St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1909-04-02
AN ENGLISH HOLIDAY
How East Side London Plays on
Boxing Day.
ROUGH SPORT IS THE RULE.
All coekneyland Foeks to Historic
Hampstead Heath, Where Hilsrity,
Fast and Furious, Rules From Early
Morning Till After Midnight.

Fast and Furious, Rules From Early
Morning Till After Midnight.
Boxing day Is great institution In
England The day after Christmas is
Boxing day, SO called because In the
old days It marked the occasion of the
actual giving of Christmas boxes. Now
II is n national holiday. Besides being
the last In the year, IL has to suffice
Londoners, at all events. until Easter
Monday. It's great day In Cockney.
land, and the east end crowds to
Hampstead heath, the picturesque open
space In the northwest OF London.
All roads lead to the heath. Soon
after daybreak the procession begins.
Fully loaded traps and donkey barrows
are the principal items In the vehicular
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 n penny. Ave couple. will yer,
m'ludT"
the habit of giving prospective custom.
ers n title. presumably on the theory
that Londoner likes TO have you be-
lieve that he IL some well known man.
Should you be persuaded Into buying
"a couple" the chances are moment
later you viii be face 10 face with
'Arret. She wears n large hat trimmed
with large feathers Of brilliant hue.
has a hair fringe down over her fore.
head aud bright colored velvet dress.
Probably several Will bo IN line. each
with an arm around the others neck
and mouth organ In the other hand
There is battle In their eyes and be-
fore you are aware Of II Il stream Of
water viii be running down your face.
The best thing 10 do IN 10 retreat, for
II you should give battle you are sure
10 retire. defeated. with your collar /
like n wet rag and n most uncomforta-
bic feeling OF dnmpncss down your
bnck.
Once on the heath the coconnut .
pitches VIII first claim your notice.
ere yer are. kernel: seven SHES |
tanner. Every one yer knocks dnhn .
yer ave. They're NIL milky. Loidlcs
nnd kids arr way"
Then this scene Will meet your eye.
Outside u large tent stands raised
platform. ON II are half n dozen men
stripped 10 the whist with arms fold
od ncross their chests ono Of them,
evidently the proprietor. twists n largo
rattle. which gives forth most dcnf
enlng noise. At last Il stops. aud he
begins.
"Loidlcs aud gents. wants ter hin.
tcrducc 10 yer notice some OF the best
boxers IN the world. I'm nt the end IN
Felix Scott Of Liverpool. En- fight
any man IN the crnhd. aud II he don't
put I'm aht IN three rnhnds 'e'll give
I'm a quld. Nah. then. who'll 'nve 'em
ON with the chnmpionf"
Some one accepts the Inviting offcr.
aud rush II made Ia pny the admls.
sion fee and get into the tent,
A company OF travelling actors II ns-
scmbled ON the platform outside the
next tent. all mndc NJ In their war
paint. The piece to be performed Il
"othello." The price Of admission II
a penny A reserved seat. an empty
box. will cost you another penny. Aud
the house soon illls.
outside you Will nnd every form OF
outdoor amusement IN full swing
"Aunt Salllcs," swings. roundnbouts.
skipping and dOnkeys. The latter are
greatly patronized. Young men aud
maidens. old men aud women, all have
"a pannorth Of donkey ride" 4 fat
woman cllngs To one poor beasts neck
shouting:
"Oo'er, I'm sure l'm falling Don't
make I'm go 80 fast. lilo. look at me
'at, Lemme get on. 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 II ON purpose!"
At last the Journey home II begun.
everybody happy aud tired. yet not too
tired 10 link arms. the men wearing
the girls feathered hats and pearl but.
toned coats and the girls wearing caps
and hats aud wondrous masculine
Jackets. An are singing different
songs. but every now and then they
break forth IN unison with popular
songs of the moment. In the saloons
hey drink beer out ~ one pewter ana
swear undying love and friendship tlll
he vdice Of the proprietor, Il now be-
ng 1880 In the morning and closing
line. is heard calling. Thine, gents,
llease." and hnal start Is made.
This may answer the question why
he average Coekney worker always
wants "A second day off to get over
Boxing day.-New York Times.