Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1905-12-29
LIFE In Blu LONDON
SOME OF TIE THINGS AMERICAN WIS.,
ITORS SOON LEARN

Freaucnt blowing of Cab whistles
PuxxIinr Mt First No BootbIacIs
Stands In British Capital-Women
Cannot Clean Windows.
Americans sojourning In London are
often puzzled In their first few hours
there TO account for the frequent blow
Ing OF mouth whistles In their vicinity,
resembling the blasts of sound with
which the New York postman accom-
panies the delivery of mall. y Yankee
who arrived In the British metropolis
one summer night greatly fatigued by
his journey retired early at his lodg-
ings, but was kept awake until mid
night by the unaccustOmed and con-
tlnuous blowing Of whistles, which sug-
gested TO his drowsy brain that letter
carriers were calling every few min
utes at the adjoining houses.
At breakfast the next morning he re-
marked that he had often heard Of Lon
don's frequent mail deliveries, but he
had never supposed there were so many
of them as he had heard the previous
evening
"ueard?" inquired his seat mate.
Yes; didn't you hear the pOstmen
blowing their whistles every few min
utcs until after midnight"
The English are too polite to laugh
in one's face. but suppressed snicker
went around the table, breaking into
audible laughter as another New York
er. who had been In London twenty
four hours longer than the new arrival.
explained glbly:
why. those were cab calls you
heard. Every London house has cab
whistle One blast brings a hanson.
two a four wheeler"
Cabs are essential TO Ond0n, whore
antiquatcd stages are the only means
OF going In many directions. and they
serve rs express wagons as well as
conveyances. Few persons send their
baggage c'luggage." 1t Is called over
there in advance II railway station or
steamer pier. \ cab IS called at the
last moment. and the cabman puts
trunk or valise on the roof of his vehi-
Gle If ones parcels are numerous Il
four wheeler or omnibus Is employed.
On arriving with luggage the same
method IS used to carry 1t to ones
home or lodgings.
As the baggage covered hansom
bowls along two or three ragged and
dirty men or boys may be seen running
beside it. II any distance is to be tray-
ersed. t viii be noticed that some OF
these drop behind one after the other,
while others take their places. They
are runners" usually men on Their
"uppers." who earn IN occasional shil-
ling by following "nbs to their destina-
tions and carrying the luggage upstairs
for the arriving passengers
1t would not occur TO the average
Englishman to seek a bOotblack out
side his own home for his morning
"shine." Shoes are generally polished
In the house by the maidservant, If
one lacks valet or fOOtman, and the
bootblack stand Is conspicuously alb
sent from the British capital. Boot
blacks, often aged men, bearing the
label Licensed Messenger" on their
coat sleeve, have foot boxes at the
chief intersections OF the principal
thoroughfares and ply their trade for
the benefit OF transients and foreign
ers. They are seldom patronized by the
London householder.
One OF the first inquiries made by
Americans who settle in London Is for
a washerwoman. But 1t Is soon found
that this useful person Is not TO be
had. Very little washing Is done at
home or taken out by washerwomen
in London. all the soiled linen being
sent to a laundry. The result is that
Americans, accustomed to the weekly
visit Of the family washerwoman at
home. find their laundry bills not Il
small item OF expense on the other side
Of the ocean.
A surprise is in store for the new
householder in London who asks the
maidservant TO clean the windows.
Indeed. ma'am, I'd be arrested If !
did" explains the girl as she refuses
the task. And, sure enough, 1t Is learn
ed that owing to accidents to womel
| cleaning windows from the outside the
| authorities have ordained that womeI
must not risk life or limb III window
| cleaning. The penalty for dis05eyln;
the regulation Is fine OF -. 80 me
employed as polters in furniture store
and similar shops earn many odd SIX
pences and shillngs by spending thei.
weekly half holidays as window clean
ers to householders lacking men serv
| ants.
] Most Of the small London shopkeep
ers and their assistants take half hol
| iday Oh Thursday instead OF Saturday
as in New York, the butchers CLOSING
up Tuesday afternoons. This practice
causes Inconvenience to newcomers un
til guarded against by early purchases
New York Tribune.