FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36  
37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   >>  
ntertainment. From out of the fund provided, there were prizes given for running in sacks, and climbing the greasy pole for a leg of mutton fixed at the top, and a prize for running along a greased pole placed horizontally from the stem of a coal barge, and extending over the water some twenty feet. On a barge moored opposite the end of the pole were four spars radiating with a basket at the end of each from a capstan that revolved, containing a prize, and just within reach of the end of the greased pole. One was usually a small live pig, others a fat goose or a live duck with its wings cut. The "running the pole" was most difficult, for as soon as you got near the prize at the end of the pole it would be dipped by the weight and slip you off into the water; while if you got to the end of the pole and touched the basket as it revolved it would fly away from you. The live prize was the most difficult to contend with, for you had to fight with it to get it on shore. The proceedings all finished up with a grand display of fireworks. On the following day the boat decked with flags, in a van, would be drawn round the principal streets with the watermen who had been engaged in the contest, singing some doggerel verses composed for the occasion, and thanking the people for their liberal subscriptions. CHAPTER 4.--Chelsea Notabilities. There were some notable people living in Cheyne Walk in those days. At number three lived Mr. Goss, organist at St. Luke's, afterwards at St. Paul's Cathedral, who was subsequently knighted. At number five lived Justice Neild, an eccentric old bachelor, who left half a million of money to the Queen, and next door lived Doctor Butler, curator of the British Museum, and at Gothic House lived Mr. Moore, a man seven feet high, and stout in proportion, dressed in a long drab coat, breeches and Hessian boots with large tassels. He had been a contractor for the stores and accoutrements for Wellington's army in the Peninsular campaign. A constant visitor was the Countess of Harrington, in a splendid carriage with two tall footmen behind in a quaint brown livery trimmed with gold lace, breeches and silk stockings. Then there were the Owens and the Bayfords, very charitable people. Then there was "Don Saltero's" tavern, kept by a tall Scotchman and his factotum, a little short fat man, a sort of "Joe Willett of the Maypole," who was barman, cellarman, and waiter in one. There used t
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36  
37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   >>  



Top keywords:

running

 

people

 

revolved

 

basket

 

breeches

 

difficult

 
greased
 

number

 

subsequently

 

Cathedral


knighted

 

proportion

 
dressed
 

organist

 

eccentric

 

million

 

Hessian

 
Doctor
 
Justice
 

Gothic


bachelor

 
Museum
 

British

 
Butler
 
curator
 

Peninsular

 

tavern

 

Saltero

 
Scotchman
 

charitable


stockings

 

Bayfords

 

factotum

 

waiter

 

cellarman

 

barman

 

Maypole

 

Willett

 

Wellington

 
campaign

constant

 
accoutrements
 

stores

 

tassels

 
contractor
 

visitor

 

Countess

 

quaint

 
livery
 

trimmed