San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-25
BELLS AND KNOCKERS.
They Have Almost Constant and Various
Uses In London.
Especial Correspondence

wealthy Londoner when you ask him
why he doesn't keep a latchkey instead
of making the footman jump down and
rouse the neighborhood with his knocks
ON his masters own door.
Latchkey? Not he. The footman's
knock is London institution. No one
else dares make such racket with
knockers and bells. But the footman is
fully licensed. The more noise the bet
ter footman.
His lordship has been out for drive,
and ON his return the coach rattles up
in front Of fine old mansion, say, in
Russell square, but MILFORD does not stir
because the door has not yet been opened
for him. Down jumps the footman and
springs up the steps to the front door,
and in an instant he has hand ON each
knocker-on each knocker, if you please,
for there are two, as we'll as two bells.
They are double doors, and there is a
knocker on each, hardly six inches apart,
no such little toy knockers as we see
sometimes in America, but ponderous
affairs that must weigh 90 pounds,
some of them. The bell pulls, being of
less account, are side tracked, one in
each doorpost. Under the right hand
bell is a brass sign, VISITORS" under
the left hand one, another sign, "Serv-
ants" And under the knockers, too,
there is a sign reading, Ring also. I"
Woe to the tradesman who should ring
the visitors bell! His business with
that household would come to sudden
end.
With hand on each knocker the
footman plays tattoo On both that may
be heard ON the farther side of the
square. A single ring at one bell would
answer every purpose but one-style.
Then, having reused the echoes with
the knockers, he rings both bells. II
there were more knockers and more
bells, he would jangle them all. The
racket says to all neighbors and all
passersby: Milford has been out for a
drive. He has returned. Behold us.
Look ut that coach! See how the horses
shine and the harness glitters! Hear the
silvered chains rattle! Look at my mas.
ter lolling comfortably back on his
cushionsl Look at NY liveryl Look at
mer'
Quickly the door is opened by man
in red coat and knee breeches, perhaps
with powdered hair. He knows what
that pounding means, and delay might
be dangerous. Down springs footman to
the coach door and opens it. Then, and
not till then, Milford raises himself from
the cushions and steps out, looking
bored. A backward wave of the hand is
all that is necessary to tell the coach
man that he is to return to the stables.
There's no use ,bothering to speak to
him. The front door closes with slam,
and the coach drives off.
The footman would think it per-
sonal grievance if he could not announce
his masters return in this slambang
way. But the knockers and bells have
more uses than we dream of in America.
Here every man is known by the knock
he gives. If you were to give timid
little knock and no ring, the master
might send you out a penny or a ha'-
penny, thinking you a beggar. A visitor
must give a series of quick "rat-tat-
tats" on one Of the knockers and then
ring the visitors bell with confidence.
Those quick taps on heavy knocker re-
quire long practice. No American can
do it at first. Americans generally ring
the bell without touching the knockers.
"Why should l tire myself with big
knocker," they ask, "when the bell
answers every purposes"
The mistress, sitting i'll the drawing
room, which is always up one fight,
knows by the knock or the ring what
sort of person is at the door.
"Rattatr' two knocks so close togeth-
er that they are almost one, and she
knows it is the postman. That IS his
peculiar signal, and no one else uses it.
The door does not need to be opened,
for he merely drops his letters through
the slit into the letter box. But the two
quick taps perhaps are followed by a
ring. Oh! That means that the post
man wishes to see some one. A letter
WIFI uuCSIldlu dOluIGsS perhaps, VI SOAhS
postage due. Then the maid goes to the
door.
Two knocks, not so close together,
followed by ring, show that there is
a telegraph messenger at the door. He
must see some one, for his book must
be signed. This summons is always an
swered promptly.
But there is another ring that touch
es the American heart, for even our
American beggars have some independ-
ence about them. These English base
ment houses are not at all like what we
call English basement houses in New
York. They are only about four steps
above the pavement, and the basement
is really cellar, wholly below ground.
The dining room is the first floor front,
and the kitchen is the front room in
the basement. Consequently the areas
in front are very deep, from 10 to 10
feet.
The deep areas have given the milk
men a curious castom. London milk
does not go about in wagons, but in
bright brass cans made in the shape OF