The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-27


Marry-outIandish Derby Day costor
Cayalcadcs.
fcopyright. 1892. by Edgar L. Wakeman.l
IoNpoN. Aug. i5.-There are between
1000 and 60, 900 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
nroper idea of the characteristics OK the
former without personal acquaintance.
There Is good reason for this Our street
vendors of flsh. fruits and vegetables com
prise an ever changing host Of widely vary
inc and uncongcnial nationahties. A
hawker in our country, from whatever
race he has sprung. never remains kawker
longer than necessity compeis. If he is
not successful in his ventures between
markets and customers he shortly drops
out Of the braying throng and engages Wig
orously In another calling. If his voice
his swayback steed and his ramshackie
wagon bring him profit, he will make the
best bargain possible TO another asprahJ
for his belongings, route and good viii,
Is shortly found in possession Of market
stall or grocery, and ever after scorns the
vacation and associations which gave him
prosperity. ,..
The entire life and conditions Of the
london costermOnger are different, and
this fact. as well As his strange personality
and whimsical trade and social ethics,
makes him most unusual and interesting
character. Besides he is a curious and
integral part Of this great and ever won
derful babel Of London.
Some Of the marked characteristics and
customs | have found common 10 both
Gipsies and cOstermongers are noteworthy.
Both races are bitterly opposed TO book
knowledge. and not per cent. of either
In England can read or write. Both are
hereditarily rowing in nature, and would
nine and die if forced for any length OF
time into indoor labor. Both mate rather
than marry, and while remarkable for
their fidelity in this relation they hold in
deep contempt religious or civil marriage
rites
Both are the most honorable and honest
people who live in all dealings among
themselves, but hold it the height Of
wisdom and morality TO edo" all others
not of their ilk Both. however meek,
humble and actually law abiding in their
daily lives, are hereditarily the enemies Of
all law and law officers. though both will
make the most desperate sacrifice 20 avoid
becoming involved in any complications Of
the law. And both are, religiOusly, az
nostics Of such luminOusness and density
as by comparison would put all the Ham
IN arf
blush and shame.
The earliest record of London coster-
mongers cries is said TO be in Lydgate's
poem Of London Lyckpeny" in the time
Of Henry V, about AS years ago. Shake
speare refers contemptuously to these
cOstermonger times" Ben JoDson makes
his Morose swoon if he hears a costermon-
gers cry, and Dr. johnson gives the deri-
walton Of "costard-monger" as originating
in the street sale OF apples or costards
ground and bulky like the head"
So far az can be traced in history and
literature these folk were precisely the
same in mode Of life, vocation and charac-
teristics hundreds of years ago as at the
present time. Like the fishermen Of New
Haven and Galway, and still like the Clip
sizes, they have scarcely ever been known
20 intermarry with other classes. The re-
suit is that the costermongers Of the Lon
don Of today form almost little realm OF
their own, ever changing in confines, yet
changeless in character and antiquity;
with purer strain Of blood, Of its kind,
than that Of half Of the English nobility,
and with ancient customs and traditions
remaining memorable laws Of guidance to
themselves. ali to more marked degree
than is true of any equal number of people
in any corner Of Europe
If all this were not true of the London
costermonger be would still be found a
picturesque object by the casual observer.
In the first place his dress is picturesque
You will not find at Catania, Messna or
Palermo, in Sicily, more odd or colorful
groupings than these crowds of costers at
the markets or at their evening and holi-
day resorts Indeed there is a dash Of the
Gypsy in the dress of these folk that con-
stantly recalls the Romany 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. lie is
never Wlthoub HIS bidCh VI nd'hg NOlOItu
silk "kingsman," or heavy, loosely gath
cred neckerohief, always tied in a sailors
knot and the ends tucked in the folds of
his gay wooden shir,-the whole exposing
a fine, well corded and often hairy neck
and chest. His waistcoat is long, like a
Jockeys, with capaciOus pockets and huge
tabs, and always of corduroy or velveteen
His trousers are half Mexican in cut, Of
corduroy or coarse ducking, and their wide
bottoms flap over the best shoes worn by
any lowly men in London Added to this
are pearl or polished metal buttons innu-
merable.
In the matter of buttons their best
toys" for Sundays and holidays are truly
startling. Whether of metal or pearl,
they are from a half inch 10 an inch in di-
Rmeter, and are set as thickly as they can
BE- placed around the cap band and visor
edge, down the edge Of the waistcoat from
throat 10 point, above every pocket, and
along the edges Of all lapels, upon the
sleeves nearly from wrists 10 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 al well shod and
wear short coarse serge petticoats. showing
their ankles and shapely feet. These petit
coats are as ample as Claddagh fish
wifes. Their waists are always low az or
are left open in the neck, and usually the
latter, as with the men, is adorned with a
fashy silk neckerchief, while small
wooden plaid or silk shawl covers the
shoulders, It's ends crossed upon the breast,
where it is always fastened with brooch