ROUND THE WORLD.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8619, 25 March 1897, Page 2

ROUND THE WORLD.

SKETCHES PROM MY NOTE-BiJOK

(By Mks H. J. Gbkensladl,)

The Modern Babylon—Porten—Bydi Park-Wealth and Poverty-Artiitio Beggars—'Xmas Dinner —Declined ■with Thanks—Street Xtuioianl The Placarded Blind—The Goiter—At Pulham —Snowballing — Old London — Omniimi Syitem—Policemen—Traffic Begnlatlon—Hlitorical Aiiociatloni— Newgate—Smitffleld.

After a smart run of four hours by express train from Liverpool we entered the great city of London. Arriving at Euston we •* ere immediately besieged by armies of polite but persistent porters. '• Porter, ma'am ? " "Luggage, sir?" "Omnibus here, sir! and similar exclamations showered down upon us from every quarter unti^rae became fairly dazed with the «a and uproar. Much maligned are these porters. It would be somewhat difficult for an entire stranger to "paddle his own canoe" when landing from a crowded train at such a busy station as Euston. But the ever courteous porter for a few pence takes all responsibility of luggage checking and carriage finding upen his own shoulders, and the traveller is placed with his belongings on the right road to his hotel without any effort, loss os time, or temper on his own part. A few minutes after arriving we had secured all luggage and were fairly launched into the thronged thoroughfares of London —London with its lights and shades, its pride and poverty, mansions and workhouses, aristocracy and beggars, its benevolence and crime—London, the inexhaustible, with its numerous places of historical interest made immortal by some of our best authors, its churches, abbeys, and cathedrals, whose exteriors have become with age toned and mellowed to the eye. They have through the ravages of time and weather taken on a snow-flaked appearance which is particularly striking, and much more fascinating than the glare and shine of new buildings, and whose venerable greyness makes the onlooker compare it to the white hair of old age. It is some German author, I think, who spoke thus in London : "I have seen the greatest wonder which the world can show to the astonished spirit. I have seen it, and am still astonished—for ever will there remain indelibly fixed upon my memory the stone forrest of houses, amid which flows the rushing stream of faces of living men with all their varied passions, and all their terrible impulses of love, of hunger, and of hate." And the author is quite correct. One has only to traverse London streets a few times to feel what a very small unit he is among the millions who daily hurry along. As at one time, all roads led to Borne, so now does every thinker, schemer, and worker, every artist and inventor turn to this centre of the terrestrial globe, where the multitudinous transactions of mankind are concentrated and carried on. In this vast metropolis, there are to be seen individuals, families, and tribes of every race on the globe, of almost every religion, persuasion, and opinion, however eccentric.

A good deal of art has been brought to bear upon London to render its somewhat sombre appearance more beautiful* Here and there are handsome squares, with fountains playing, and many beautiful statues lend attraction to otherwise uninteresting corners, while its parks are unsurpassed. Hyde Park, the scene of. the great Exposition, certainly takes precedence with its stately avenues of trees and carriage drives, 'cycle roads, flowers, and fountains and its beautiful Serpentine. Here it is that on Sundays and holidays great amusement is created for the onlookers by a model Boat fJlub. This Club is conducted on very strict lines. There are the officers in command, and everyone must obey the Admiral, The Club owns a fleet of small model sailing boats, which are started from one side of the river and sail over to the other, the first to touch tho shore each time being allowed so many marks and the highest aggregate takes the prize. It is a picture to see dozens of these miniature yachts with their -white sails scudding across the water, gracefully heeling over to the breeze and finally running with a swish upon the beach on the opposite shore, amid the excitement of the spectators, who frequently have large bets on as to the results.

At this time of year the drives are almost deserted, but already the society papers are hinting at possible returns of noted personages, when Kotten Bow will be their daily resort. Here also may be seen the two extremes, wealth and poverty, — the children of wealthy parents beautifully dressed, trundled by in handsome carriages by their nurses, or carried on beautiful ponies with a groom in attendance ; while on the same path may be seen some poor worn out mother fondly hugging to her thinly clad breast some small atom of humanity while another drags its little feet wearily along by her side, crying bitterly with cold. Beggars also make this a sort of rendezvous for their importunities. Most of these mendicants are perfect artists in their profession. Their facial expressions are truly agonising, while their piteous tales would wring tears from a heart of stone. The stranger is readily imposed upon, but after a time he gleans from one source and another that his charity has been misdirected, and he finds his surplus cash does hispoor washerwoman, who works hard for an honest living, more good. Some of these professional beggars make a splendid living at their trade. Some keep nice houses in the country and their wives and children appear clad in fine raiment. Just recently a London Bridge beggar died, and it was found that he had left his wife a nice little cottage and furniture and £140 in the Bank; and yet he daily deluded the generous British public into believing he was a poor, starving wretch, and cajoled them into subscribing to his relief. Another amusing instance was that on 'Xmas Eye the members of a local Benevolent Institution paraded the streets and collected all the beggars they could find and provided them with comfortable lodgings for the night. This was not objected to, but when morning came and the superintendent requested them all to stay and help prepare and partake of a substantial dinner, with a glass of ale thrown in, they refused to a man. Work and they were unfriendly ; and further they know that on 'Xmas day they would likely have a harvest, so they sallied forth to their respective stands to fill the air with their wails and exhortations,

Then there is the useful crossing sweeper, who earns his pennies, for London streets unswept after rain or a euowfall are a rery unpleasant' experience. But oh! those terrible street musicians ! The wholesale murder of beautiful times they commit is enough

to make the composers turn in their graves. Morning, noon, and night it is scrape, grind* and blow some unfortunate instrument, from a tin whistle to a full brass band. These music torturers are in full parade early in the morning when you are awakened by the sweet strains, and are glad to throw out a penny and politely request the would-be musicians to adjourn to the next ntreet. You have barely time to doze again ere you are awakened by the newsboys, who yell unintelligible things on top notes, closely followed by the sweep, fishmonger, and muffin man, who emphasises his presence by ringing a small bell. Once fairly started this vendorism goes on without intermission throughout the day^ and a varied and novel. experience it is to watch the sellers' movements and little schemes to attract attention, and to listen to the competition as to who can produce the most melodious call, One after another they pass by in quick succession, from the high-class old clothes man, who waits upon families for orders, to the rag and bones merchant, who seeks favors from the servants below.

Some sorrowing sights are to be seen among the mind beggars, who are stationed about the streets selling matches or small wares of some kind. These poor wretches are led hither at early morn and left to perish till called for. The pity of it is great, for there are noble institutions for the blind, where they have every comfort necessary for their temporal welfare. But so inborn is the spirit of Bohemianism that they prefer their present mode of life to submitting to the restrictions necessary to the conduct of the Home. Of course, many of the so-called blind beggars are.humbugs, rod have perfect eyesight. Beware of jaen with large placards conspicuously displayed on their persons. My experience, has been, the more ostentation the less need. Last week, while going down Oxford street, I was accosted by a tear-fetching individual with an alarm-placard—-"Pity the poor blind"— attached to his breast, and chanting most dolefully about a sick wife and starving family. I endowed him with a couple of pence, when just at that moment a restive horse succeeded in throwing itself down on the slippery pavement amid some excitement from the bystanders, and also my friend the blind man, who in a tone which lacked no enthusiasm exclaimed, "My Lord! he's down!" Eecollecting himself ; almost immediately, with a hurried glance around to find out whether he had been noticed, he pursued his way dismally chanting his tale of woe.

No! It is not charity to help these winners, with perfect physical strength, to live in idleness. It is -but adding your mite to the degeneration of. the world. But there are thousands of

deserving cases where a little help is gratefully received, and adds « scrap of pleasure to their lives of toil. All honour to those who, rather than sink their self-esteem by imposing on the public, take their flower baskets, fruit barrows, and kindling wood from door to door to earn their contributions to the commonwealth of their homes. __ (To be Continued.)