Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-04-14
A PERFECT BABEL.
The Streets OF London q Hundred Year
Ago.

The Streets Of London q Hundred Years
Ago.
There were certain dangers and in
convenlences walking along the streets
The finest dress might be ruined by the
carelessness of a dustman or a chimney
sweep; the custom of exposing meat on
Dulkheads led to many an irreparable
stain OF grease. Bullies pushed the
peaceful passenger in the gutter-it
was a great time for street swagger:
BARRIERS blew the flour into wigs at open
doorways, causing violent wrath among
those outside; mad bulls careered up
and down the streets: men quarreled.
made ring, and fought it out before
the traffic could 60 on: pickpockets
were both numerous and dexterous: foot
pads abounded in the open squares
of Lincoln's Inn. Bloomsbury. and Port
man: highwaymen swarmed on all the
roads; men-servants We're insolent and
rascaily; the noise in the leading streets
was deafening: in shower the wav be-
came impossible from the rain-spouts in
the roofs which discharged their con-
tents upon the streets below.
We who now object to the noise of a
barrel-organ in the street. or cry of
u.
be driven mad by single day of George
the Seconds London streets. Hogarth
hast0uched the subject. but only touched
it No one could do more in picture
than indicate the mere fringe OF
this vast subject. Even on the
printed page we can do little
more than the painter. For in
stance, the following were some of the
more common and everyday and all
day-long noises Many OF the shop
keepers still Kept up the custom of hav-
ing prentice outside bawling an in
vitatiOn to buy. buy! buy. To this day
butchers in Clare market cry out at
their stalls all day long: rally up,
ladies, Rally up. Buy. Buy. Buy"
In the streets of private houses there
passed a never-ending procession of
those who bawled things for sale. Here
are few of the things they bawled-I
am conscious that it is very imperfect
list. There were those who offered to
do things-mend chairs, grind knives,
solder pots and pans. buy RACES or kitch-
en- stuff. rabbit-skins. hair or rusty
swords. exchange old clothes and wigs,
mend old china, cut wires-this excru-
ciating. rasping operation was appar-
emily done in the opener copper casks.
There was, next, the multitude of those
who carried wares to sell-as things to
eat and drink-saloop, barley broth,
and milk furmety, Shrewsbury cakes.
eggs. butter, lily-white vinegar. hot
peascods- rabbits. birds, pullets. ginger
bread. oysters, honey. cherry ripe,
CLANCY oranges, hot collins. pippins,
fruit of all kinds, fish, taffety tarts,
fresh water. tripe. tansy, greens, mus
tard. salt, gray pease- water-cresses,
shrimps, rosemary. lavender. milk,
elder buds: or things of dOmes-
tic use - lace. ribbons. almanacs.
ink. small coal. sealing-wax, wood to
cleave. earthen-ware, spigots. combs.
buckles. lanterns, pewter pots, brooms
in exchange for old shoes. things of
horns, Holland socks, woollen socks and
wrappers, birthstone matches, flint and
steel. shoe-laces, scissors and tools,
straps. and the thousand and one things
which are now sold in shops The bear
ward came along with his animal and
his dogs and his drum, the sweep shout
ed from the housetop. the ballad-singer
bawled in the road. the tumbler and the
dancing-girl set up their pitch with fife
and drum. Nobody minded how much the
good wives sat with open doors, running
in and out, gossiping over their work:
they liked the noise; they liked this per-
ambulating market-it made the street
lively, it brought the neighbors out to
talk. and it pleased the baby Then
the wagons went ponderously grinding
over the round stones of the road. the
carts rumbied, the brewers sledges
-growied. the chariot ratified. the drivers
quarreied. cursed and fought. The late
Mr.. Lowell spoke of the continual muir
muir of London as of Niagara afar off
A hundred years ago he would have
spoken OF the continual roar.-Walter
Besant, in Harpers Magazine
Fart of a Kitchen Outfit.