WHY LONDONERS ARE CALLED COCKNEYS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11217, 6 May 1899, Page 5

WHY LONDONERS ARE CALLED COCKNEYS.

Oamden says the Thames was once called the Cockney, and therefore a Cockney means simply one who lives on the bankß of the Thames. Wedgwood says a cockney, or cookemey, is one /pampered by olty indulgence, In contradistinotion to rustics hardened by out door work. There is, however, a legend, almost too good to be true — namely, that a Londoner who had never before slept out of sound of Bow Bella had occasion to go into the oountry, and was detained all night. He was much disturbed by the lowing of the cattle, the grunting of the plgf, .and other sounds of oountry life, which he ciuld not understand, and, in particular, he was frichtened by the crowing i f the oock. In the morning, in response to th e farmer's inquiries, he said the sound of the wild beasts had kept him awake. Just at that moment the cock or.-jwed again, and the Londoner said, « That's the one ; he's beeu neighing like that for hours ! ' Sinoe then L nndoners have been called oookneigha, or cockneys.