The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-28
LoNDON,s BOO THIKVKs.
Headquarters at Which These Gentry
Congregate.

Congregate.
Once in my life l consorted with prores-
| sional dog-thievCs | wish II TO be dis
| tlnctly understood that / never stole a
| dog, although l am free 10 confess that
l have been tempted, and / have told the
| story OF how on one occasion dog stole
me. says writer in Donanoes Magazine.
But TO return 10 my thieves. In the norm
ern part Of London which you Will
| reach by passing through tetter ana
Leather lanes, continuing past the quaint
Italian quarter with its cathedral. the
interior of which is beautiful although
the building is but crude externallyyou
viii find yourself in close proximity TO the
rendezvous OF the London dog-thieves.
Near by is a place called Hockings-in-
the-Hole. 1t is well named. being sltuat-
ed in n decided hollow in one or the
worst quarters OF the great city. Those
In search Of a fine, creepy feeling should
visit It after nightfall as l did 1 then
found myself in the bar Of a small, old
style public house OF very doubtful char
acter, or perhaps 1 shall express my
self better If L say that its character
was not at all doubtful. 1 was eyed
curiously by the loungers as / took
some refreshment at the bar 1 then
quietly gave the countersign in accord
ance with the instructions with which
l had armed myself. The powerful ana
heavy-necked publican changed his de-
meanor at once and ushered me through
a side door and up a creaky, tortuous
and dark staircase. At this period the
creepy feeling was at its best-or worst.
a door opened and we entered a long
room, the ceiling Of which was very low.
Yellow gas jets iickered here and there
A curious sight met my gaze. me
room was full Of men, three-fourths OF
whom held dogs Of every degree me
men were mostly of an uncouth descrip-
ton, clothed in great part In corduroy,
surmounted with the conventional caps
that are worn by the London costermon-
ger. They resembled in general appear
ance the touts and welchers or the En-
glish race tracks Most OF them smoked
short pipes. The dogs yelped and whined
amid the general hum OF conversation
that came through the amber haze.
My appearance excited no comment, and
for this reason IL is quite a common
thing for 'swells with sporting blood
in them 10 drop In upon these gentry
and pick up a good dog at a nominal
price. The morality Of the proceeding
is very questionable, but the fact re-
mains. Gin, the favorite drink with the
low class in London, was brought in
l accepted the hospitality OF my friends,
the thieves as l saw at once that II was
excepted. Then / cOnversed with various
members OF the party concerning the
points Of the CANNES in their possession.
They took my presence there as a mat
ter OF course, and talked with perfect
candOr. Had | been able TO forget the
company l was in l might trutnfully
record that / spent a pleasant haif-hoJr
at HOckings-in-
These men are not all thieves. Some
OF them are dog-brokers, who sell dogs
for others or pick up a bargain 10 sell
again. None OF them openly admit that
they are professional thieves, although,
OF course. IT is understood perfectly.
They lind" lost dogs or else they are
commissioned 10 sell dog that belongs
to friend" Not a small part or their
income is obtained through receiving
rewards offered for lost dogs which
they have been fortunate enough TO md.
During my visit to them their demean-
or was perfect. They might have been
an assemblage OF farmers at cattle
show.