A Gisbornite Abroad

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 238, 17 October 1901, Page 3

A Gisbornite Abroad

I Wkiti.vo to a member of the Times staff, j under date of August iilst, All- H. Dc j Costa, of Gisborne, states “ Landing at I Tilbury on the 7th June, we took train to i Brighton, and remained there a couple of , days ; afterwards wo came to the great j city of London. Of course the first thing j that takes your eye is the omnibus traffic. Vou can imagine the traffic when one j company alone has 1800 busses, and the I crowds that travel by them is simply I astounding. They say here '■ get on top j of a bus nod you can ride to the devil,” j and I think you can almost believe them, , as tlie riding is so cheap and you can go ! such a distance. One of the best places j of amusement is, as you have no doubt j already heard, the London Music Halls, j Once inside, a “ new chum,” for such I | may term mysolf, is struck with the j manner in which these place- are con--1 ducted. Waiters are in attendance, and bring you what you require in the shape j of refreshments, and there you sec ladies and gentlomen drinking and smoking and : joining in the choruses of all the most popular songs, while the “ gods ” behave in a most orderly manner. Another I noticeable feature before tho doors of a ; theatre or music hall open is the way in which the people fail in two deep, until j there is a string of men and women about | 50 yards in length, and when the doors ; open they just inarch into the building to the ticket-box, without crushing or shoving each other about. It does not remind ipe of a Gisborne audience waiting outside the Theatre Royal for a second-rate company which graces us with their presence for one night. I have been to any quantity of theatres to see different operas, etc. 1 saw Madame Melba in “Romeo and Juliet,” Bernhardt, Irving, Helen Terry, and a plentiful supply of music hall singers such as Dan Leno, Harry Randall, Ford Herbert Campbell, etc. I must say that Londoners are easily pleased, for instance, they reckon that nobody in the world can sing like Dan Leno (that is comic). I would just as soon hear young .Jack Samson. Leno is a bit (1111113-, hut nothing to rave over. Another system is to make a charge for programmes, which is nothing more than robbery. Amongst other places that 1 have visited is the Crystal Palace (where you see all the ’arrys and ’arriets on bank holiday step-dancing, singing, and, in fact, having a regular day out) Alexandra Palace, Earls’ Court, Mansion House, Tower of London, Royal Exchange, Mint, Guildhall, etc., etc., not forgetting Holloway and Newgate gaols. I saw Lord Russell’s cell at the former. It is a very dreary place, and I don’t think he likes being there, at least, I don’t think he feels at home. As to Holloway itself, it is not up-to-date with regard to cleanliness, everything seems to smell musty, and not fit for prisoners. It is scandalous that persons awaiting trial should be allowed to remain there. I have seen His Majesty King Edward VII. on two different occa- ' sions, once in St. James Palace (in company with H.M. Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria), and once outside Marlborough House, when he came along unawares in his motor-car, and raised his hat to me. Of course, I ” had to cat humble pie” and take mine off also. He is very popular in England, but I do not think his health is of the best, as insurj ance offices arc charging an extra ten per j cent to insure him over the coronation. 1 hear it is cancer in the tongue. I have j seen Earl Roberts. Generals Buffer, BadenPowell, and dozens of other notable men. London also possesses an underground railway, and an electric railway known as the "Twopenny Tube.” which runs a distance of 6.1- miles for 2d (getting off at j any station cn route). It is 100 ft below j the surface of the earth, and very pleasant to travel on. I have had only one stoppage on the Tube." and that was on account of some silly beggar committing j suicide by throwing himself on the line, ; which delayed the train for fully an hour. ! When in Reading, I was conducted over Messrs Huntly and Palmer's Biscuit l-'ae- - tory, where they employ 6000 hands, It is one of the most interesting places that j any person can visit. What with the - different kinds of machinery, and the : people working the same, it is truly a : wonderful sight, especially when work is ! over for the day. and the people come out i of the building, and wend their way homeward. When first I arrived, fruit was very scarce, and only just coining in, and peaches were selling at 25s per dozen, nectarines 2s 6d each, grapes 7s per lb. but I am pleased to chronicle that the market has undergone a slight change, and prices have come down a little. ! Peaches are now 2s 6d a dozen, nectarines j Is a dozen, grapes 6d a lb. It is not a : bad drop. 1 hat e seen asparagus marked j up to 25s a bundle. Bin living is terrible | expensive. If I go to the Trocodero or : Frascatis’ to dinner. I have to pay 7s 6d, and a “ bob " tip for the waiter. ' I have j dined also at the Hotel Cecil, where they 1 put dinner in at XI Is; of course, I did j not go often at the price. I must say that the Londoners have got into a rotten system—that of “ tipping.” You can’t ask a waiter or hairdresser to do anvthing for you without them wanting a tip of some kind or other. Y our hands are never out- of your pockets, giving a waj-tips alone. A man who wants to live quietly in London wants an income of 4MOQQ a year, and

he would have to be sparing at that. I have been to the Glasgow Exhibition (they ! are not too bad at charging; one guinea for bed and breakfast). Also Edinburgh, ■ Manchester, Liverpool, Yarmouth, and other towns of less importance. Well, I think I must draw this letter to a close, as : I am due at Piccadilly at 9.130 this tnorning, although 1 couid keep on writing • about London and its people for at least ' twelve months to come.’’