HENRY MAYHEW (1812-1887) AND

with philosophy. but with the here-and-now of life on the streets. Fa Maytrew,
"costamongers, like all waodaing tribes, have geaaally m fclresight; only an
exceptional few are provident." " Accustomed to "an almost immediate return" fa his
outlays. Mayhew recocded that a costermonga distnrsted "any r m e a contingent
profit."
Mayhew believed that the problem was cultural and that it began with
accuinuation of children:
.. the streets teach them, fm the most part - and in greater a lessa degrees. -
acuteness - a precocious acutemss - in all that concerns their imrrwiiare wants,
business, a gratifications; a patient eadwance of cdd and hunger; a desire to obtain
money without waking fa it; a aaving fa th excitement of gambling; an
imdinate love of amusement; and an irrepressible repugnance to any settled inincbr~try.~~
A taste f a the imrrwtiate also revealed itself in the meet-people's delightful sense of
humour as well as a taste for the absurd:
0, yes, I've heard of God; he made heaven and earth; I never beard of his
making the sea; that's another thing; and you can best learn about that at
Billingsgate. (He seemed to think that the sea was an appurtenance of
Billingsgate.) Jesus Christ Yes, I have heard of him. Our R-
Well, I
only wish I could redeem my Sunday togs &om my u~cle's.~
8 1
Mayhew, I: 57.
8' bid.
83
Mayhew, I: 24.