A REAL LONDON FLAG.

North Otago Times, 27 June 1906, Page 4

A REAL LONDON FLAG.

Written for tlio Nui'th'Otago Tiucs). < lly l'J. ;L\ , The aist. o! Dwoiubot: is the s'uft- , est day in tiio year in tho Northern | Hemisphere; hut to me the 21, st | of December, l'JOproved a lonp- »nd ] weary one. WlMr it up in tho | morniub and went to tho window, in my little room in Haimncrsmilli, I j almost- I'cgrettcd the rash' promi'io I bald niado to Lady Scaficld, that I i would call for To Uangi Pal at t .ong Aero, and escort her to the .Salvation ( Army Barracks in Daiiyei' s'lrept, , Chelsea, where she was advertised to i sing for the poor fellows while I hey ' were partaking of their soup and ; bread. Outside everything was om'dopen in an ' inky pall' —a veritable | black log prevailed. In truth it was j ' darkest London.' Talk About seeing the opposite side of the street. 1 could scarcely sod a yard. Lighling the gas, I had my breakfast. qMietly got ready for the road. Tiling my landlady not to expect me back I'll she saw mo, i departed, and blindly groped my way to tho [rout gate. Everything was still as death, lor the ordinary kallie was entirely suspended. Turning to tho left, I' walM, (or rather crawled) along Shepherd's Bush Road, every now and then coming into collision with sonm one; then through the Urook Green Road, and Hammersmith Road until I passed along High street, Kensington, and camo to where I thought 1 should be opposite Gloucester Road, into which I had to turn, ami along wliifih 1 ay my track, Just hero 1 came but up against a 1 sis footer' in blue, so I inquired il I was anywhere near Gloucester Road ' Cross the street here, sir; you aro right opposite it,' lis replied. 'Thanks, very much/ said I. 1 1 think I have hit it oil pretty well,' Walking along for some time in the inky darkness, I accosted a man, and asked him. if 1 was near the turn into Harrington. Road. 1 You lmvo just passed it, sir/ he said. ' Thank you sir,' I lcplicd, but instead.of turning back, I continued on, and turning into Old Brorapton Road, I was soon at the South Kensington railway station., Arrived there, I turned sharp to the night, passed Onslow Square, into Fulton Road, down Sydney street to' King's Road, nearly opposite Flood street, along which I went, and soon arrived atCheynet Court, where Lady Seafield's Flat was' situated, and taking out my watch under the dim ligfit of the gas lamp, I lound that 1 had been exactly tw o hours and ihrceqjuarters on the tramp, Wearily mounting the 82 steps to the flat-, I was agreeably surprised to In them just sitting down t-o lunch. About four o'clock, we held a consultation, and finally decided that I had better go ior Te Rangi Pal, as it would be a great disappointment _ if she was not 'present at the soup kitchen to-night. ' All right,' said r, here goes for another plunge into the dark, but remember I cannot promise to be up to time in returning." You people here, In bright sunny New land, can form no idea of the task which lay before me, but putting on as brave a taco as possible, I assured them ii there was one think I liked more than another, it was floundering through this' little village' in a black log. Descending tho steps, and emerging from the front door, I again turned into Flood street, and along lving's Road as far as Sloane Stfuare, whero by the aid of a lantern carried by a telegraph boy, I was fortunate enough to hit off the corner of Sloano street. From this point, I had no difficulty till I arrived opposite Hyde Park Hotel (or where I thought was opposite ! it, for I could not seo a yard ahead). , Here there was a complete block of 'buses, coal wagons, carriages, fourwheelers, hansoms, in fact vehicles of all kinds. Indeed, one of the conductors told me they had been already , stuck there lor over tiireo hours. All over tho city there aro, here and there what are called' ilsla»d shelters' in tho middle of .the streets, and these consist ot an oblong, ta scd pavement, i with a lamp in tho centre, or in a fog, a powerful naptha flare, and this enables pedestrians to cross so lar and and shelter in safety, till .they can succeed in dodging the traffic and competing the crossing. I managed here to reach one of these shelters, 1 and while standing for a moment be- , fore I tackled the remaining half of the street, I was apcosted by a girl carrying two heiVy parcels, and looking thoroughly done up. 1 Oh, sir,' she said, 1 can yc<u please tell me how I am going to get to Arlington street, I have come all the Way IromJVcstry Hall, Chelsea and am going to a situation, and 1 should have teen there two hours ago.' 'Well,' said I, 'J am going past Arlington street, so just you stick to me, and I'll -get you to the end of your journey all right, But, first of all, which of tho parcels is the heavier 1 Oh, this one is sir' said she, holding up the one in the right band, 1 All right," I replied, 'just hand.it over to me, and well oi&kc a start.' <You should have seen the look she gavo me, as much as to say, ' I wonder who he is, and il he is going to steal my parcel.' ' Come on,' said I, 1 we must act first, and think afterwards, I'll help you, if you'll help mo.' With that, she handed me the parcel, and catching me by the arm, we dodged the vehicles succcssfuliy, and landed safely on the footpath. Keeping close to the park railings, and oontiauing right through P ccadilly until,we camo opposite Arlington street, I p,ajd a boy with a 1 flare 1 to guide us across, and I soon landed her at the house she wanted to find. ' There you are, my lass, said I, ■' I won't steal your. Parcel, and 1 only wish ,1 was as near the end of my journey in the dark as you arc. ' oft! I am so thankful to you sir, she said 1 and if I appeared to doubt you, but you know what London is..- Its all light,' 1 replied. ''l a® glad I was able to E've y° u s omei assistance, aim shaking her by the hand, 1 cont nued mv journey to Long Acre, in the findg S which, tnc only difficulty I experienced was when I was .passing through Piccadilly Circus, when I had again to get the assistance ot 'a liaio boy. Arriving at To Rarigi Pai's flat, 1 again looked at ray watch and found I had been two hours and a, qjuar-tor On this second part of my trip. It W an immense amount of persuasion before I could pcH6uade.my friend' to | tackle the journey, as cabs and buses were out of tho question; hut finally she consented, when I told her how the poor fellows were looking forward to the pleasure ol hearing her Sing' So once more, accompanied by le, Rangi Pal, I plunged into the pea soup log. Slowly, and cautiously we: moved along, and in a very short time we were agreeably surprised to find the atmosphere gradually clearing, and the traffic resuming its onward course so wc boarded a Chelsea, 'bus, and arrived at Denycr street a trifle late, but 'better late than never,' The hall was well filled, and'the' boys, gave a hearty cheer as we made our way to the platform, indeed, tho pleasant look on their iaccs went a long Way in compensating for the difficulties of the day. Lady Scaficld pres dcd. Captain Terrace, with a white apron over his uniform, ladled, out.the soup, while your humble servant soon reduced the numerous loaves of -bread to six-ounce ' door steps/ As for re she,-TO. a host intoseW,

lighted her audience wlUi tlio sweet tones other rich coiitrallu voice, Jn-" deed when she was singing lie wipes the tear from every oyo,' I could see many a tear dimming the eyes of some ot these poor, homeless, friendless 'men. For over-an hour slip kept on, nover seeming to lire, and I,lie closing liyran, ' Abide with me,'-appeared, tobe even more appreciated tliuu everything else, while one poor chap, acting as spokesman for Iho vest, camo to the /runt, and thanking-her, begged of her to come again. Wo were glad 1o find, jh coming onco more into the street (hat the night .was -clear, tho fog having almost entirely disappeared, so pulling To Rangi Pal into a 'bus, and seeing Lady Scaficld as far as Flopd street, I caught the last 'bus-for Shoplierd's bush, where I arrived 'at about Imlf past twelve. To say that 1 was glad to get home is to uso a'very mild term, and, (though 1 cannot vouch Wo truth ot it) my landlady »tyld me mat day that she distinctly heard the sigh of relief 1 gave as 1 was waling down ihe passage to rny room. It was in truth »long, and weary day, '