
estival is dying out, and that the 25th of De "
ember is little, if at all, more honorcd than b
ny other day IN the calendar Ii