Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-05-08

LOWER STRATA m LonDoN.
Bkstchss from Lilo IN BiIlingsxste ana
PsttIcoAt Lane. .55s
Providence journal. Billingsgate.
the notorious fish market, IS almost too
novel and lively q place even for the
rambler with propensitiss 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 yon
pass through Billingsgate without hear
ing 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 liable to hear language
which is not adapted to the drawing
room. It seems as though the fish,
mongers had created an atmosphere
wherein they considered it impossible
to effect a bangain without invoking the
aid of profanity. Doubtless many of
the latest styles in the way of oaths may
be traced directly to Billingsgate. I'll
Nothing could be stranger by contrast
than q little confection stand which
discovered one day right down in the
heart of that blasphemous community.
Over the cornsce was the legend
Whatsoever man soweth, that shall
he also reap. Below the counter was
another Inscription: Sour motto, Filter
your words" This wee lonely effort at
reform was almost cooical in it's isola-
ton, b w. 49,. >"a--4i;1 ~.
Alas for the modern disciples of
| Dickens, Petticoat lane is fast becoming
a "Reminiscences. Indeed, it does not ex~
list in anne any longer, for its enter
prising citizens write their addresses as
AIiddlesex lane now. For long time
it seemed impossible to purge the local
ity, but rigid police surveillance and
other causes haYe combined to effect
quite metamorphosis. One could al
most be sentimental enough to regset
this. There was something exhilarat-
ing in the pristine lawlessness of the
place. Never, T suppose, was there a
more thoroughly rotten community any
where, and yet one which more COM
pletely bahied the police. It was as if
the inhabitants we're in league with each
other, and operated always on the NUT
ual protection basis. You might saun-
ter down the street with watch in your
pocket, but there was little hope that
you could ever return with it, as crowds
could be called together at airy moment
either for purpose of rifling an unwary
strangers pockets or for the purpose Of
baking the police. AL these things are
still measurably true of the Lame to-
day. ..:..% Il
| Sunday is the great occasion in this
part of the city, and people who do not
lack in courage often make it a point to
90 around there at that time for
| bargains. OF course it is presumed that
all the articles for sale are stolen prop
srty, but it is impossible to fix guilt
upon any one. From time immemorial
The police have been in the habit OF
making for "Petticoat lane" Gas shall
continue to call it, rather than indorse
the new nance whenever any important
burglary has been committed. Know
ing the futility of trying to convict the
guilty party, they more often than
otherwise advise 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 found" watch worth 800
he is frequently quite anxious to dispose
of it as early as possible, even though
he shall get but $40 or SIS for it.
The moment stranger enters Petit
coat lane he is spotted by the citizens,
the majority Of whom are Jewish. If he
is suspected of being in search Of some
NAN or some piece OF property, up go
two or three fingers, and the word is
passed along the lines by q secret signal
system, so that every one is On the look
out. IF you purchase silk handker-
chief, it 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 before you have got q
block distant.
Petticoat lane is great for its exchange
bargains also.
! A shrewd representative Of tho needy
fraternity can readily make living SIM
ply by this process. Perhaps he is. all
"rags and tags" when he enters the street.
He divines the articles which the pro-
prietors are specially anxious to get rid
Of, and piece by piece exchanges his
seedy outfit for similar but better pieces
and these again for pieces still better,
until at last he energies from tine further
end Of the lane 81 real swell.
| The restaurants are also great feat
| ure. You can get meal that certainly
lacks not in quantity, whatever may be
said of the quality, for three or four
| pence. Sausages and potatoes constitute
Almost popular dish, and may be purchase
ed in score OF places at a pennya dish.
The street cries are, alas, also deter1-
Grating. Legislation has been aimed at
them as a popular nuisance, and those
which aforetime possessed much Of al
most historical interest are now heard
no more. Some of the sing-song cries
by vendors OF crumpets, water crosses,
brawns, shrimps, fruits and vegetables
are, however, quite plaintive and strik-
ing. The milkman shouts milk, no"
and leaves the pint or quart of. each
family in can of his own on the door
step, to be claimed and taken up by
one. of the occupants when the people
are assir. The newsboys yell "Piper -