SOHO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11756, 21 July 1916, Page 7

SOHO.

Soon after the war broko out a change came over the appearance of Soho, the most cosmopolitan cornet of London, if not of tho world (says the Newcastle ".Chronicle"). French and Germans predominated, but Italians, Spaniards, Turks, Greeks, and other Levantines were numerous. When war was declared, there was a hurrying and scurrying to join the colours, and the place was for a time left almost entirely to the women and children. Soho has, however, been re-peopled, and is once again _a Babel of tongues. Some of the French conscripts have returned, disabled for further fighting, to take up again the control of the little businesses they had established, but no Germans have come back. Belgian refugees have established themselves very largely in tho locality, and with striking jrony are occupying shops and carrying on businesses left by the fugitive Germans. Polygot signs in the street are to bo met at every turn, and tho restaurant or Italian " ristoranto" jostle with the English publicho«so and caokshop. Equally cxotiei aro the revelations of Continental housekeeping and alimentation. Italian cookery, Kosher meat, French dainties, Russian dishes, and "patisserie Belgique" aro announced from the many windows, but the most startling shock to English prejudice is a " Bucherie Ghevalino." or " pardenbo Enhouwery," which in plain English is horsemeat for human food.