Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-06-04
STRANGE SIGHTS.
Scenes Witnessed In London's Streets 1
Century Ago.

Century Ago.
There were certain dangers and In
conveniences walking along the
streets The finest dress might be
uined by the carlessness of dust
man or n chimnoy-sweep the custom
of exposing meat on open bulkheads
led 10 many an irreparable stain OF
grease.
Bullies pushed the peaceful passen-
ger into the gutter-it was a great
time for street swagger; barber 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 go on; pickpockets were
both numerous and deXtrous; footpads
abounded in the open squares OF Lin
coins Inn, BLOOMSBURY and Portman;
highwaymen swarmed on all the
roads; men servants were insolent and
rascally; the noise in the leading
streets was deafenlng; in a shower the
way became impossible from the
rain-spouts in the roofs. which dis
charged their contents upon the
streets below.
We. who now object to the noise OF
a arrel-organ in the street or cry
of milk or distant German band.
would be driven mad by single day
of George lis London streets. Ho.
garth has touched the subject. but
only touched it.
l. - lot,
than indicate the mere fringe of this
vast subject. Even on the printed
page we can do little more than the
painter. For instance, the following
were some of the more common and
everyday and all-day-long noises:
Many OF the shopkeepers still kept
up the custom of having prentice
outside bawling an invitation to buy!
To this day butchers in Clare market
cry out at their stalls all day long
Rally up, ladies! Rally up! Buy!
Buy! Buym In the streets OF pri-
vate houses there passed a reverend
ing procession Of those who bawled
things for sale.
Here are few of the things they
bawled-I am conscious that it is a
very imperfect list. There were those
who offered to do things-mend
chairs, grind knives solder pots and
/ pans buy rags or kitchen stuff, rab-
! bit skins, hair or mend rusty swords.
exchange old clothes and wigs mend
! old china, cut wires--this excruciat-
ing. rasping operation was apparently
done in the Opener cooper casks.
There was next the multitude OF
those who carried wares to sell-as
things to eat and drink-saloon, bar
ley broth, rice and milk. furmety,
( Shrewsbury cakes, eggs, butter, lily
white vinegar, hot peascods rabbits,
birds pullets, gingerbread, oysters,
honey. cherry ripe, CLANCY oranges.
hot codlins pippins, fruits of all kinds,
fish, taffety, tarts, fresh wafer tripe
tausy, green's, mustard, salt gray
pease, water crosses, shrimps, rose
mary. lavender milk. elder buds or
thidgs of domestic use-lace, ribbons,
almanacs.
Also ink, small coal. sealing wax,
wood to cleave. earthenware, spigots
combs, buckles, lantern, pewter pots,
brooms in exchange for old shoes
things OF horns, Holland socks, wooden
socks and wrappers. birthstone
matches flint and Steel shoe faces,
scissors and tools straps and the
thousand and one other things which
are now sold in shops.
The bear ward came along with his
animal and his dogs and his drum.
the sweep shouted from the house-top,
the ballad singer bawled in the road.
the tumbler and the dancing girl sci
up their pitch with fife and drum.
Nobody minded how much noise was
made.
In the smaller streets the good
wives sat with open doors running in
and out gossiping over their work
they liked the noise; they liked this
perambulating 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. says Harper s
: Magazine, the carts rumbled. the
brewers sledges growled, the chario
! ratified, the drivers quarreled, cursed
. and fought The late Mr.. Bowel
t spoke of the continual murmur of Lon
don as of Niagara afar off, A hundred
: years ago he would have spoken o
the continual roar.