Morning journal and courier., 1884-11-19

man as he thrust four vegetable marrows un- der my nose; while others waved similar punches of beets, turnips, carrots and greens aloft, announcing that one penny would ''buy the lot"
 Some of the marketing women were evil dently too poor to sport market basket, and so carried their three or four pennies worth of stuff in their tattered aprons. It was no ticeable that most of them had hard work to carry such large investment with them, for there is scarcely any limit to the purchasing capacity of a penny in these localities Fur ther on were bird stores. Fourpence or at most sixpence would buy very respectable bird so far as outward appearances went, and the little wooden cage in which it was con- fined. Other departments were devoted to rabbits, dogs and other pet animals. Carts almost as far gone as the famous lone hoss shay" were being pushed hither and thither, loaded with stores of various kinds, and oc- casionally boosting daubed placard upon which was inscription somewhat like the following ''Oh say Jack, ain't them ap- pulls Iushus2 Mum numl"
 Billingsgate, the notorious fsh-market, is almost too novel and lively place even for the rambler with propensities favoring low tide life. The market itself and the street leading to and from it, parallel to the Thames, is indescribably nasty" as the English would say. Sometimes you pass through Bi11ingsgate without hearing any of the foul language for which the place has become so famous; but usually in the busy season of the day you are more than liable to hear language which is not adapted to the drawing-room. It seems as though the fshmongers had erea- ted an atmosphere wherein they considered it impossible to effect bargain without invo- king the aid of profanity. Doubtless many of the latest styles in the way of oaths may be traced directly to Billingsgate. Nothing could be stranger by contrast than a little confection stand which discovered one day right down in the heart of that blasphemous community. Over the cornice was the legend, ''Whatsoever man soweth, that shall he also reap" Below the counter was another, inscription, ''Our Motto-FiIter Your Words" This wee, lonely effort at reform was almost comical in it's isolationl
 Alas, for the modern disciples of Dickens, Petticoat Lane is fast becoming reminis- cence. Indeed, it does not exist in name any longer, for it's enterprising citizens write their address as Middlesex Lane now. For long time it seemed impossible to purge the locali- ty, but rigid police surveillance and other causes have combined to effect quite meta morphosis. One could almost be sentimental enough to regret this. There was something exhilarating in the pristine lawlessness of the place. Never, suppose, was there more thoroughly rotten community anywhere, and yet one which anore completely baffled the police. It was as if the inhabitants were in league with each other, and operated always on the mutual protection basis. You might saunter down the street with watch in your pocket, but there was little hope that you could ever escape with it. A crowd could be called together at any moment, either for the purpose of rifing an unwary strangers pock- ct, or for the purpose of baking the police. All these things are still measurably true of the lane to-day. Sunday is the great occa- 41,o4, of ai4 Ia ,1,A do not lack in courage often make it point to go around there at that time for bargains. Of course it is presumed that all the articles on sale are stolen property, but it is impossi- ble to fix guilt upon anyone. From time inn the police have been in the habit of making for ''Petticoat Lane'' (as I shall con tinue to call it, rather than endorse the new name) whenever any important burglary has been committed. Knowing the futility of to convict the guilty party, they more often than otherwise recommend the loser to buy his property back. The costliest gems and articles of apparel are often to be obtained there for a mere song. When man has 'tfoundn watch worth one hundred dollars he is frequently quite anxious to dis pose of it as early possible, even though he shall get but ten or fifteen dollars for it. The moment a stranger enters Petticoat Lane he is spotted by the citizens, the majority of whom are Jewish. If he is suspected of be- ing in search of some man or some piece of property, up go two or three fingers, and the word is passed along the lines by secret sig nal system, so that everyone is on the look out. If you purchase silk handkerchief, 1t is we'll for you to clutch it with both hands until you are quite away, else it will be nipped out of your pocket and sold again be- fore you have got block distant. Petticoat Lane is great for. it's exchange bargains also. A shrewd representative of the needy frater nity can readily make living simply by this process. Perhaps he is all ''rags and tags" when he enters the street. He divines the articles which proprietors are specially anx- ious to get rid of, and piece by piece exchan- ges his seedy outfit for similar but better pieces; and these again for pieces still better, until at last he emerges from the further end of the same real swell!
 The restaurants are also great feature. You can get meal that certainly lacks not quantity, whatever may be said of it's quail ty, for three four pence. Sausages and potatoes constitute a most popular dish, and may be purchased in a score of places at 8 penny dish.
 The streeteries are, alas, also deteriorating. Legislation has been aimed at them as pop ular nuisance and those which aforetime possessed much of almost historical interest are now heard no more. Some of the sing song cries by vendors of crumpets, water crosses, prawns, shrimps, fruits and vegeta- bles are, however, quite plaintive and stri- king. The milk man shouts 'Milk, hop and leaves the pint or quart of each family in can of his own on the doorstep, to be claimed and taken in by one of the occupants when the people are astir. The newsboys yell ''Piper!'' just as they do in every American city while beguiling the public into making purchase The beggars sometimes try the sanctimonious racket, and may be seen sing ing q do believe, I now believe" etc., or some equally pious hymn in the intervals be- 1orofonn commands t6lnOS about them and their coarse sotto voce jests among themselves.
 The New York Police Gazette seems latter Iy to have taken London by storm. It is thrust into my face every night as l return from the sightseeing of the day, accompa- nied usually by the cry, ''New York Police Gazette one penny-printed at sixpencew There are not few stores, the. windows of which are entirely filled with the infamous publications of that uncanny American citi- zen, Richard K. Fox.
 The sweepers at the street-crossing some times make fair wages out of the tips which passing pedestrians pleased to bestow up- on them One who holds the fort at the top of Regent street recently died, and an inven- tory of his worldly wealth developed the fact that he had accumulated about 945 by means of such pratuities There were sweepers ready to give e3 or A for the position
 A citizen told me the other day that there are one or two eStaDl1sn1nenCS III LOuuon LOT the renting out of babies. This is an indus try which has been Sreated by the necessities of Lendon mendicancy. There is large class of professional beggars, who are wont to ply their business with the aid of one or more infants, and not possessing any such ac- cessories of their own, it is convenient to have establishments to which recourse may be had Picture coarse, ragged woman en- tering such shop and saying, "Give me lean one to-day!n What an atmosphere in which to raise children!
 When the double execution took place at Newgate last week rose early and went down to see the black flag raised over the walls of the famous old jail. The hanging was to occur at eight o'clock Five minutes before the appointed hour I was elbowing my way through the crowd of curious men, women and children to a spot where the oer- eInony might be witnessed. I don't know when five minutes ever dragged more heaE- ily. It is sometimes tedious to tarry for belated train, or to wait for the rising of the curtain in a theatre; but such tedium is not to be compared to the oppressive awe that settles down over crowd of people who are waiting for death knell What an expert