Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1909-03-17
An ENGLISH HOLIDAY
How East Side London Plays on
Boxing Day.
ROUGH SPORT l3 THE RULE

Morning I'LL Alter EiiInisht.
Boxing Gay is a great institution III
England. The day after Christmas l.
E,xl.r G.:. SO called because in the
Ola Cl.si. marked the occasion of IN,
actual giving Of Christmas boxes. Now
it is Il national holiday. Besiles being
the Last in the year, ii has 10 SN-4re
Iondoners at all events, until EasteI
Monday. its Il great day in Coclney.
land. and the east end crowds to
Hampstead heath. the picturesque open
space in the northwest Of London.
All roaGs lead to the heath. Soon
after daybreak the procession begins.
Fully loaded traps and donkey barrows
are the principal items in the vehi .ulaI
traffic. but the majority are on foot,
singing and shouting for the holiday.
Ere yer are, Sir Emery" shouts
woman. pushing a tin squirt filed with
water into your face. ERE yer are,
Sir Emery; all the fun Of the fair.
Two Il penny. Ave a couple, will yer
m'lud?'
The London street merchants have !
Tie lidDll VI XIV MS CIV Nhf'AOAAA
ers Il title, presumably on the theory
that a Londoner likes to have you be-
! lieve that he is some well known man.
Should you be persuaded into buying
"a couple" the chances are Il .mOmeHt
later you will be face to face Will
'Arriet. She wears Il large hat trimmed
with large feathers Of brilliant hue,
has hair fringe down over her fore
| head and a bright cOlOred velvet dress.
Probably several will be in line, each
with an arm around the others neck
and a mouth organ in the other hand.
There is battle in their eyes, and be-
fore you are aware Of it a stream Of
water will be running down yorr face.
The best thing TO Go is to retreat. for
if you should give battle YOU are sure
to retire. defeated, with your collar
like a wet rag and most uncomforta-
BILE feeling Of dampness down your
back
Once or the heath the cocoanut
pitches will first claim your notice.
ERE yer are kernel; seven SHES u
tanner. Every one yer knocks GahI
yer ave. They're all milky. Loidies
and kids arr way"
Then this scene will meet your eye:
Outside a large tent stands raised
platform. On it are half dozen men
stripped TO the waist with arms fold
ed across their chests. One Of them
evidently the proprietor. twists a larg,
rattle. which gives forth most deaf
ening noise: At last it stops. and n,
begins:
"Loidies and gents l wants ter him
terduce to yer notice some Of tie hes
boxers in the world. I'm at the end il
Felix Scott of Liverpool. Ell! t@h
any man in the crahd, and if he don
put i'm aht in three rahnds en- Civ
i'm a quid Nah. then. who'll ave 'er
on with the champions"
Some one accepts the inviting Offer
and rush is made to pay the admis
sion fee and get into the tent.
A company Of travelling actors is as
s sembled on the platform outside tn
9 next tent. all made up in their wa
paint. The piece to be performed
"Othello." The price of admission
. a penny. \ reserved seat. an empt
box, will cost you another penny. -
the house soon fills.
9 Outside you will find every form ,
4 outdoor amusement in full swing
A aunt Sallies." swings. roundabout
= skipping and dOnkeys. The latter a
2 greatly patronized. Young men III
4 maidens, old men and women. all h
4 "a pannOrth of donkey ride" \
y woman clings to one poor beasts mex
Y shouting:
q "Oo'er. I'm sure I'm falling. Dol
A make i'm go so fast. Ho. look AZ I
\ at. Lemme get Off I'm sure y
lifting i'm"
When the dust has cleared away >
q is seen lying in the road pInting:
Il kncwG yer done It on purpose!
At last The journey home Is be-,
everybody Elppy and tired. yer not
A tired TO link arms. the men w2aVi
the girls feathered hats ard pearl b
toned coats and the girls wearn" ca
and hats and wonCrous m1s"ul
4 jackets. All are singing dilfer'
songs but every now and thea q
break forth in unison with pCpC
songs Of the moment IN the sala'
they drink leer out Of one pewter &
A swear uUdying love and friendship
the voice Of the proprietor, it now
ing 1890 in the morning and clos
time. is heard calling. Thine. gel
4 please" and a final start is made.
This may answer the question v
the average Cockney worker alw
wants second dav off t0 get n
A Boxing day.-New York Times.
A Mans Birthday.