Street cries of the world

Who would expect to meet a moving garden in the streets of London; what a variety too! roses, myrtles, geraniums, &c. &c. If we can not buy all, at least we may have some, and money is not ill laid out in their way, for it is both delightful and rational, to watch the progress, and growth of plants.

Roses are one of the most beautiful productions of nature, but alas! they soon fade; geraniums and stocks are more lasting, though not so fragrant; – and myrtles are still more hardy than either, bearing Winter as well as Summer, with a little care and attention. This pleasant smelling shrub, like certain qualities of the mind, out-live the more attractive ones, and pleases, when the others are entirely forgotten. Mignionet owns a most charming odour, and if sown in the spring, and kept well watered, will last a long while. I am sure its scent well repays any trouble we may take to preserve it.

Flowers and plants of all descriptions, are certainly most beautiful in their natural situations, but it i a great luxury for those who have no gardens, to be thus able to procure some of nature’s beauties, and at so trifling an expense.

In the balcony of the nobleman’s house, may be seen the choicest of shrubs and plants, selected with great taste, and regardless of expence.

We, however, are content to choose our garden, from the cart of this man, and enjoy its fragrance with as much gratification as they do their expensive ones. We should ever suit our wishes to our means.

Countries differ in regard to their taste in gardening: Italy has ever been estimated as the most successful in elegance and scenery; France, likewise, owns much beauty in both these points; but although we may allow the Italians and French all due merit for their respective tastes, we will not cede our own, in point of usefulness and comfort. The English garden is not intended for the eye only; health, as well as pleasure direct the planner: – fine open walks, well grown shrubberies, and spreading trees, alternately present themselves to our view; all so well arranged, that we can chuse our walk according to the weather, sheltering ourselves from Summer’s heat, or enjoying the sun and free air in Winter. No people are more partial to botany than the Dutch, or take more pains to cultivate flowers; their tulips are superior to all others, and so highly do they esteem this flower, that many a Dutchman has paid several hundred pounds for the single root of an admired one.

The gardens of Holland, do not, however, bear comparison with either of the above mentioned countries; formality, and of course sameness, fatigues the eye of the traveller, who would willingly dispense with the gaudy tulip, for the pleasure of beholding nature more like herself.

Warm climates are most congenial to the growth of flowers, yet labour and perseverance may effect much without this natural benefit; witness the gardens of the Emperor of Russia, where may be seen all that can charm the eye, notwithstanding the severity of the clime from its northern situation.

In an age marked with frivolity and the conceitedness of superficial acquirements, every pursuit that tends to produce simplicity, and a love of domestic retirement, should be encouraged. Botany is eminently calculated to inspire a partiality for the country, and a desire of investigating the works of nature. By forming an early attachment to the study of the plants, many a youth might be saved from the gambling table, and not a few modern young ladies, would hasten from contemplating their own persons in the mirror, to admire the lasting beauty of divine nature. Nothing is of greater importance than to introduce information at first, in an interesting manner: both religion and virtue would prevail more among the young, were they not presented to the mind, by methods more calculated to inspire disgust than affection: the delightful study of botany should therefore be rendered at once easy, useful, and amusing; when it would never cease to afford lasting charms to those youths, who are thus favoured with an early acquaintance with the grand works of the PARENT of NATURE.

Grateful indeed, and pleasant, is the juicy Orange in health or sickness, and when ripe, wholesome, as sweet: their colour and outward appearance, recommend them to the eye; their rich flavour to the palate; and I believe no fruit is so generally a favourite.

Though usually termed China Oranges, most of them sold in this country, come from Portugal and Spain, where they grow in great abundance; they are sent in chests to the fruit merchants, who pick out the best for the fruit shops and market, while the inferior kind, is disposed of, to those who wheel the barrow, or carry the basket. In their native soil, they must indeed be a luxury, for no doubt most of their fine flavour is lost during the voyage to England; nevertheless, we find them a delicious fruit, and are quite content to eat them as they reach us. The Orange-tree is very handsome, and the blossom beautiful, of those we can judge; for they are common in the hot houses of the nobility and gentry – but they cannot come to perfection in so cold a climate as ours.

Sour Oranges are pernicious, and greatly injure those who eat them, for as the Poet observes, “all acids have a baneful quaity.” After learning this, those who indulge their fancy this way, deserve to suffer the certain consequences.

We cannot say much in favour of the man and the boys appearance here represented; but if we reflect on the nature of their employment, we shall not wonder to see them so dirty.

To climb a small chimney, and gather the soot is not a nice matter; yet these people do it continually, and but for their timely assistance, the soot would collect in such quantities, that the chimney would become foul, and take fire.

Thus, however we may despise the trade, we are much indebted to the sweeps exertions.

The cleaning of chimneys, is sometimes attended with great danger, for if they are ill-built, the poor Sweep finds it difficult to accomplish his purpose, and often receives severe bruises, if not a broken limb. – Some people are so cruelly inconsiderate, as not to put out the fire, time enough to get cool, previous to the boy’s going up; by which carelessness, it has happened, the unfortunate child has been terribly burned – such unfeeling conduct, deserves severest censure.

Soot is not thrown away, worthless, as you may suppose it; it is of infinite service in destroying insects, and enriching the earth; and for this end, the master Chimney-sweeper disposes of it.

One of the greatest luxuries in life, is, good Milk: in the country, we of course get it in perfection: London also can furnish us with very excellent, brought to our very houses, but its worth is greatly diminished by the venders, who shamefully adulterate it before the consumer gets it.

There are several Cow owners in the vicinity of the metropolis, who keep hundreds of cows, for the sole purpose of accommodating the inhabitants of this city.

What a useful creature is the cow; what obligations do we not owe her; what puddings, what custards, and other nice things, her milk affords us; not to mention the milk we use in our tea, or with bread for our breakfast: and here let me recommend such a one to my young friend, in preference to any other, for it is certainly the most wholesome of any, and the sweetness of new milk, cannot be surpassed.

How many there are, obliged to be contented with stale bread and water, nor even taste the produce of the friendly cow. Let us think of this, before we turn aside from the basin of fresh milk, and say, we are tired of it.

To the Cow we are indebted for all the butter and cheese we get, for it is her milk that makes them.

We must be deaf indeed, not to hear the Rabbit Man, who makes more noise than most criers. Rabbits are a pleasant sweet food, and sometimes sold very reasonable. The tame feed chiefly upon cabbage, lettuce, and other green leaves, and are not very choice in their food.

Many people prefer the flavour of the wild to the tame. They live in burrows on the side of hills; these burrows or warrens are deep holes, which they dig themselves, and there live in vast numbers. It is curious to see them pass in and out of these places, which they do, hundreds at a time, so that the hill appears a moving world.

They are naturally timid, the least noise sets them a scampering, and although they cross your path frequently when near their habitations, it is to avoid, rather than come in your way. Their skins are soft and furry, particularly the white: the dealers in old clothes buy them, to sell again to the furriers, who clean and dress them; after which, they are made into tippets for the ladies, caps, &c. Thus you see, the flesh though delicate eating, is not the only worth of the animal.

The prettiness of their form, added to their harmless natures, makes them general favourites with young people, who can easily tame them; but indulgence should not permit them to intrude into your gardens, where they can occasion much mischief, by cropping the vegetables and herbage.

All trades are not suited to the capacities of women, and one would suppose, this one, not very adapted to females; yet it common to see them pursuing it, and with as much assiduity, and dexterity, as any workman in the Trade. Long slim rushes are the articles with which they repair old chairs; and these they pass over and over the outward frame, until the bottom is completely covered.

Simple as the process seems from description, the performance is more difficult than may be imagined; for the bottom of the chair being divided into four parts, it requires much nicety to make the point meet well in the middle, and the rushes join regularly in each division.

This poor woman travels many miles in the course of day, to seek employment; and if our chairs be too good to require her aid, she will fare but badly: if on the contrary, they need repairing, few can do them better than she, and her charges are very reasonable.

In the country the chair mender meets good encouragement; for the Cottager seldom possesses better chairs than rush ones, and gladly avails himself of the opportunity of repairing the same, while so good a friend is at hand. The trade cannot be so good in London now, as it was formerly, for other kinds are more common, and the rush chair is seen in few houses, except in bed-rooms.

Chairs are not common in all societies. In Turkey, ottomans, or low stools, are used by the natives, who sit cross-legged. In savage climes the ground satisfies the inhabitants, who, being ignorant of form or ceremony, consult convenience rather than ornament.

Who will say they dislike what this man sells? no child, I believe, nay, I doubt if many a grown person, would not acknowledge they had no objection to his nice spiced Gingerbread.

The Strand, Oxford-street, and the Mansion-House, are the most remarkable places for this cry, at each of which, spice Gingerbread is offered to the passenger, who, (should the night be cold,) more often stops to purchase, than passes without buying. For a penny, you may have one square, or cake; and when it is smoaking hot, you can scarcely eat a finer thing. The English are not the only people find of Gingerbread: the Dutch, (especially their sailors,) eat it in great quantities. Nuts of this description, are a noted article at all our annual fairs, and the poorest who attend there, seldom come away without their share.

We must not, however, expect their size to equal that of former times, flour is too dear. Treacle, which is mixed with the flour in making Gingerbread, is the drippings from sugar. I have heard speak of a man, who made a comfortable fortune by vending hot Gingerbread; I wish our good friend may do the same.

Eels are very wholesome and delicate fish, particularly for sick people, to whom they are often recommended, when most other kinds of food would be too strong for the invalid.

This many says enough in praise of his Eels, yet more will join than differ from him.

We may conclude those he offers for sale were caught in the Thames, at Maidenhead, where curious baskets and nets are placed across the river, for the purpose of catching them, and a very pretty sight it is to view the same from the bridge adjoining.

The river Severn is famous for its Eels; the City of Worcester, situated on its banks, affords them in high perfection to the traveller, and the manner of cooking them there, is much esteemed by the Epicure.

Numbers are likewise caught at Bromly, in Kent, and there are houses near the river remarkable for selling them made into pies; indeed, few fish will admit of a greater variety in dressed – boiled, fried, broiled, stewed, potted, or baked in a crust, either way they are nice; but as simple methods are generally the best, so in cooking Eels, the plainest is the most wholesome, and those who study health, as well as taste, will prefer them boiled.

Their form is something of the serpent kind; their skin of a shining quality, and ’tis this circumstance, probably, that has gained them the title of Silver Eels. When brought about for sale, they are kept in sand. The Conger, is a large Sea Eel, more fit for potting, than to eat fresh, not being so delicate as the other sorts.

Of all the comforts in a house, not one exceeds Earthern-ware, so clean and sweet to use; and when dirtied, so easily restored to its former appearance. How many necessaries in this way we enjoy, of which our ancestors could have entertained no notion.

It is said, Earthern-ware was invented in Italy, and we are certainly much indebted to the inventor. The composition is chiefly of clay baked and glazed, and although not difficult to make, the variety of vessels and articles made of it, shew much ingenuity.

China, is a superior kind, and much more beautiful to the eye, but it is too expensive for common use; whereas simple Earthern-ware answers the same purposes, with this advantage, should accident deprive us of any article, it may be re-placed at a trifling expence: it is therefore well adapted to the pockets of the people in general, and is universally used in London.

The woman here represented, exchanges her ware for cast-off clothes, it not being allowable to sell Earthern-ware without a licence. No doubt she gains by her method; a great allowance being made to those who purchase a large stock.

Fine Earthern-ware was invented in Italy, in 1299: the invention of spectacles and wind-mills took place in the same year.

The improvement in the art of making China, during the last century, has been very great; foreign China is certainly very beautiful.

Dresden, in Saxony, has been noted since 1706; Porcelain was first introduced into Saxony the same year, from China. In 1752, was made at Chelsea, in England: likewise at Bow, in 1758. Mr. Wedgwood was the first who made it in this country.

The Colebrook Dale company, in Derbyshire, manufacture a most beautiful kind, only to be equalled by that of Worcester; indeed these two manufactories seem to rival each other in taste and beauty, and employ many hundred individuals in the process.

China is still considered at the head, the colours being so remarkably fine, as not to be excelled elsewhere; but their patterns generally represent their own scenery and inhabitants, and therefore want that variety and taste for which the French and English China is so much admired.

At the magnificent seat of the Duke of Malborough, called Blenheim, in Oxfordshire, is a suit of apartments, filled with specimens of this article, in all its various stages of improvement; in viewing which, the curious mind must be amply gratified. The contrast of convenience is particularly striking, when, comparing the old fashioned clumsy vessels, used by our ancestors, with the light, elegant, and equally useful ones of the present day. The tea-pot used by Oliver Cromwell, resembles a kettle, rather than the above article, having its handle similarly situated.

It may not be improper here to remark, that the expence of China is greatly lessened, by the ingenious methods lately discovered to mind it when broken. One of the most simple means, is, that of boiling the article in milk, first binding the parts together with a coarse thread, to keep it in form: the milk must be cold, when the China is first put into it, then boiled gradually for two or three hours, after which it must be left in the milk to cool; and if the milk be good, the article will come out perfectly firm, and may be used in common.

Garlic is another natural cement; one clove of which, when boiled into a kind of paste, will mend a closet full of China: it should be applied to the separated parts with a brush, while the garlic is warm, and then put in a safe place to cool.

There are many other cements made by manufacturers, which are said to excel the above, for the neatness of the joining; and some are even strong enough to fasten wood to iron; but these of course are more expensive in the process.