Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-03-04
THE LONDON CosTERMoNGER-
a Rough-and-ReadyC Character of the
British Metropoits-

wears q fixed kind of dress. His hat is
always black derby, rusty from rain
aud weather. His coat is generally a
rusty black frock. He rarely wears a
waistcoat. His trousers may be cordu-
roy or any kind Of the cheaper wooden
patterns. His shoes are thick soied and
hobnailed. He always wears a colored
handkerchief tied around his neck in
place of collar. These handkerchief5
are always dirty, except upon rare Sum
day and holiday occasions, when new
ties are donned. These handkerchiefs
are always of a fanciful color, light blue
and red being the favorites. They are
worn high up on the neck, leaving a
couple of inches of dirty neck showing
between the handkerchief and the
greasy collar of the shambling frock
coat. The handkerchief s really the
badge of the order. This handkerchief
about the neck designates the character
and standing Of man in England as
completely and thoroughly as if he wore
uniform prescribed by act Of Parlia-
ment. The costermongers are men en-
gagged In street traffic Of all kinds.
They are generally dealers in vegetables.
i hey begin with push-carts, and II they
are prosperous and reach the climax Of
their ambition they become the owners
Of small two-wheeled wagons, drawn
by little donkeys or ponies. The
strength and endurance Of these small
animals are phenomenal. 1 have seen
from six to eight grown people on cos
ermonger's cart being drawn at furi-
ous pace by q pony not much larger
han good Newfoundland dog.
The costermonger never gives his
)ony any rest. He works him during
The week in his business and uses the
wretched little animal on Sunday to
rive his friends treat in the shape Of
ride to some cockney resort in the
mburbs. The costermongers live in
:he street. They are never indoors ex-
.ept for eating and sleeping. A very
severe, driving storm will sometimes
iorce them into the house, but they gem
arally take refuge under an awning or
Iome gateway. They are hardy, tough.
,oarse-fibred people. They are noisy
md have perfect passion for scenes OK
aproar and excitement, You rarely
hear of cOstermongers numbering any
If their associates or of their using
Knives or pistols in their quarrels. They
lave a way of pounding and kicking
each oteer when engaged in dispute,
out are rarely arrested, as they never
seem to carry malice, and their fights
generally wind up in a good-natured
Way. The costermonger aud his female
Ire very often the chief actors in
treet brawl. When once q coster-
nonger has begun to keep company
With costermonger female, then she il
considered his property. She speaks of
lIm as her man and she is spoken Of al
lis gal" I saw a dispute the other
lay between the costermonger and his
weetheart which was fairly illustrative
If their method Of settling disputes in
,ublic.
1t was Sunday morning. The two
had started out evidently for holiday.
lie was in his best. He was a surly,
aeavy-jawed fellow with black eyes, a
hort nose and brawnys hairy fists. He
wore little black derby hat about three
izes too small for his great round head.
His handkerchief was the ligls1st OF
lky-blues. She was buxom, burly, Of
medium height, dressed in true coster-
nonger style. Their dispute grew out
If difference Of opinion as to where
hey should spend the day. She insist
I'd on going one way and he the other.
They disputed for half moment, and
hen he turned around and gave her
Kick which lifted her about six inches
rom the sidewalk, TO convince her that
lis way wa, the best She turned
quickly and began kicking him in re-
urn. The way she brought her num-
ser ten boots around against bis Sims
Fery soon convinced him that she was
strong at that kind of argument us he.
They kicked at each 9th for about five
minutes, the centre of delighted and
cheering crowd, and then the coster-
nonger female by her skill in kicking
:arried the day. In moment or two
more he gave up, grinued good natur-
.dly, and the two walked off together
,or a happy Sabbath.
The way domestic brawls are carried
IN in the streets of London cannot be
matched, am certain, In any other
,ity in the world. The common people
Who walk the streets regard these quar-
els as their own private theatricals, and
Iternly resent any interference of the
)olice. AS a general thing the police
10 not touch the brawlers, unless they
make too much of a disturbance, and
block up the streets. The police then
simply order them to move OH, and
make arrests only where the disturbing
>arty resists. During my stay in Lon
Ion l have seen more street fights than
had ever before seen in my life. The
actors in these street fights or domestic
orawls appear to take great pride In the
parts which they are called upon to
olay. They are stimulated by the
cheers and roars Of approval from the
audience, and do their best to maintain
heir reputation for courage, ferosity,
md skill in retort. Tue women are es-
)ecially exciteable and active in street
light. The men generally look sulky
md sheepish when engaged in fight
With his female in public. But the wo-
men never give them a chance TO back
)ut. They are much more vindict.ve
and active than the men. After the
nan has been kicked three or four times
md has had his face scratched up to a
proper state Of rawness, he becomes ex-
.ited and strikes out brutally and
,ruelly, unless policeman happens TO
,e too near. The women are generally
he victors in these streets fights. The
lighting women generally have babies
their arms. have seen u number
If costermonger viragos bounding from
he ground like hyenas, rushing up and
iown with great leaps, bowling insults
md epithets, then sweeping down to-
wards the hated object of their wrath
or blow or kick, and when the man
trikes out the baby never seems to be
egarded as anything moro than a buff
er. The costermonger female uses her
oaby as u shield. The poor, wretched
baby is generally a philosopher ard
drely, if ever, howls or cries. I have
peep during the most exciting y'iases of
| street fight, although the mc,her may
)e bowling like a panther in her rago
md excitement.
BULL-FROGS AND SNAILS,