The record-union., 1892-08-27
The Peculiarities of the London
CoStermOngerS.
The Most Characteristic Lowly Folk
in England-TheirD Daily Life, Haunts
and Amusements-They Mate, but
scorn to Marry-outlandish Derby
Day Coster Cavalcades.
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright. 1921
LONDON, August Is, 1852.

1Dere are between 0U,UOU anu CO,UJV
costermongers in the city of London.
Their vocation is the same as that of the
street hawkers of American cities, but
those who have made the most careful
study of the latter can form no proper
idea of the characteristics Of the former
without personal acquaintance.
There is good reason for this. Our
street yenders of fish, fruits and vegeta-
bles comprise an ever changing host of
widely varying and uncongenial nation
alities. A hawker III our country, from
whatever race he has sprung, never re-
mains hawker longer than necessity
compels. Ii he is not successful in his
ventures between markets and custom
ers, he shortly drops out of the braying
throng and engages vigorously in anoth-
er calling. Ii his voice, his sWayback
steed and his ramshackle wagon bring
him profit, he will make the best bargain
possible to another asplrant for his be-
longings, route and good will, (" is shortly
found IN possession of q market stall or
grocery, and ever after scorns the Voca-
ton and associations which gave him
prosperity.
The entire life and condition of the Lon
don costermonger are different, and this
fact, as well as his strange personality
and whimsical trade and social ethics,
makes MIN most unusual and interest
ing character. Besides, he is a curious
and integral part Of this great and ever
wonderful Babel of London.
The great distinguishing difference be-
tween American hawkerS and London
costermongers, out of which the interest
ing peculiarities of the latter have grown,
is the extreme antiquity of costermon-
gers as distinct class or race. Indeed
they may, with propriety, be considered
as race, and am not so sure but that in
more thorough acquaintance with them
than l have gained, it would be found
that they possess the ancient Ronany or
gypsy strain of blood. l have certainly
noticed in them many race characteristics
OF the gypsies, and their origin, histori-
cally considered, almost exactly CORE
Sponds with the period in which gypsies
were first noticed in England.
Some of the marked characteristics and
customs l have found common to both
gypSieS and cOStermongerS are note
worthy. Both races are bitterly opposed
10 book knowledge, and not five per cent.
OF either, In England, can read or write.
Both are herediJarily rowing in nature
and would pine and die If forced for any
length of time into indoor labor. Both
mate rather than marry, and while re-
markable for their fidelity III this rela-
ton, they hold in deep contempt religi-
ous or civil marriage rites.
Both are the most honorable and hon.
est people who live in all dealings among
themselves. but hold it the hight of wis
dom and morality to ''do'' all others not
of their iik. Both, however meek, hum
ble and actually law abiding in their
daily lives, are hereditariIy the enemies
OF all law and law officers, though both
will make the most desperate of sacrifice
to avoid becoming involved in any COM
pllcations OF the law. And both are, re-
and density as, by comparison, would put
all the Hamiltons, Mansels and Spencers
10 fervent blush and shame.
The earliest record Of London coster-
mongers' cries is said to be in Lydgeat's 5
poem of London Lyckpeny" in the
Time of Henry V, about 475 years ago.
Shakespeare refers contemptuously to
these costermonger times;" Ben john
son makes his Morose swoon ii he hears
u coStermongerss cry, and DR.. Johnson
gives the derivation OF ''costard-inonger
as originating in the street sale OF apples
or costards round and bulky like the
head"
So far as can be traced in history and
literature these folk We're precisely the
same in mode of lite, vocation and char
acteristics hundreds of years ago as at
The present time. Like the fishermen of
New haven and Galway, and still like
the gypSleS, they have scarcely ever been
=
The result is that the costermongers of
the London Of to-day form almost little
realm of their own, ever changing in con-
lines yet changeiess in character and an
iIqulty, with purer strain of blood, of
It's kind, than that of half Of the English
nobility, and with ancient customs and
traditions remaining inexorable laws OF
guidance to themselves, all to a more
marked degree than is true of any equal
number of people in any corner OF Eu-
rope.
If all this We're not true OF the London
costermonger he would still be foundsa
picturesque object by the casual obsery-
ar. In the first place his dress is pictu-
rescue. You viii not find at Catania,
Messina or Palermo, in Sicily, more odd
or colorful groupings than these crowds
of costers at the markets or at their even
ing and holiday resorts. Indeed there is
n dash Of the gypsy in the dress of these
folk that constantly recalls the Bomany
people.
At his daily labors the coster will have
on his head a small cloth cap, well to one
side with the visor either pointed to the
sky or saving one side OF his neck. He
is never without his black or hashily-col-
Ored silk 'kingsman," or heavy, loosely
gathered neckerchief, always tied in a
sailors knot and the ends tucked in the
folds of his gay woolen shirt, the whole
exposing fine, well corded and often
long, like a Jockeys, with capacious
pockets ana huge tabs, and always of
corduroy or Velveteen. His trousers are
half Mexican in cut of corduroy or coarse
dueking, and their wide bottoms flap
over the best shoes worn by any lowly
men ia London. Added TO this are pearl
or polished metal buttons innQneraDIe.
In the matter of buttons their best
logs" for Sundays and holidays are truly
startling. Whether of metal or pearl,
they are from half inch TO an inch in di-
ameter, and are set as thickiy as they can
be placed around the cap band and visor
edge, down the edge of the waistcoat from
throat TO point, above every pocket, and
along the edges Of all lapels, upon the
sleeves nearly from wrists to elbow, and
along the wide plush side stripes OF the
trousers, from just below the knees to the
very edge of the trousers leg, so that the
last button clicks and patters against the
pavement and the shoe.
The coSter women are none the less
striking in their garb and appearance.
Like the men they are all well shod, and
wear short, coarse serge pettlcoatS, show
ing their ankles and shapeiy feet. These
petticoatS are as ample as Claddagh fish
wife's. Their waists are always low at,
or are left open in, the neck, and usually
the latter. as with the men, is adorned
with tiashy silk neckerehief, while a
small WOODEN plaid, or silk shawl, covers
the shoulders, its ends crossed upon the
breast where it is always fastened with a
brooch of huge dimensions.
But the hair and the headgear are most
distinctive. From these alone a coster
girl is anywhere recognizable. The hat
Is of straw or felt and always as large as
coster's cartwheel. 1t protrudes alarm
1ngly in front, and above this canopy
waves forest of ostrich pluInes. Coster
girls belong to clubs for the purchase of
tNGGE = - :