The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-09
AN ENGLISH HOLIDAY
How East Side London Plays on
Boxing Day.
ROUGH SPORT is THE RULE.

All coeknSyland Fioeks 10 Alalorl
Hampstead Heath, Where Hllarlty
Fast and Furleus, Rules From Earl.
| Morning Till After Midnight.
Boxing day Is a great institution II
England. The day after Christmas Il
Boxing day, 80 called because IN th,
old days II marked the occasion of th'
actual giving of Christmas boxes, Nov
II IL a national holiday, Besides belul
tho last IN the year, Il has to sutAc,
LondoneFs, at all events, until Eastol
Monday, It's great day In Cockney
land. and the east end crowds I,
Hampstead heath, the picturesque opei
space In the northwest of London.
Al roads lead 20 the heath. Soor
after daybreak the procession begins
Fully loaded traps and donkey barruw'
are the principal Items In tho vehitulai
traffic, but the majority are on foot
singing and shouting for the holiday,
Ere yer are, slr Emery" shouts d
woman, pushing a tin squirt allied with
water into your face. "'Ere yer are
Sir Emery; all the fun of the fair,
Two penny. Ave couple, win yer,
mludY'
The London street merchants havr
the habit ot giving prospective custom
ers a title. presumably on the theory
that Londoncr likes 90 have you be-
lieyc that he IL some well known man,
Should you be persuaded Into buying
"a couple" the chances are a moment
later you viii be face TO face with
'Arrict. She wears d largo hat trimmed
with large igalhers OF brilliant hue.
has a haiT rglnge down over her fore,
head aud bslrht eolorrd velvet dress,
Probably several wilI be Ia line, each
with an arus around the others neck
aud q mouth organ IN the other hand,
There S battle Ia their eyes. and BE-.
fore you are aware " II a stream at
water viii he running down your face
The best thlug To do Is to retreat, for
II you should glye battle you are sure
to retire. dsfva 4. With your COLLAR
like d wet rg. 20 u most uncomfor,a.
bic feelt- OF Gsapaess down your
back
Once Oh y-a heath thu coCUanut
pitches wlll trsi elaIm your notice.
Ere yer arc Ecrrel. seven SHES a
tanner Every oae ser knocks dahn
yer ave. They're all milky LoIdICs
aud kids 'arg way"
Then this scene will meet your eye.
Outside large tent stands raised
platform, on II are half a dozen men
stripped to the waist with arms fold
cd across their chests, One Of them.
evidently the proprietor. twists large
rattle. which gives forth a most deaf
ening noise At last Il stops. aud he
begins;
"LoIdies and gents, | wants ter hin.
terduce 10 yer notice some Of the hest
boxers In the world. I'm at the end Is
Felix Scott of Liverpool. Ell fight
any man In the crahd. and II he don't
put I'm aht In three rahnds EN- give
I'm quid Nah. then. WHOM ave EN-
on with the chnmplonT"
Some one accepts the inviting offer,
and a rush IL made TO pay the admls.
sion fee and get Into the tent
A company Of travelling actors Is as.
sembled on the platform outside the
next tent, all made up In their war
paint. The piece 70 be performed Il
"othello." The price Of admission Is
a penny. A reserved seat, an empty
box, viii cost you another penny. And
the house soon fills.
outside you will find every form Of
outdoor amusement In full swing
Aunt sallles," swings, roundabouts,
skipping and donkeys, The latter are
greatly patronlzed. Young men and
maldens. old men and women, all have
20 pannorth Of donkey ride A fat
woman cllngs TO one poor beasts neck
shouting:
"oo'er, I'm sure I'm falling. Don't
make I'm go 80 fast. Ho, look at me
at. Lemme get of I'm sure yer
lifting I'm"
When the dust has cleared away she
is seen lying in the road painting;
II know'd yer done It on purposew
At last the Journey home Is begun,
everybody happy and tired, yet not too
tired TO link arms, the men wearing
the girls feathered hats and pearl but
toned coats and the girls wearing caps
and hats and wondrous masculine
jackets. All are singing different
songs. but every now and then they
break forth in unison with popular
songs Of the moment. In the saloons
they drink beer out Of one pewter and
swear undying love and friendship till
the voice Of the proprietor, 1t now be-
Ing 1890 In the morning and closing
time, is heard calling, "Time gents,
please" and a final start Is made,
This may answer the question why
the average Cockney worker always
wants a second day or to get over
Boxing day.--Npw York Times