Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-02

One thing had struck me forcibly and
given me great pleasure, and that is the
absence of profanity on the streets. In
Whitechapel and the lower parts of Lon
don, have certainly heard language not
calculated to please ears polite, but / have
yet to hear the name of God taken in vain
as it is continually with u.s. This has sur
prised me, for had looked for the reverse.
Sarcasm seems to be the resort by which
the angry cabman or laborer lets off his
Indignation, and to these street alterca-
tions it is most amusing to listen.
WINDOW GARDENS ABOUND,
And street vendors of flowers are every
where, showing that wholesome love of
nature still survives among these millions
of people, imprisoned as they are in their
grimy, gloomy city. Fruits of ali kinds
are to be had at low prices, and lunches of
grapes which rival ours at home-larger
than any L have ever seen are to be had,
but of course one must pay well for such
luxuries.
With all the poverty in London, and all
that is said about the lack of labor, it is
pleasant to know that three times during
this month of January meetings of the
unemployed (called together by profess
sional agitators) have failed and been
postponed, because there was no unem-
ployed to attend them.
PENNY GOES A GREAT WAY
In London. Indeed, the poor man of the
East End can supply his wants with PEN
MES as basis, while the rich man of the
West End must calculate upon pounds to
obtain the same, thus at the same time
London is the dearest and the cheapest
city in the world, save St. Petersburg. A
penny given to poor person is enough TO
keep him from starvation, and so small a
git will do you no harm even though
your purse is not well filed
The police deserve word of praise from
every stranger, for they are universally
polite and have answers at their tongues
end to all your questions.
One institution which is much patron
lied is the A. B. c., or Aerated Bread
Company, which has all over London
neatly fitted up rooms where hot tea.
coffee, ETC., and cakes can be had at most
reasonable prices. After long walk it is
very gratifying to see one of their friendly
signs Vegetarian restaurants also abound,
and 1t is surprising how complete menu
they can furnish you, and how difficult it is
to make your bill reach.
EVEN A MODEST SHILLING.
Bootblacks wear red coat and cap, and
belong to some charitable society. which
provides them with better employment
when the chance offers Blue-co bows
are seen often, and attract the eve by
their odd dress-a long blue coat with
very full skirts, a clerical-looking white
tie at the throat yellow stockings and low
shoes, and to crown all, no hat Soldiers
in the many brilliant uniforms, and now
and then stray Highland costume is
seen, or a German band, an Italian harper,
or an American advertiser of patent medi-
cine catches the eye for moment.
The streets of London are still lighted
By gas, and it is seldom that an electric
light is seen in private buildings; this
may be behind the times, but is great
rest to the eyes, and seems to suit the
whole tone of the city better. Hardly a
street bears one name for its whole length.
and the use of the same name with street,
gardens or roads attached to it,
GIVES RISE TO MUCH CONFUSION.
AS Radcliff street, Radcliff gardens or
Radcliff road might be miles away from
each other. The names are not easily
found and are never in uniform places.
To save time there is nothing in the way
OF locomotion as successful as the under
ground railway, which completes the cir
cult of the metropolis, having stations at
convenient distances, but to have one of
these roads pass under your house is to
have one long earthquake and sleepless
nights until you become used to the noise.
When walking along the Strand, Fleet or
Holborn, or In fact any of the thronged
thoroughfares, if you pass under some arch
or down some narrow pathway you will
find yourself in a quiet court or church.
yard, the graves of which have been lev
eled and converted into garden, while
the stones are preserved against the wall.
These quiet retreats form one of the great
est charms of the city, and the benches are
sure to have occupants, and children are
always playing about
THE STREETS ON SUNDAY
Are deserted except at the hour after
services; scarcely person is met, and no.
where can you escape from the awful still
ness. The English Sunday is day of
gloom, and were it not for the MANY
churches which can be visited the day
would be unbearable to the stranger.
The atmosphere eats away the hardest
stones, while the smoke blends all colors
into the one dull gray and black, so it is
useless to waste work on elaborate cary
ing or to trouble to combine fine marbles
or brilliant mosaics to make pleasant
effect which can last but short month.
Usually the houses are without cornices.
andpresent featureless fronts as uninterest-
ing as can be, People who see human ex-
preston in house fronts. would
FIND NOTHING BUT IDIOTS FACES
Along the London streets. The Metropol-
itan Board of Works is much decried. but
to that now fast-dying body the most
beautifulsand lasting of London monuments
are due. Queen Victoria street, the mag
niticent Holborn viaduet and the Thames
embankment are their creations. Thus it
is, the largest city in the world is but the
prototype of each smaller city, and down
to the least hamlet, even; it is success
that breeds envy and enmity, and these
find the weak spot which the most perfect
things of this life must have. Though the
Metropolitan Board of Works is under a
cloud now, Londoners of the future will
sigh for the good old times and pay greater
taxes for less showing.
CHARLES A. GUNNIsoN.
FASHION NOTES.