Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

376 BRITAIN AT WORK. “ SHOEBLACK.” For their stock flower-girls visit Covent Garden about 6 a.m. Making their purchases quickly, they usually go straight to their stands, and remain on them till they are sold out. Except on Saturday night, they try to avoid taking any flowers home, because they have nowhere to keep them, and would suffer loss in consequence. In this they are not always successful. But, in spite of this and other drawbacks, the majority of them make a moderate livelihood. Of less prominent industries of the London streets a long catalogue might be drawn up. Among the food vendors are muffin makers, stewed-eel sellers, and the cooks who fry potatoes before your eyes. For the children there are balloons, flags, and windmills, and many other old favourites, for the most part home-made. 1 he penurious are catered for by the dealer in old hats re-furbished to look like new. To minister to that common want, “ a relish for tea, there are the hawkers of shrimps, winkles, and watercress. But there is no end to London’s street industries. They constitute an inexhaustible side of the great city, and are constantly increasing to meet public requirements or to exploit new ideas. 1 T. W. Wilkinson. STREET NEWSPAPER STALL