Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-07-25
THE LONDON POLICE.
Their Appearance and Service ns
Compared With ssLhe FinesL'' of
N,r~ Nnrtt


New York.
Correspondence New York Times.
LONDON, july 6.--The London police
man would afford an unlimited amount
OF amusement to the irreyerent street
gamin of New York. The "bobbies," or
''peelers,n as they are called, after Sir
Robert Peel, who founded the Metropoli-
tan Police force, number at present
10000, and they have charge of q dis
trict comprising 720 square miles. But
the most inexperienced militiaman who
ever tripped over his own sword could
not fail to decide, after q mornings stroll
down the Strand, that the New York po.
lice would, in case Of pitched battle, .'go
through" the London "peelers" in most
finished style.
These London policemen are light
built, slender lot Of fellows. One looks
| in vain for the brawa aad muscle of the
stalwart men who stand along broadway
on o crowded afternoon. When one
calls to mind the conspicuous figure of
| the Adonis at Twenty.third. street and
copjures up the image of Alexander 3.
Williams or Of Max Sshmittherger, he is
| inclined to turn aside and laugh in his
sleeve while he exclaims: 81 have found
the small thing in this great city :"
The uniform is unqusstionably sad
deirimtnt to the men here. Ii wouid be
difficult to concsive OF anything more
thoroughly fitted for tine businessof max
ing a man look like q monkey on pa.
rade than the uniform of the London
police Aud when, in a rsmble along the
Strand, one runs against an nncommonly
small policeman he naturally turns to
look for the organ grinder. The hat is
very bad imitation of medic 7al helmet.
The blouse has q short skirt, which the
belt at The waist causes to stick cut in an
absurd manner, and the trousers are in.
yariably too large, especially at the upper
port OF the legs. The result is that the
wearer looks narrow-shouldered, fiat
chssted, and extremely loose and bag3y
around the hips
It is impossible for any man to strike
terror to the heart of o malefactor under
these circumstances. No uns can be
very much afraid of person who cannot
6l, his clothing and have been unable
to fiud solitary London policeman who
could accomplish that seemingly simple
feat.
But this is NOT all. As IL the mans
appearance were not enough 10 deprive
him Of all municipal dignity aud import
anoe, the laws OF his native land do not
permit him to swing the triumphant club
with that freedom and force which are
allowed to the finest" In fact Lon
don policeman lie not supposed to draw
his club till the point is passed OF which
New York officer wonld draw his re-
volver and scatter its contents over as
: many pointHs of the compass as there
were chambers 10 the s'gun." It is O
serious matter for an offi,er to club q
man in London. In New York police
man is az good as any one else. Here he
, is not. That makes difference. Here
! the policemsn's uniform il. badge oi
servitude. he is public menial. He
knows 1t; and the people know 1t. As q
! resident American said to me night OF
two ago: "The differences between po
4 liceman here and one in New York il
, simply this: In New York the policeman
wipes his foot on you; here you wipe youi
/ foot on the policeman"
, The general result OF the restrictions
uniform and otherwise, on tho Londor
policeman is that be becomes very
humble person in some respects. But ht
does enjoy certain liherslities which are
4 not on the list in New York. A few
> evenings ago, for instance, stopped &c
!, ask question of two officers who were
Z standing in Holborn near Gray's Inr
! road. Instead of answering my question
briefly and passing on as New York Off
:. GERS would have done undsr similar cir
!, cumstances, they entered into lopg con
y versation with me, their manner all tn,
! time being very respectfrl and frequently
somewhat suppliant. Tue signiicanc,
9 OF the latter quality dawned upon M,
a presently, and l suggested the propriety
! 40, c,E
! indulging in half pint Of bitter" The
!, presentation OF a quarter to Park row
: oeggar never called forth more humbi,
4 gratitude. ons policeman remained OF
y = watch in Holb0rn while the other walker
boldly into the front door of an alehous
!, with mo and took his drink. Then h
= returned AID the other came in. Then W
:, three walked slowly westward Glong thu
: street till we came TO q courtyard, wheri
- a one of the otieers stopped me.
"Thnts my post, sir, that court" h
= said. Sits full of tramp lodging house
y and it's one of the wors. thieves holes il
q London. I'm on duty here to sss that q
= one is run in there"
!. Then he turned and walked on to ia
), westward with his companion and myself
. parted from them half q block west q
d Ohencery lane.
~ Last might stopped to talk to anothe
4 policeman in Piccadilly, and invited hir
n TO indulge in the customary half pint o
i, bitter. He readily consented, and lie
: me of his beat altogether and dow
- Duke street. A short distance down W
~ saw crowd, and the officer ran o
10 10 ahead. A fight was in progress, and m
10 = man assisted another in ordering about
ii hundred people to march on. Uomin
y. up, saw that the ether officer had gol
"a stripes ON his sleeves. He was my man
"A sergeant. At the same moment bodyS
~ policemen came marching up the street
90 on duty. My man could not walk int
an ale house just then. but he lingere
,a behind the sergeant and the other me
h and whispered to me:
a. . II can't go in there just this minut
- sir, but give US the price of the drink az
Eli ave it by myself by and by"
gave the uniformed beggar three ha
~ pence, and he s0uehsd his hat with
ne s.Ihank ye, Sir" aud departed. n
sumed my walk toward Piccadilly Circu
ne wondering what superintendent Murrs
=, would think of the occurrence. wonde
III if any one can conceive OF New Yor
ae policeman begging the price OF a be
from a citizen, or touching his hat
I saying "Thank ye" to auy one benea
/ the rank OF Governor Hill.
ny And yet, ono has only to 90 to d
ad iunction of the Strand and Wellingtc
ed street to realize that somehow or 9th,
at; these humble, restricted, dis6gured me-
| dicants know their business. A vast til
OF traffic rolls over the great Waterl,
bridge from the Surrey side of the Than