The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-23
SKILLED WHIPS.
Something About the London Cab
mon and THOR Ways.
Tho Army of Hardy Men Upon Whom
tho People of tho Great City
Depend for Con-
ycynncC.

depend Tor Con-
vcynncc.
That "Cabby knows his fare" is a
truisn. AT the same time, admitted
that our London Jehus are perfectly
we'll able to look after themselves, it
Will also be granted that they are On
exceedingly useful body of public SER
wants, popular with prince and plebeian
alike, says an English paper
hundred thousand fares" by n
moderate computation. are daily taken
wherever they please in London; in
deed, we should not be surprised by the
calculation that $4,000 day Is spent
Tor this convenience. recent report
OF tho Metropolitan commissioner of
police put the number of licensed '.han.
SONS" two-whccled cabs, ut 1896, and
OF "clarences." or four-wheclers. at
4,013, while there was an increase of
1,1S6-mostly hansoms-in the year 1888.
The number of cab drivers was 49,.
Old, some OF them probably doing night
duty with cabs driven by other men
in the day time. 1t Is usual, in such
cases, to put in fresh horses in the after
noon.
Hero is an army of skilled whips.
everyone of whom must pass nm official
examination before he gets license.
and mosto whom previously belonged
10 the classes OF persons accustomed to
manage horses; they were coachmen,
carmen, grooms, or stablcmen. Part
OF their examination relates to their
knowledge of the principal streets Of
London, the railway stations and the
pubic buildings; they arc not required,
we believe, to learn the table of dis
tances and rates of fares. Differences
OF opinion sometimes arise upon such
points rs these, especially with passcn-
gers who seem to DC strangers to tho
locality; but the experienced Londoner
Knows how to consult an official table,
and can guess by the time and pace
now far he has Travelled in the cab.
In the strccte of London. exclusive of
the city, there are about six hundred
public cab ranks besides those a, sl,s
railway stations, with an uvc-nee of
nearly ten standings for cabs ut each
place, but these are seldom entirely oc-
cupicd. Considering the enforced idle
ness of the many long hours spent in
waiting for fares, the behavior of the
men on these ranks is generally as good
49, NCNA>e AStociislOiy OC CNDcCLCQ.
wise and kindly movement, which
deserves greater public support, has
been sixteen years in progress. to or
ganizc the institution of "cabmcn's
Shelters" with wholesome refresh
mcnts sold Mt fair price. and with a
little supply of books and papers to
read at the cab ranks where these men
are detained in sufficient numbers to
make it worth while.
"Cabmcn's shelters" are of different
models and sizes; but those of later
construction are decidedly ornamental
to the streets, being elegant in design
and often prcttily decorated. They arc
of light wood, yellow deal, with oalxen
corner posts and oallcn curb around tho
bottom, for strength and durability, and
properly fitted in the interior, which Is
divided into two compartments, with
shelves. tables, seats and lockers, with
cooking stove, an sron coke bin or
coal bin, Il lead lined or galvanized iron
sink for washing, Il place for keeping
provisions, and dresser for croclxery
and utensils, will cost about one hun
hundred and scvcnty-five pounds. The
stove, the hardware and utensils, TWEEN
ty or twenty-five pounds more.
The dimensions of the new model
cabmcn's shelter are eighteen feet or
eighteen feet six inches in length. seven
feet. or seven feet six inches in width,
and ten feet six inches height; but the
old pattern was seventeen feet long by
six feet or six feet six inches wide.
There is room for eight or ten persons
to sit comfortably at the table, while
the attendant in charge has his sepa-
rate compartment and kitchen Mt the
end.
None but cab drivers on the stand are
admitted, to the number, in some in
stances, Of hundred or more in the
day. forty or fifty being common av-
crage number served They have tea
or coffee, bread and butter, meat or
eggs or bacon of the best quality and
well cooked, at prices regulated by an
official tariff. Newspapers, popular
magazines, and few books amuse
their leisure half hours; if they want
to smoke pipe they can go outside to
the cabstand.
A Candid Doctor.
It is easy to believe the story which
writer in the Brooklyn Times tells on
prominent doctor of the CITY of church.