The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-18

A1S~-4NoNNA
Head" in Maiden lane, was the favorite
retreat OF the journalists Ancient Tavistock
still stands on one side of the market, dingy,
mellow and comfortable as when the
century came in.
"Slaughter's" in ST. Martins lane, was
the chief resort OF military. officers until
supplanted by the United States Service
Club. The Piazza tavern, where Macklin
had his old academy Of bellies lettres, was
next to the Tavistook. The Bedford cof-
Zee house and tavern was the great re-
sort OF actors. or these Garrick, Qu1n
Foote, Murphy, Macklin. Fawcett
Charles and John Philip Kemble
will be the best remembered. And
the " Shakespear," the first tavern set up
in the garden, stood at the corner Of the
Piazza and Russell street. 1t is here the
! famous "lions head letter box" was placed
to receive extraordinary inquiries, lam
pooDs. prophecies, scandals and ali the odd
pesQuinades of that time OF free thinking
and writing.
or the more noted Covent garden resorts
OF the present time perhaps the most
unique, something like old time "Cobweb
hall" in New York, is Jack Harris =" y
Russell street. 1t is practically an all night
house for printers. reporters, night editors
AID men Of the town who drop In
before daylight for a parting glass
or cup of coffee. The costers and
market porters resort here later il the day
Around in Maiden lane 10 the "Wes b
house." former haunt of Dickens aud the
wits and epicures of his time. | have
already mentioned Rules" Just off South.
ampton street, Ii is the most famous
oyster house of London, and the occasional
presence of the Prince of Wales brings to
the place every swell and nobleman of the
great metropolis, while on the eastern side
of the market is the National Sporting
n nd hn Lob hn
was the notorious Evans rooms" Of an
earlier date. In these two club houses occur
the greatest glove fights of Britain
or all the intellectual giants who knew
and loved the Coyen5 garden region.
rhackeray hos left by far the most charm
ing picture. "a pleasant land" he says
mot fenced with drab stucco like Tyburnis
or Belgravia; not guarded by a large army
of footmen; not echoing with noble chart
OTIS not replete with chintz drawingr ooms
and neat tea tables; laud over which
hangs an endless fog, occasioned by much
tobacco; land OF chambers, bill
lard rooms, supper rooms, oysters;
land of song; land where soda
water flows freely In the morning;
a land of tin dish covers from 5averns, and
frothing porter; a land Of lotus-eating
with lots OF pepper "a land where men
call each other by their Christian names;
where many are poor, where almost all are
young, and where if a few oldsters do enter
1t is because they have preserved more
carefully and tenderly than other folk their
youthful spirits. and the delightful capacity
to be Idle"
1t is also the land of Covent garden
market, II not the largest known market
in area, certainly that market through
which daily passes from grower TO buyer
greater emounts OF fruits, flowers and
vegetables than at any other market in the
world. The constant production OF more
than 80 900 acres contiguous to London,
much of which is forced gardening under
glass, is required for its constant replenish-
ing. There are yearly sold at this one
market more than 100000 cab
bages, 100000 caulifiowers, 1,125, 900
pottles OF stra wberries, about the same
number of lettuce heads, 100000 bushels
of shelled pease and about $4,000 bushels Of
onions.
II you are stopping at one of the old inns
overlooking the market you are certain to
be awakened by the steadily increasing hum
of the place, which begins shortly after
midnight with the first arrivals of the carts
of produce from the country. This has
grown into a subdued roar, though there is
never any yelling or hallooing permitted.
Ii the sun Is up and throwing its saffrony
light through the hazy atmosphere. you will
see as pretty sight do ~n there as eyes may
look upon. Every cross street leading to
the market, from Long Acre, from Drury
lane and from the Strand, which by regu-
lation is completely given up to this traffic
until O'Clock, is jammed and packed to
house doors with four, five and some times
six lines OF carts, wagons and barrows,
headed in or out, each vehicle in process of
loading or unloading with every manner of
fruit, flower aud vegetable known to Lon
don markets, while the seven acres of the
market itself, most Of which Is uncovered
space, is apparently solid mass of donkeys,
oarts, hampers, stacks of vegetables and
writhing, wriggling human beings.
The rays OF the morning sun bring out
the vivid colors Of the fruit and vegetables
wonderfully. You descend 60 the market
and risk your temper, IL not your lie. in
forcing your way through the obstinate
masses to the booths aud stalls. In this
effort you get somewhat acquainted with
Coveut garden porters. They are q huge
hairy. rum breRthed lot. Everything is
carried from market to waiting wagons on
their heads-from 100 to 100 pounds being
considered an ordinary load. Their
head gear is padded yoke incir-
cling the forehead and resting upon
tine shoulders. Carrying the pad" which
was once the occupation of Sims
Reeves, the famous tenor, is portering.
Doing a turn" is makinA one trip laden
from market stall to wagon, often as far as
the Strand. Each porter Is licensed, re-
ceives 2 pence per turn and usually does
from eight TO fifteen turns" Of q morning.
Another interesting class which is often
overlooked by visitors is the Covent garden
"whip mindeTS." These are usually women,
who for halfpsnny a wagon take charge
Of the drivers whips rugs aud the like.
They also keep teams in line, lift
at wheels, vank refiaoi Dry horses about
like trainers and sdjudicete all diff
erences regarding street rights of team
sters. / saw one soundly trounce a team
ster twice her size for disohedience. At the
corner of Southampton street and Strand
there is one that is of Amazonian size, and
with voice easily heard at Charing Cross.
Another. named "Jenny Williams" has
the west half of Southampton street in
charge. became quite her favorite, and
she told me in confidence that she was
really not Jenny" any longer, but gem
timely Mrs. Genevieve Brown, though
the marketmen must not know of it for the
world, for" said she with a knowing look,
they as no psshuns along o. missuses."
Her father, Joseph Williams, minded TIL
w'ipsn for more than forty years. Her
mother took his place when the ''old man"
gave out, and "Jenny the minder" is still
here by the right Of heritage
An hour or so among the porters. costers
and countryme will provide some extraor-
binary studies, and a most interesting
Flana ia raa Chad IN ha uOrtharu eida nf the