The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 297: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

270 THE COURT OF LONDON “The Black Bull, Windmill Street, Haymarket. Music and dancing at this place; singing to a piano accompani- ment. Most of the men frequenting this house are cross- coves, thimblemen, or swell-mobsmen; the females are women of the town. A great many juveniles visit this house, young thieves with their girls. The waiter is a comic fellow, sings comic songs, is on good terms with everybody, and sips of everybody’s brandy and water with the most condescending friendship; always calling out for ‘ ladies and gentlemen to give their orders.’ The songs sung at this place are not indecent; mostly humourous. One of the most favourite flash songs begins in this way: «¢¢ A cross-cove is in the street for me, And I a poor girl of a low degree; If I was as rich as I am poor, Ye never should go on the cross no more. CHORUS « ¢ He’s a right down chap, a chickle leary chap, and a loving cove! ’ ‘Penny Theatre, Shorts’ Gardens. Frequented by boys, girls, and all kinds of juvenile thieves and prostitutes; always dreadful bad language before the curtain draws up. The last night I was there saw a drunken combat as an interlude between ‘ George Barnwell’ and a scene from the ‘ Beggar’s Opera.’ Performers about ten in number; most of them go about attending fairs and shows in the season. ‘Red House in the Mint. Two people sleep in each bed, threepence a night. The grossest scenes of immorality constantly occurring in this place. “The Mogul, Drury Lane. Large room holding several hundred persons; concerts and performances every night. Frequented by all kinds of people; great numbers of disso- lute livery servants meet here, also young apprentices and their girls. The landlord keeps it as respectable as he possibly can. ‘“Thompson’s Lodging-houses, Castle Street, Long Acre, Nos. 23, 24,25. Make up between sixty and seventy beds between them. Thompson has similar houses over in Mint Street; most detestable places, frequented by the worst of GOMIIGDOOKS () (El)