Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-22

b@Sn P1lloI bOSWCll HrSG met Dr. JOln-
son. -
Then followed tho era of famous
CoYent Garden taverns. There was
"Elunmums," two doors from "But-
tons most comfortable of old London
hostelries, sacred TO the memory of Col
lege Don and country parson. 1t was
from the Bedford Arms" Hogarth and
his friends set forth on that famous
holiday iaunt to Gravesend, Rochester
and Sheerness. The Bedford Head"
IN Maiden Lane, was the favorite retreat
OF the journalists. Ancient Taystock
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
Lcttres, was next to the Tavistock. The
bedford Coffee House" and tavern was
the greatest resort of actors. OF these
Garrick, Quin, Foote, Murphy, Macklin,
Fawcett, Charles and John Philip
kemble will be the best remembered
And the "Shakespear," the first tavern
OF the Piazza and Russell street. 1t was
here the famous "Lion's Head letter
box" was placed to receive extraordinary
inquiries, lampoons, prophecies, scandals
and all the odd pasquinades of that time
OF free thinking and writing.
Of the more noted Covent Garden re-
sorts OF the present time perhaps the
most unique, something like old time
"Cobweb Hall" in New York, is slack
Harris" 8 Russell street. 1t is practi-
cally an all night house for printers. re.
porters, night editors and men of the
town who drop in before daylight for a
parting glass or cup of coffee. The
coSters and market purters resort here
later in the day. Around in Maiden
Lane is the "Welsh House" former
haunt of Dickens and the wits and eni.
cures of his time. | have already men
toned "Rule's," Just off Southampton
street. IL is the most famous oyster
house of London, and the occasional
presence of the Prince of Vale brings
to the place every swell and nobleman
OF the great metropolis, while on the
eastern side of the market is the
Notlonal Sporting Club and the Pelican
Club. The former was the notorious
Evans Rooms" of an earlier date. In
these two clubhouses occur the greatest
glove fights of Britain,
of nil the intaIact,,ol ,;.4 ~
knew and Iovod tbo 60. '"ts VINO
region Thackaroy Ia, IL, ~ eaI'tGll
most nharming oictmr, W iar tle
land, !" he says .not fercod = p'ea San
stucCo like Ike Tvburnin ~. p 81 ui:'D
not guarded by a large army ~ Snnt
men; not ech0inr win nnhle chor;ats.
not replete with chintZ ra,yin,r $500 lor
and neat tea tables. n Land n,nr , rJS
hangs an endless foe nccosi,naa ~ ~,
much tobacco; n land If chan,barSS
billiard rooms. sumner rooms o orattoe'S'
land of song; II land where soda water
flows freely in the morning: n land of
tin dish covers from taverns, and froth.
ing porter; land of lotus eating with
lots OF pepperG-a land where men call
each other by their Christian names,
where many are poor, where almost Mi
are young, and where if few oldsters
do enter, it is because they have pre-
served more carefully and tenderlv than
other folk their youthful spirits, and
the delightful capacity to be idle.m
1t is also the land of Coyent Garden
Market, if not the largest known market
in area, certainly that market through
which daily passes from grower to buvrr
greater amounts of fruits. flowers and
vegetables than at any other market II
the world The constant production of
more than $4,000 acres contipnous to
London, much of which Is forced Gar.
dening under glass, is required for lie
constant replenlshing. There are yearly
sold at this one market more Than 81,
100000 cabbages, &, 0OO, 900 cauliflnwers
1,l25,OOO pottles of Strawberries, about
the same number of lettuce heads. 600
900 bushels of shelled peas and about
100000 bushels of onions
If you are stopping at one of the old
inns overlooking the market Won are
certain to be awakened by the steadiiv
increasing hum of the place which
begins shortly after midnight with the
first arrivals of the carts Of nrod,,ca
from the country. This has grown into
a subdued roar, though there is never
any yelling or hallooing permitted. IF
the sun is up and throwing its safrronv
light through the bazy atmosnhern WI,
will sec as pretty sight down 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 regulation is comnleteIv aivem
up to this traffic until 4 o,clocls 4
iammed and packed to house doors with
four, five and sometimes lin lineS If
carts, wagons and barrows. beaded in
or out, each vehicle in process If Io,dl
ing or unloading with every menner of
fruit, flower and vegetable known ~
London markets, while the seven acres