The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
We were wearied with the day's annoyances, and as the streets were very
uninviting, we sat smoking segars in the coffee-room of the
establishment. As one person after another dropped in, we heard of the
increase of the fog outside, and, indeed, it had long since entered and
filled the apartment till the outline of the waiter, as he moved to and
fro in supplying the wants of the company, became indistinct, and his
head, whenever he approached the chandelier, radiated a glory. As I had
often read of a London fog in November, I judged this to be an excellent
opportunity for seeing one, and accepted my companion's proposal to
repair to the door of the hotel. The scene was like nothing else I ever
had witnessed. At the distance of five yards the light of a gas-lamp was
invisible. We could not distinguish each other's features as we stood
side by side. Stages, cabs, and coaches were creeping forward at the
rate of twenty yards in a minute, the drivers carrying glaring torches,
and leading the horses by their bridles. Even at this pace the danger of
a collision was imminent. Pedestrians, homeward bound, were at their
wits' end. As they could not have proceeded fifty paces in security
without a torch, they were each provided with one, but some of them
contrived to lose their way notwithstanding, and seeing us on the steps
of the hotel, halted to make inquiries. One man assured us that he had
been half an hour looking for the next street. The better to convince
myself of the density of the mist, I extended my arm to its full length
and tried to count my fingers. From ocular evidence alone, I certainly
could not have told whether I had four, five, or six.
It was an amusing sight to see scores of ragged boys carrying about
torches for sale. The cry of 'Links! links!' resounded on all sides.
'Light you home for sixpence, sir,' said one of them, as I stood
watching their operations. 'If 'tan't far,' he added, presently, 'I'll
light you for a Joey.' A Joey is the flash term for a four-penny piece,
or eight cents of our money, and is so called because these silver
coins, somewhat larger than a half-dime, are said to owe their origin to
Mr. Joseph Hume. We witnessed a bargain struck between one of these
urchins and a servant-girl, who imprudently yielded to his demand to
have the money in advance. No sooner had the young rogue conveyed it to
his pocket than he ran off to seek another customer as simple, leaving
the poor girl to strike a wiser bargain on the next occasion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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