The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-02-24
FROM OVER THE SEA.
sensational Sights and Scenes In London
Written for The Ne,c North West.
PETTIcoAT LANE,

PETTIcoAT LANE.
Such Is the name given to narrow thor
oughfare situated In the heart of this great
city and forming the center Of district
which is a weekly scene Of crowd, tumult.
and dis"-dar. snch as can be found no where
else on the face OF the earth, ana WHICH "
will be our object to describe in some Of Its
more prominent features. If you were to
meet the average American tourist and ask
him If he had paid visit to Petticost Lane
when he was "doing" the sights Of London,
he would probably suspect you Of trying to
have joke al his expense, and would declare
that there was no such place In existence.
He would make mistake, however, but we
must excuse him for so doing. III he were
staying In one Of our first.class hotels he
would probably never hear of such place, as
II is quite out Of the category Of fashionable
sights. Nevertheless, 1t presents features of
interest which would we'll repay visit from
any one who wishes TO observe the ways oi
men, more especially of those engaged In
pursuits connected with the humber stations
of life. ...."
The district TO which the above name is
| applied is inhabited almost exclusively by
Jews, who seem to preserve their nationality
and ways of living In whatever quarter OF the
world they may be found. They religiously
| practice all the rites and ceremonies OF the
| Mosaic law, and our Saturday being their
| sabbath all their places of business are closed,
| and they and their families betake them
selves 10 the synagogue, just as their Cen
| tile neichbors conduct themselves on the fol-
lowing day. This observance OF the jewish
Sabba, h must entail q considerable loss TO
| The large houses of business, which observe
the Christian Sabbath as well, thus leaving
O ,Iy five working days out of the seven. MOI
/ so- however. with the inhabitants OF Petti-
| coat Lane and its adjacent snins, Tor sunday
is the one day In the week in which they
hope to do enough business TO enable them
TO have holiday during the other SIX Gays
| Here. on the Sunday morning are congre
ra,ed such a multitude Of buyers and sellers
Of the miscellaneous property which u
| heaped around, that one begins to wonder
where the crowds come from, and to thinl
that this must be special day on which th'
various tradesmen Of the district are turniD.
OUT their .old stock" aud endeavoring Y
get rid of it at desperate prices. We SCI
buyers from every corner and alley OF Lon
don, the q Lane being the recognized mar
ket for 9 cheapness In the various commod
tiles which are supposed to be necessary to
workingman's existence. We will make GU
way IN with the crowd, and observe thingsa
we 60 along.
. EXACTLY OPPOSITE DIsHoPGATE chuRcl
: "a . broad thoroughfare called Houndsditci
the sh ops OF which are closed and barred
reyerently as those In the street we are lea'
ing behind, although they are owned y
Jews In a wholesale way Of business. Hel
i we find the pavement fully occupied BY
stream Of men who are evidently proceedir
|. TO the same destination As ourselves.
! About three hundred yards down, on u
!. left hand side, is narrow passage throul
which we and our fellow-trsyelers pass. 9
ascending few stone steps we find oursely
!, IN square paved yard and In the midst
business. Ranged op either side are nnr
hers of men and women with heaps of wes
=. Ing apparel 81 their feet, quoting the yario
I prices fast aud furious, aud exposing ths
various bargains In such manner q en-
may think the more attractive. we eioe
eur way through and find ourselves facing
huge building with triangular roof and pi'
Ter front. Ia large letters We read The ns'
aphil's Buildings aud on lamp over
entrance we observe some qneeriy snap
:. hierogIyphics, which We suppose 70 BE- I
~ brew. Passing beneath The lalnp re 2
% ou,selyes facs 70 face with motley gath
g Ing of men, women, and youths, nAny