New Ulm review., 1905-12-20
LIFE IN BIG LONDON
SOME OF THE THINGS AMERICAN VlS-
lTORS SOON LEARN.
Frequent Blowing of Cab Whistles
Pulling at First No Bootb1ack
Stands In British CapitaI-Women
Cannot Clean Windows.

Stands In British CapitaI-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 mail A 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-
tinuous 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.
"Heard?' inquired his seat mate.
Eyes; didn't you hear the postmen
y
utes until after midnight?
The English are too polite to laugh
in ones 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 glibly:
| W
heard. Every London house has cab
whistle. One blast brings hanson,
| two four wheeler"
| Cabs are essential to London, where
antiquated stages are the only means
of going in many directions, and they
serve as express wagons as we'll as
conveyances. Few persons send their
baggage ('luggage," it is called over
| there in advance to railway station or
steamer pier. A cab is called at the
last moment, and the cabman puts
trunk or valise on the roof Of his vehi-
cle If ones parcels are numerous q
four wheeler or omnibus is employed.
method is used to carry it to ones
| nome or lodgings.
As the baggage covered hanson
bowls along two or three ragged and
dirty men or boys may be seen running
beside it. If any distance Is to be trav-
ersed, it will be noticed that some of
these drop behind one after the other
while others take their places. They
are runners" usually men on theiI
"uppers," who earn an occasional shil
ling by following cabs to their destina
tions and carrying the luggage upstairs
for the arriving passengers.
1t would not occur to the average
> Englishman to seek bootblack out
side his own home for his morning
"shine." Shoes are generally polished
in the house by the maidservant, il
one lacks valet or footman, and tht
bootblack stand is conspicuously alb
sent from the British capital. Boot
blacks, often aged men, bearing thu
: label Licensed Messenger" on theil
coat sleeve, have foot boxes at tht
: chief intersections of the principa
thoroughfares and ply their trade fol
the benefit of transients and foreign
ers They are seldom patronized by th'
London householder
, One of the first inquiries made by
t Americans who settle in London is fo
washerwoman But it is soon fount
that this useful person is not to b.
had. Very little washing is done a
, home or taken out by washerwome1
in London, all the soiled linen being
sent to a laundry. The result is tina
: visit Of the family washerwoman a
home, find their laundry bills not {
small item of expense on the other sidt
Of the ocean.
A surprise is in store for the new
; householder in London who asks ths
Indeed, ma'am, I'd be arrested If
did," explains the girl as she refuse!
+ the task. And, sure enough, it is learn
, ed that owing to accidents to wome1
, cleaning windows from the outside th'
authorities have ordained that womel
must not risk life or limb at window
cleaning. The penalty for disobeyin.
t the regulation is fine Of IS. SO mel
employed as porters in furniture store
r and similar shops earn many odd six
| pences and shillings 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 on Thursday instead of Saturday
l as in New York, the butchers closin
: up Tuesday afternoons. This practic
: causes Inconvenience to newcomers uu
Ill guarded against by early purchases
: New York Tribune.