Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-17
,rHE LONDON POLICEMAN.
A NIcndicant 'n Iu-Fitting Uniform-Look-
ing for Tia, Organ-Crindcr.

s -p9udcnt thus writes from Lon
dom: OH" London policeman would afford
ln uullmtD N amount of amusement to the
'rr,toreut. street gamin oi New York. The
" inIhip- ar "pDclcr~." as they are called
eft,r SIN Robert Peel. who founded the
% .rnp. 'itau police force. number 40 pres
cut I0DIu AVID they have charge of dis
fret comprising 40 qure miles. but the
most Inexperienced mllitiaman who ever
frp1ed over hls own sword could not fail
to decide after mornings stroll down the
Strand that the New York police would, in
case of pitched battle, go through the
London pccIcr~" I'D "a most finished style.
The London policemen are a lght-bullt,
slender lot OF fellows. One looks IN vain
for the Drawn and muscle of toe stalwart
men vino stand along Broadway on a
crowded afternoon. When one calls 20
mind Tie conspicuous figure Of the Adonis
at IwCuty-third street and coUjures up the
image of Alexander $. Williams or of
Max Schmittbcr,er. Dee is inclined 10 turn
aside and laugh 10 his sleeve whiio he ex-
tims. have found the small thing IN
thl great city,
The uniform is uuqucstionahly a sad de-
trmcnt 90 the men here. IL would he
diiicult 60 conceive of anything more tho
roughly fitted for the business of making
% man look like q monkey on parade than
when. iu ramhie along the Strand, one
runs against au unc.mmonly small police
man hc naturally turns 10 look tor the
Drgau-eriui,r. The bat Is very bad iml-
tatIou Of medieval helmet. The blouse
has Il short skirt which the belt at the
waist causes 10 stick ont ln an absurd man
ucr. and tlc trousers are invariably too
large. especially az the upper part Of the
ier~. The result rs that the Wcarer looks
D. i..v.l fiIf f.EfafDI and
tromcly loose and haCgy around the hips.
n ls impossible for ANY man TO strike ter
ror 90 the heart Of "a malciactor undcrthcse
circumstances. no one can be very much
afraid of 20 person who cannot I'll hs ciOth-
ing. and have been unable to and soil
tary London policeman who could accom-
ph pa that seemingly simple feat But TINS
Is not an. As If the mans appearance
were NOT enough to deprive him Of all Inu-
ucipal dignity and Importance, the laws of
his native land DO not permit hun TO
swing the triumphant club with that free
dom and force which are allowed to
the finest" In fact, a London police
man is not supposed % draw his club
an the point Is passed 40 which "a New
York officer would draw ms revolver and
scatter It's contents over AS many points of
the compass as there were chambers m the
"gun.n 10 lisa serious matter for an oili-
tFH fIilI1N l4lt4l III .N'li III wv W y
policeman l- as good rs any one else. Here
he is not. That makes difference. Here
the policcman's uuiformis badge of servi-
iude. he is "a public mental. lie knows
10. and the people know 10. As resident
American said % me night or two ago
"'Ihe difference between policeman here
and in New York Is simply this: IN New
York the policeman wipes ms foot on You
here Won wipe your foot on the policeman
. N... .frrIf r.tra
uniform and otherwise, ON the London
policeman is that he becomes a very hum
bic person IN some respects. But he does
enjoy certain Liberties which are not on
she list i'm New York. 4 few evenings ago,
for instance, / stopped 10 ask a question of
two officers who were standing IN Hol-
born. near GraN's Inn road. Instead Of
answering my question briefly and pass
inc on as New York officers would have
done under similar circumstances, they
entered into long conversation with
me. their manner all the time beng
very respectful aud frequently some
what supphaut. The significance Of the
latter quality dawncd upon me presently,
and ! suggested the proprlety OF adjourn
inc TO the nearest resort and ludulglng IN
half "a pint Of bitter The presentation
of % quarter TO "A Park-ROw bcggar never
called forth more humble gratitude. One
policeman itfudlLtu on NhiNu ia Il'iP'iH
while the other walked boldly into the
front door OF an ale-house with me and
took his drink Then he returned and the
other came in Then We three walked
slowly westward along the street till we
came 10 a courtyard, where one OF the
officers stopped me.
That's my post, sir, that court" he said.
IT'S full OF tramp lodging houses, and it's
one of the worst thieves holes IN London.
I'm on duty here to see that no one IS run
in there.
Then he turned and walked on TO the
westward with his companion and myself.
/ parted from them half block west OF
Claucery lane.