The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1909-07-30
AN ENGLISH HOLIDAY
How East Side London Plays on
Boxing Day.
ROUGH SPORT IS THE RULE.
All Coekneyland Fioeks to Historic
Hampstead Heath, Where hilarity
Fast and Furious, Rules From Earl,
Morning Till After Midnight.

"OVViOS Ut t<utST m1QOIQOts
Boxing day is Il great institution III
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
it is a national holiday. Besides being
the last in the year, 1t has to suffice
Londoners, at all events, until Easter
Monday. It's a great day in Cockney.
land, and the east end crowds t.
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 vehiculal
traffic. but the majority are on foot
singing and shouting for the holiday.
Ere yer are. Sir Emery" shouts a
woman, pushing tin squirt filed witt
water into your face. ERE yer are
Sir Emery; all the fun Of the fair.
Two a penny. Ave couple, will yer
m'lud?"
The London street merchants have
ers a title. presumably on the theory
that Londoner likes to have you be.
lieve that he Is some we'll known man
Should you be persuaded into buying
"a couple" the chances are moment
later you will be face to face with
'Arriet. She wears a large hat trimmed
with large feathers of brilliant hue,
has hair fringe down over her fore.
head and bright colored velvet dress
Probably several will be 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 it a stream OF
The best thing to do is to retreat, fol
if you should give battle you are sure
to retire, defeated, with your collar
| like wet rag and most uncomforta.
! bic feeling Of dampness down your
| back.
Once on the heath the cocoanut
pitches will first claim your notice.
Ere yer are. kernel; seven SHES q
tanner. Every one yer knocks dahn
yer ave. They're all milky. Loidies
and kids art way"
Then this scene will meet your eye
Outside large tent stands raised
| platform. On it are half a dozen men
stripped to the waist with arms fold
| ed across their chests. One of them
evidently the proprietor, twists a large
rattle. which gives forth most deaf
ening noise. At last it stops, and he
begins:
"Loidies and gents, l wants ter hin
terduce to yer notice some of the best
boxers in the world. I'm at the end Ii
Felix Scott Of Liverpool. Ell fight
any man in the crahd, and If he dom
put i'm aht in three rahnds ell Civ,
i'm quid. Nah, then. who'll ave ZEN
on with the champion?"
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
sembled on the platform outside tn
next tent all made up in their wal
paint. The piece to be performed i
"Othello." The price of admission i
a penny. A reserved seat. an empt.
box, will cost you another penny. Ant
the house soon fills.
Outside you will find every form o
outdoor amusement in full swing
Aunt Sallies." swings, roundabouts
skipping and donkeys. The latter ar
greatly patronized. Young men ant
maidens, old men and women, all hav
"a pannorth Of donkey ride" A IA
woman clings to one poor beasts necl
shouting:
"Oo'er, I'm sure I'm falling. Don
make i'm go so fast. Ho, look at m
at. Lemme get off. I'm sure We
lifting i'm"
When the dust has cleared away sh
Is seen lying in the road painting:
, Il know'd yer done it on purpose"
At last the journey home is begun
everybody happy and tired. yet not to
tired to link arms, the men wearin
the girls feathered hats and pearl but
toned coats and the girls wearing cap
and hats and wondrous masculin
jackets. All are singing differen
songs, but every now and then the
break forth in unison with pOpula
: songs of the moment. In the saloon
, they drink beer out of one pewter an
:. swear undying love and friendship IL
the voice Of the proprietor. 1t now b.
ing 1890 in the morning and closin
time. is heard calling. "Time. gent
please" and a final start Is made.
This may answer the question VIII
the average Cockney worker Away
wants second day of to get owe