London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
A BANK HOLIDAY WITHOUT 'ARRY.
WHEN one of the statutory Bank Holidays of the year comes round, all the of the take full advantage of their legalised leisure. But not only these gentlemen are at liberty, but the thousands, and I may almost say millions of people whose occupation goes with the compulsory closing of the pass-books. All the shops have their shutters up, and were it not that all the churches remain closed, while all the public-houses are open, it would be difficult to distinguish Monday from Sunday. Sir John Lubbock when he obtained his beatification by acclamation, no doubt little anticipated the wide extension of his plan of recreation. | |
It would be interesting to learn whether the philanthropic baronet expected the closing of the banks to be followed by the suspension of business on the part of the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick-maker. | |
258 | No doubt, when his Bill became an Act, Sir John had in his mind's eye the relief of that highly respectable individual, the It would be difficult to imagine a more staid person than this calm official. Until lately there was a law in one of the great banking establishments that no of the firm should be permitted to wear moustaches, and it is not easy to imagine a bank clerk of any standing wearing knickerbockers and a pot-hat. No doubt Sir John imagined that the released toilers of the four statutory holidays would be of the highly respectable type I have suggested. As a matter of fact-as all the world knows-the Bank Holiday has been given over in great part to that most objectionable individual, the ubiquitous and unextinguishable And the presence of this person renders the enjoyment of a Bank Holiday almost impossible to ordinary Londoners. And this being so, it may not be out of place to consider the means of making the most of the festival 'Arry. |
