d, the
celebrated Mr. Sluffen, of Adam-and-Eve-court, whose authority not the
most malignant of our opponents can call in question, expressed himself
in a manner following: 'That now he'd cotcht the cheerman's hi, he vished
he might be jolly vell blessed, if he worn't a goin' to have his innings,
vich he vould say these here obserwashuns--that how some mischeevus coves
as know'd nuffin about the consarn, had tried to sit people agin the
mas'r swips, and take the shine out o' their bis'nes, and the bread out
o' the traps o' their preshus kids, by a makin' o' this here remark, as
chimblies could be as vell svept by 'sheenery as by boys; and that the
makin' use o' boys for that there purpuss vos barbareous; vereas, he 'ad
been a chummy--he begged the cheerman's parding for usin' such a wulgar
hexpression--more nor thirty year--he might say he'd been born in a
chimbley--and he know'd uncommon vell as 'sheenery vos vus nor o' no use:
and as to kerhewelty to the boys, everybody in the chimbley line know'd
as vell as he did, that they liked the climbin' better nor nuffin as
vos.' From this day, we date the total fall of the last lingering
remnant of May-day dancing, among the _elite_ of the profession: and from
this period we commence a new era in that portion of our spring
associations which relates to the first of May.

We are aware that the unthinking part of the population will meet us
here, with the assertion, that dancing on May-day still continues--that
'greens' are annually seen to roll along the streets--that youths in the
garb of clowns, precede them, giving vent to the ebullitions of their
sportive fancies; and that lords and ladies follow in their wake.

Granted. We are ready to acknowledge that in outward show, these
processions have greatly improved: we do not deny the introduction of
solos on the drum; we will even go so far as to admit an occasional
fantasia on the triangle, but here our admissions end. We positively
deny that the sweeps have art or part in these proceedings. We
distinctly charge the dustmen with throwing what they ought to clear
away, into the eyes of the public. We accuse scavengers, brickmakers,
and gentlemen who devote their energies to the costermongering line, with
obtaining money once a-year, under false pretences. We cling with
peculiar fondness to the custom of days gone by, and have shut out
conviction as long as we could, but it has forced itself upon us; and we
now proclaim t