The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-15

a
ment. When efforts have been made b
benevolent and well intentioned people
reclaim the children, it has been general
found impossible.
The author was informed by his esteeme
friend, Rev. Francis c. T. Moran, brother in
law Of Sir Hardinge Clifford, present Solicit
tor-General, Incumbent OF st. Philips, tn.
Evangelist, Peekham, one Of the worst quar-
tiers OF South London, that young girl O.
twelve years of age, whom he had taken from
her parents to bring up as domestic in hi
family, was in few months so oppressed
with the confinement, the ease, comfort ant
plenty of well regulated household ant
the restraints of civilization, that she availet
herself of an opportunity, when sent ou
upon an errand, to return to her poverty
and the Arab freedom OF her street life, anG
no persuasion on his and Mrs. Moran's part
could induce her to give it up again. She
preferred the bare existence she could pick
up in the streets with its liberty to all that re-
ligion, civilization and plenty could give he1
| when restricted to the conventional rules Of
society among domestics. And had she
been acquainted with the poets lines would
have probably quoted them, ''give me again
my hollow tree, my crust of bread and liper-
ty."
"Bless you," said one of these wild wan
derers when asked how they live 1--WE don't
find living at all, it is only another way
of starving" While this is true OF a
majority, some OF them do we'll, especially
the dealers in fish and vegetables, the higher
grades of whom make fair earnings, but un-
fortunately they are spent as quickly as
made. The costers are gambling, improv-
ident set, fond Of cards, liquor and tobacco.
After business hours, they retire to their
dens, and with only the feeble light of
tallow candle pass hours at all.fours, blind
hockey, or crlbbage. When excited they
lay heavy bets, but play principally for beer
and gin. A majority Of costers belong to
what are called the sporting community"
are fond OF pugihsm, horse racing, dog
fighting and rat killing. They are always pres
ent at places OF amusement, such as penny
gaffs,two penny hops. and three penny.thea-
tres. The boys are early taught to fight, or as 1t
is called in their slang to 'work their fists"
All disputes between them are settled in the
ring, where no interference ia allowed by
the umpires, but the antagonists are per-
mitted to fight it out. Oithese arenas there
are several in each quarter, located sener-
c1l m
counters usually take place at night, and
are witnessed by men, women and children.
Serving out policeman is the most noted
exploit of young coster. Until he has
served out at least one of the legal custo-
dams of public order, he has no standing in
the burrowing community. The policemen
are called "Bobbies" or ''Peelers." They
are so called in memory of their founder,
the late Sir Robert Peel, under whose au.
spices they were introduced to supercede the
"Charlies," and Bow street runners Of the
preceding generation. Thus says Burns:
AT length attacked by runners three
Peg fell, besm cared with wounds so CORY
And Bob was hanged on Tyburn tree,
She died for love and he for glory"
Between the boobies and the costers there
is perpetual war. Strategy, tactics, treach-
cry and cunning are employed by both sides
to secure victory. When a coster has been
unlucky and is captured, and some Of them
have been in prison dozen times, they are
looked on as martyrs by their comrades
After their imprisonment and return to
their friends, they are invariably relieved
and rewarded by a general subscription. Long
Injured to this war with the Peelers, they
acquire the skill, cunning, and treachery Of
savages. The coster endeavors to take the
peeler or crusher by surprise, and often
crouches at the entrance OF court until
his foeman passes, when stone or brick is
hurled and the coster Immediately vanishes
till the effect of tie blow is known. II the
crusher is brought lnsensible to the ground,
he is quickly mauled with his own baton
which the coster carries off in triumph to
his retreat. Here it is used for the first night
to stir a bowl Of gin teddy, after which 1t is
burnt, as they cannot crafty their pride by
preserving their trophy longer than one
evening, seeing that the peelers are pretty
sure to give the coster haunts visit after
one Of their number is served out: and it
would 60 hard with those found cherishing
such a souyinir of victory. The love Of
excitement as well as a fondness for gam
bling is universal among the fraternity of
costers; even the young are desperate game
sters, and no effort to mitigate the evil and
eradicate the taste has ever been o. the
slightest avail. On the contrary, the very
exertions Of the police to put a stop 70 it,
have seemed to increase their desire to in-
dulge in it. These incorrgIble scamps hold
with Solomon ''stolen waters are sweet,
and bread eaten in secret how good is
it," Pie.boys and butchers apprentices
will toss each other for their stock; i'll luck
only increases their recklessness, and they
will proceed until they have gambled away
their caps, coats, era vats and even shirts.
The chief place of amusement for the
drama loving costers is the ''Vic," or Co
bourg, theatre which holds in its galleries
about 2 500 persons. On star nights it is so
crowded, that at the back it is common to
see boys piled on each others shoulders all
around. The rules of this theatre do not
require full dress circle but rather its anti
podes, and the heat on such occasions being
extreme. the costers generally divest them
selves of their coats and waistcoats while
the ''ladies" hang their bonnets and shawls
over the iron rail in front.
A not uncommon incident In these thea
tres is thus graphically and POLITICALLY des-
cribed.
Pat Jennings in the upper gallery sat,
But leaning forward, Patrick lost his hat
What shall he do pay at the playhouse door
Three shillings for what cost when new but four!
While thus he ponders, overwhelmed with grief,
George Richards wh spers, "Take my handker-
chief"
"Thank ye,' says Pat, "but one wont make line, >
"Take mine" cries Soper, and cries Green take
mine"
A molly cable now Pat Jennings ties.
Where spital fields with real fndia vies,
Down darts the varied chord Of iris hue.
Brown, black and yellow. speckled, pink and Dlue