Another grievance of cabmen, before shelters were built for their convenience, was the action of the police in summoning them for leaving their cabs outside coffee-shops while having their dinner. “The King of Cabmen,” a well-dressed, important-looking individual, whom the public believed to be an aristocrat, although he was really the son of a London tailor, protested publicly against their action by dining _al fresco_ in the leading thoroughfares. He would pull up outside some public-house or dining place in the Strand, Oxford Street, Haymarket, Regent Street, or Piccadilly, spread a very clean table-cloth over the top of his cab, and have his dinner brought out to him. Frequently he dined outside West-end clubs, his dinner being sent out by members who sympathised with him. “The King of Cabmen” was also known as “Nonpareil.” When sixpenny fares were introduced, “Nonpareil” took a prominent part in denouncing the action of the Government, and whenever a passenger offered him sixpence he haughtily suggested tossing him “double or quits.” Cabmen have always been fond of bestowing nicknames upon their comrades, and at the present day there are men named “Busy Bee,” “Dan, the policeman,” “Engineer Charley,” “Piggy,” “Nicodemus,” “Bill King about Jermyn Street,” “Harry of Halfmoon Street,” “Father Christmas,” “Hospital Jack,” “Rhoderic Dhu,” “Old Pickles,” “Topsy,” “Bustler,” “Old London,” “Australian Jack,” “Candle-dipper,” “Mr. Smith,” “Doctor,” “Sloane Square Sailor Jack,” and “Joe in the Copper.” Cabmen also bestow nicknames upon their masters, the cab proprietors, and, in the majority of cases, they are of an uncomplimentary nature. Those existing at the present day must remain unknown beyond the circle of cabmen, but there is no harm in publishing nicknames applied to proprietors long since dead. “Whooping-cough Bill” was so named because he filled up pauses in his conversation with nervous little coughs. “Pious Tommy” would allow no swearing in his yards. “Jack the giant-killer” was barely five feet two in height. “Darling Joey” had been married three times. “Skin ’em alive” never allowed his men any credit, and “Boozey Bill” was a teetotaler. Cab proprietresses usually were named from something striking about their personal appearance. “Ginger Sal” needs no explanation. “Beautiful Kate” was exceedingly plain, and “Fairy Emma” was so stout that she could scarcely walk. Another woman, very good-looking, but domineering and detested by all cabmen who had business transactions with her, was known throughout London as “The Queen of Hell.”