Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-14
TEN PENCE A DAY.
BOHEMIAN ExIsTENcEAT THE WHITE
HORSE HOTEL.
Peculiar Features Of an Ancient Institu'
tion-The Retreat Of Misefs and
"Decayed" Gentlemen.
fI.ondon letter in BOSTON Hornld.

UeCayeN NeAiiSHbu'
London letter in Boston Herald
Ii has often been remarked that one
half the people living in the world
know not how the other half Of the
people live. The comfortable mer-
chant residing in the West End, that
aristocra,ic section, has no faint con-
ception of life in dilapidated inns round
about Fetter lane. Nor has the man
Of title who lounges about his PAIL
Mall-Club neighborhood any idea of the
Bohemian style Of existence in the
lodgiug-houses about Covent Garden,
where beds are fourpence and sixpence
a night. To state that thousands on
thousands Of men in London city live
the year round at the rate Of
10 or IL pence day, equal
TO 20 or 81 cents Of American money.
which is something like el5 or elG
per annum, and that this absurdly-low
sum is inclusive Of food with the shell
! ter, seems at first sight or hearing
veritable Baron Munchausen remark.
/ The same, however, is easy Of proof.
/ At No. 81 Fetter lane stands the an
cient hosiery known as the " White
/ Horse Hotel" 1t is ten minutes brisk
walk from the Boston Herald Office,
walking up Fleet street from the
Strand. AS many as 500 men have
lodged at the ancient White Horse.
1t seems as if the house had an
elastic capacity. Like an omnibus,
there is always room for one
more. Over two hundred and fifty
years ago the house was built. During
It's earlier years it was accounted as
among the famous taverns Of London.
Goldsmith often lodged here also, other
men Of letters. Dickens wrote Of it, as
did Captain Marryatt, the English novel
list, whose daughter, Miss Florence
Marryatt, mas lately been on a profess
sional tour in dear old Boston. In the
dim and distant days when coaching
flourished twas very favored starting
point. Before its hospitable doors the
sound Of the musical c0ach-hOrn
broke the still air and gathered
the crowds Of onlookers about the spot.
The appearance Of the place is still
solid, even after the fogs and storms
have battled with its exterior for so
many generations. 1t is four stories
high, with an antique French roof. A
few months since the old walls were re-
painted in yellow, so that they glisten
IN quite brand-new fashion to-day.
II is the interior that shows most wear
ard tear. How like is this to some
lives. Outwardly they seem serene
and smiling, while within the weary
heart broodS over lis own sor-
rows, even though they are never
voiced to others ears. The White
Horse las Iickety balustradcs. be-
wildering labyrinths Of dusty rooms.
crooked stairways, and creaking floors.
1t is very pathetic to note the steps Of
the stairs, worn to almost papery thin
ness, while the narrow corridors con-
tain shallow troughs beaten thus by
centuries Of trampings. All how
many impecunious gentlemen have trOd
these musty halls If the walls could
speak what tales they might tell US. II
they could utter the thoughts Of the
gentle Goldsmith, how eagerly we
wouldlistcn, as Edwin Arnold sublimely
phrases,
WITH SOUL, NOT SENSE
TO catch the whispered fancies. The
ran-patter has worn away in many
aces the exterior portions Of the win
Z w-sashes. The entire establishment
es not boast a single carpet, and the
otfalls of men heavily-booted in the
gag halls re-echo like the regular
Jumping Of heavy stones on wooden
loof. Few modern Londoners know
that such house exists. The fact i:
Londoners know rather less about then
own city than does the stranger within
her gates. An amusing fact is tha
not woman domestic has crossed thu
dOor-siil Of the old tavern for a quarter
Of century. So few women Of any
kind have rambled over these precinct!
that the Boston Herald scribe was re
ceiyedowith a species OF mild astonish
ment. The idea Of woman journals
over here strikes all people as most re
markable, but directly they becom
convinced that she is not a bold
wOman's-rights," masculine sort o
female, their surprise turns to respect
and they are very courteous in i'm
parting all sOught-for information
1t was, therefore, very easy to learl
about the internal domestic economy o
the inn in Fetter lane. All the work
even to the making Of beds, sweeping
: washing, and scrubbing, is done b.
, men. That peculiar upheayal Of fur
niture, ETC., which We call in Yanke
f land hOuse-cleaning," or "settln
, things to rights" is denOminated i
, England turning out" This indoor
, earthquake is religiously enacted b.
| my two trim little housemaids, Jan
, and Florence, once a week. fly i
desperation to the quiet London street
; until the awful smell Of dust and soap
5 ,uds has subsidized for time. After tina
, things settle down bit. All is clea
, and calm. Well. am led to wonde
5 what sort Of labor the menservants
| the Bills and Johns and Toms OF tn
, White Horse undergo while "turnin
: out" Most men slash about thing
I under the bed. Perhaps this is hos
these male servants Turn out rooms.
t Each ledger does his own cooking
C This is one Of the features Of the tavern
Q There is a huge kitchen in which tn
furnace is never allowed to cool, an
= an enormous fireplace, in front Of whic
{ dozen or so Of men may stand in
row and cook their own especial viand'
This fireplace is always filled wit
. cleaning Goals. On the FIRE stand
always a mammoth pot Of boiling water
! together with splits to turn the meat
upon and an unlimited number {
/, cooking utensils. On primitive bu
9 roomy cupboard are piles of plate:
q cups, and spoons for the use of guests
! and large trough Of warm water fc
; washing them after they have bee
II