Manners & Cvstoms of ye Englyshe: Drawn from ye QvickDoyle, Richard
General
Manners & Cvstoms of ye Englyshe: Drawn from ye Qvick
Doyle, Richard
Caricatures and cartoons -- Great Britain; England -- Social life and customs -- Pictorial works
After the Race to a brave Lunch; but
the Gipsy Women and Children did come and beg Morsels out of our Plates,
which in the Midst of all the Luxury was a sorry Sight. Then about the
Course to see the Company and the Flinging at Snuff-Boxes, and the
Thimble-Rig, and some playing at Roulette and Hazard, but the Police did
seize and break several of the Tables, and take away the Stakes. Great
Sport returning Home, with the Shouting for the Winner, and trumpeting
on Horns, and tossing of Snuff-Boxes and Toys to the pretty Lasses at
the Windows.
[Illustration: _A PROSPECT OF GREENWICH FAIR._
TUESDAY, _May 29, 1849_.--WHIT-TUESDAY.]
Down the River with BROWNE to Greenwich to view the Fair. To the Park,
where young Fellows and Hoydens at Archery, Donkey Riding, playing at
Kiss-in-the-Ring, and running down the Hill, romping, tripping, and
tumbling over Head and Heels, with Shouting, Screaming, and Laughter.
Then down to the Fair, made in a narrow Space in the Town by a Couple of
Rows of Booths and Sweet-Meat and Toy-Stalls, with Raree Shows at the
farther End, and Swings and Roundabouts on the Outside. The Passage most
insufferably crammed; and we having to force our Way between Walls hung
with Dolls and gilt Ginger-Bread. The Stalls and Booths crowded also,
and the Tobacco Smoke rising from the Drinking Places like a Fog. Young
Prentice Blades and Shop-Boys pushing about with large Masquerade Noses,
and did entertain themselves more than me. But the chief Amusement of
these Roysterers and the frolicksome Wenches do seem to be scratching
People behind, with a Scraper, which is a notched Disk of Wood, that
turns on an Axle in a Mortise, with a Handle some six Inches long, and
being dragged down a Man's Back, do make him believe that his Coat is
torn, as I thought mine was, when first served so, which did trouble me.
With this Noise of continual Tearing, and the Squeaking of Tin Trumpets,
and blowing of Whistles, and half-a-dozen different Bands playing as
many Tunes, is altogether made a most discordant Musique; and the
Showmen bellowing to the Spectators to walk up, do increase the Babel.
Strange to see the Lads and Lasses, heaved up and down, over and under,
in the Swings, and to think what Pleasure they can take in such a
Motion, which methinks a Physician might prescribe in Lieu of a Sea
Voyage. With much Ado, to RICHARDSON'S Show, where a Tragedy, a Comic
Song and a Pantomime all in Half an Hour, and the Tragedy accompanied on
Whistles and Penny Trumpets by the Audience. But the best of the Fun
outside, between the Performances, with the Beef-Eaters' Band playing,
and the Show-Girls in their Spangles and Paint, dancing, and the Clowns
grimacing and flinging Summersets, and the Robber Chief standing in a
brave Posture in the Corner. Store of Fat Ladies, Wonderful Pigs, Giants
and Dwarfs to see, and Conjurors in Plenty, specially in the Crowd,
conjuring Handkerchiefs out of Pockets. In the Evening to the great
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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