Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-25

r. Tksrs.x Afsrs. F1rai<h kat<rt~i.asst
Fr~as E-rf, Msrs I.sli mlA.aght-
An idls usan can find sntsrtainment
froza esxly morn snnl midnight. though
not latsr lh2a that. &c I'd greater coss
than the mere exercise Of living and
standing On one sids 10 watch He does
rot necessarily lave 50 hunt for he m
ssresting things They win come TO
him en- route. There Is nothing 90 pic-
turesqus In any other cry Of the world.
perhaps. or which gives you such start
Of earioas pleasure. - the elueeo@f boy
swinging along ths crowded street, -
unconscious Il his yellow legs and flap
ping skirts and II ths rain beating on
his bare hesd - IL tho letter carrier a.
home Of bis mail bag.
o. tt.s lord mayors carriage blocks
POUR way when you 60 into The eify 70
draw On your letter Of credit; or con-
PIE Of young harristsrs IN waving gowns
ana with wigs sslzew dash In front Ct
your hansom; or you are stopped by
regiment Of soldiers. OF group OF ne
gro minstrels dancing in the street with
a. little concern IS though they were
separated from you by . row Of foot
hghts; or you meet tho Dispatch
and the other coaches coming along
pfocaiiliy aud going down the steep
hill from that street 70 st. James
palace On a trot and nc the risk
Of every ones neck. apparently or tho
Life Guards 20 by with shining helmets
and with the lonely rearguard 300 yards
behind the rest 70 prevent an unexpected
attack from that quarter. from whom
never could guess: or you come sudden
ly upon the proud and naughty Piccsr
Oily goat in It's rambles. or q line OK
sandwich men dressed like sailors or
cooks; or you note the contrast between
tho victoria. with the men on the box IN
pink SILK stockings and powdered hair.
and the little ccsfer's cart piled high
with cabbages-ss incongruous . sight
to any other city a. would be q yoke OF
oxen on Fifth avenue.
But what make the streets OF London
most interesting sre not the badges Of Of
fee and official uniforms. but the unof-
fetal gzrb aud insignia which the masses
have adopted for themselves. The milk
mans whfre apron and wooden yoke,
the commissionnaire's medals, which tell
OF campaigns in Egypt and India. or the
bootblack's red coat. In America we
hate uniforms. because they have been
twisted into meaning badges Of servi-
tude. Our housemaids viii not wear
caps, nor viii our coachmen shave their
rnustaches. This tends TO make every
class Of citizen look more or less alike.
But in London one can always tell bus
driver from the driver of four wheeler,
whether he Is on his box or not.
The Englishman recognizes that II he
is in certain social grade he is likely 70
remain there. and 80 instead of trying 70
dress hike some one else in n class Il
which he will never reach he makes up
for tho part In life he is meant 20 play
and the bus driver buys a high white
hat, and the barmaid Is content to wear
turned down collar and turned bach
cuffs. and the private coachman would
as soon think OF wearing false nose q,
mustsche. he accepts his position and
Il proud Of IL. and the butchers boy SIT.
MP in bis cart Just as smartly. and
squares his elbows, and Strengthens hi,
legs. and balances his whip with a,
much pride as any driver Of q mailcarI
In the park. All this helps TO give every
man you meet an individuality.
The hanson cab driver Is not ashamed
OF being hanson cab driver. nor Is h,
thinking Of the day when he viii be a bosl
contractor and tear mp the streets ovel
which he now crawls looking for a fare
and 50 he buys artificial flowers for him
self and bis horse. and soaps his rubber
mat and sits up straight and busineeslike
and IL you put him into livery you would
not have to teach him how TO look wei
in it.-Richard Harding Davis in Har
per's Bazaar.