* * * * * CABBY; OR, REMINISCENCES OF THE RANK AND THE ROAD. (_By "Hansom Jack."_) No. X.--COMICALITY IN CABLAND--"CARROTTY CHOLLOP" --A TALE OF A "TENNER." London is not _only_ gloomy and ghostish, at least Cabby's London is not, by a dollop, But chock-full of fun. Wot _is_ fun you may ask. Well, I'd like to refer you to "CARROTTY CHOLLOP"! Spot arf-a-dozen of street-boys or gutter-snipes doin' a skylark or slum double-shuffle, And you'll find _one_ of 'em a native born _comique_ who'll make you crack sides with a kick or a snuffle. Same with a cab-rank! There's mostly one cove with a mug like a clown's, needing no chalk or scarlet; "CARROTTY CHOLLOP" 's a natural grin-maker; don't seem to _try_, the mischeevious young varlet. Trying's no good, for you can't _learn_ the comic; it comes, like a knowledge of 'osses, spontanyus. And if without props, with the flags for a stage, you can make people _laugh_--well, that's wot _I_ call janyus. ROBERTS and PENLEY theirselves can't do _more_. Tell you "CARROTTY CHOLLOP" can "gag," and no error. To bumptious 'bus drivers and 'igh-'anded bobbies and fussy old toffs 'e's a fair 'oly terror. Never says nothink offensive--not CHOLLOP!--'e's far too hartistic, 'is voice soft as gruel; But still 'e can make puffy Crushers go purple with just one tongue-snack as goes 'ome and stings cruel. Can't score off CHOLLOP. "'E leaves nothink on," says our champion cue-'andler, "JOHNNY THE JIGGER." 'E can make fun out of anythink, CHOLLOP can, jam-full of jokes, if 'e just pulls the trigger, Bang goes 'is charge, sweeping like a machine-gun; old "CARROTTY" ramming 'is 'ands in 'is pockets, And cocking 'is queer ginger-scrub of a chin, while the wheezes fly round 'im like crackers and rockets. Fussy young coppers fight shy of 'im mostly, for 'e knows the ropes, and 'e can't be caught napping. No "two-and-six-and-two" (fine and costs) knock _'im_ at Marlboro' Street, 'long o' loitering _or_ lapping. Sharp as a weasel, and slippy as jelly, 'e's got such a manner of landing 'is wheezes As makes the most wooden-chumped constable snigger behind 'is own cuff; _then_ it's go as 'e pleases! _Actor?_ 'E's good as a pantermine, CHOLLOP is. 'E can play simple and soft as a babby; Make you emagine 'e's some gawping chawbacon 'stead of a hartful and up-to-date Cabby. Struck a bright once. At the risk of 'is life stopped a runaway carriage. Old gent, name o' JENNER, Told 'im to call at 'is 'ouse the next day; and, when CHOLLOP turned up, old gent _tipped 'im a tenner!_