New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-27

ASHTON vols. SyO. PIP. xvi, 3OZ, AL' olo' W.
i. Putnam's Sons.
Mr.. Ashton already well known as an an'iquary u
manners and customs has here pushed hisre'eaiches
among the journals, fugitive publications. caric"-
lures and other ephemera which throw lRnt upon
English and especially London life and fashion AT
the bepioning of the present century. Ills hrSt
chapters are flied with q sort of annual recoIu
of the period from 1900 to 1910, covering inc io''
important public occurrences. together WIN N"
rious facts illustrative of the material cohui'oh Vi
tine people This differs from the ordinary chIohi-
Gle of affairs because 1t exhibits events not as 'hcS
oopear in history, but as they seemcu 10 lhe
pewsgatherers and eossips OF time or great excite
nent. the era of NapoleOn's alarming rise 10
mower and the beginning OF his long s'r"s-
ole with England. In many respects
Mr. Ashton's summary is interesting and even use
fnl. although now and then he shows droH 'gno-
ro,co In giving an account of the memorable
persecution of the French refugee journalist, fe'-
tier in London tor an alleged libel upon the flrst
Copsul-a prosecution which at the present day
would consign to eternal ruin any government COZ"
senting to 1.-THE states that the accused was TIC
Tended by a Mr.. Mac&ntDsh"; evidently ECU
knowing that this was tho famous Sir James Mack
ntosh and that the defence OF PeItier was QUO VI
his most brilliant and most celebrated EFFORTS. III
,,,,o manner he speaks of the benevolent interest
taE
INIT bo has heard something of this lady. for he
- .hot " che was an authoress." His story OF
Robert Emmett, a spurious patriot, whose picture
in craep aud gold uniform coat, white ughtS anu
Uass,on boots. waving immense sword
onnoors periodically in some shop Wlhuo"s'
,vLenever Irish seditiOn Is pccullaIIS i""
nant is Extensively ilppai' anu
he appears to be unacqualnted with inc ro'han'l'
s,tacbncnt between Emmett ana MISS Ourr"n
Inch Irving has so beautifully commemorateh.
In the long and minute narrative of the arrest Oh
Sir Francis Burdett, on the Speakers warrant loi
criticising the action Of the House OF Commons
Mr.. Ashton shows profound lnseuslD'lty 10 the
important principle for which Sir Francis vas then
contendng Probably he hasbecome so completely
absorbed in the ideas OF 1910 that IL IS ho' easy o
him TO think like man OF 1850.
When he passes from the history of affairs to the
history of fashions our author IS more at his ease
He describes for us the modes of travelling, the
stage coaches, the "stage WAGONS the hackney
coaches and the sedan chairs-for these ias-naiheu
conveyances were still IN use-and he has an enter
toining chanter on amateur coaching, which was
already a fashionable amusement. Ihere was
n great deal of passenger traffic on the
Thames and boats piled for hire from
every "star.r For the voyage u graves
end. Margate or Ramsgate - Which might
ha camnared
tecond-st to Rockaway-o ne-masted vessels called
"bovo - were used. They are SAID to have taken
their name from being hailed ahoyw to stop for
Messengers That the cruise was considered ven;ur-
ms ls evident from the following reflections by
clergyman upon tine voyage of Margate: Many
of rs who went On beard had left our dearer COM
forts behind us. 'Ah' said |, 50 must II De- my
soul. wien the Master comes and calieth Tor thee.
NV tender wife my tender babes! my cordla
f,iends, Our vessel though it set sal! with
n fair wind and gently fell down the river toward
her destined port, yet once or twice was nearly
striking against other vesses in the HYer.
About D O'Clock on Friday night we were Drought
safely into the harbOr of Deargate. how
great are the advantages Of navigation! by the
skill ard care of three men and boy number OF
persons IN safety conveyed from ohc paw "
another Of the kingdom"
Although London was considered the best paved
CITY in the world the condition of the streets must
have been pretty bad The chief thOToughlares
were tagged and had cutters. with sewers under
the kerb for the discharge Of Tanwater, Out III the
side streets there were such outlets. Inc foo;-
walk WIS narrow and paved with kidney stones
m end The street lamps. fed with oil, were OF the
most wretched description Gas, however, was
coming into use, and ii was tried in the streets as
early as 1907. 1t was very impure and offensive ;
carcature of the period represents citizens be-
coming violently sick under lamp-poSt and dog
running away with hOwls of anguish
Domestic architect was in ITS lowest estate.
london houses were built upon one Gull pattern,
and furnished without taste in the most cum
bTous style Heaviness the general char
acteristic of all English he. Food was
coarse, plain roast and boiled meats being
the universal fare even on the tables OF the
rich. and the refncments of cookery beng spurned
rs French kicksaaws." The quantity of ANNA
food consumed was enormous. Fish was scarce
and dear. partly on account of the war and partly
owing TO the difficulty of transportation at llht
when there was neither railroad nor Ice. Game
WA also dear because public opinion would not
allow the owners of preserves to sell their game
yenison. sold generally by pastry cooks, was the
meat in higher este IN. Poultry was scarce. III was
an age of heavy eating aud drinking. Wen beef
steaks. washed down BY floods of beer and porter
were regarded as the highest achievements of the
kitchen. No better picture of the gastronomlc
taste of the time could be given than the following
description of an ox.rOasting at Windsor, during
the celebration Of the fftieth anniversary of the
accession of George ILL.,:
"At2 Yesterday morning the fire WAS lighted
and the OK began TO turn on the spl5. much TO the
delight of the spec atOTS, considerable NUMBER or
whom were assembled even at that hour, to wit
ness 80 extraordinary sig t. A lew Oh the hONai
Blues attended tc guard IT littlerain fell short
time previous TO tic kndiI OF the fire. but, by
the time the OK began to turn, all was lar aSalh'
"a AT o'clock the sheep were put to the lire on eac
side of the OK in Bachelors Acre. The apparatus
made use OF tbs occasion consisted OIL Two
renees set in brickwork, and contrivod that a
fire sIould be made on each side of the OK, and on
fine outcr side Of each fire was the necessary ma
cbiuerv for roasting the sheep. sort OF Scaf0id-
inc had been erected consisting Of six poles. three
of Which. fixed in the earth and united at the top
bore "A seventh from which descended the puily py
ne
ranges when put down, and raised again wher
roasted over the animal long tln dish was placed
in which large quantities OF fat were thrown
nb,"h melting. the beef was basted with 1t,
iadie at the end of long pole being used for nc
uurocsa An immense spit was passed thtongh tht
bodv of the auimal the extremity OF which WORKED
..rauua -ate ach end. 4 hmshel and q Dali 0l