%images;]> lchtml-001803 Good sense in bad English. ...: a machine readable transcription. Lewis Carroll Scrapbook, Library of Congress Selected and converted. American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, DC, 2003.

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 2004/05/17
0001

GOOD SENSE IN BAD ENGLISH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,-The Cabman question has been spoken in Your journal, and the condemnation of a Cabman, having asked 5sh. for a short fare, which has much contributed to the Cab-owner's public offence and crime on Wednesday, Is not so alone standing, as great number of people is believing.

For the Stranger 'tis a fortune that the robbery of these “Wegelagarer” has become and end. The undersigned German, in the first time of his being in London, not knowing the laws for cabman, has regularly been robberd of this men, then he has must pay for a fare of 2 miles 4sh.—for a fare of 3 miles 6sh.—in the manner, that seldom he has had a fare under 3sh. He 'co'n't good speak english, and for not would have scandal in the street he must pay as much as these rubbers were asking. When he was saying, “having heard, that the fare were only 3sh.”—the cabman reponding, that were true, but “he must enough become the back fare to his station.”

It would be good for the great number of strangers visiting London, that in every carriage for public use were published the laws and conditions under which the carriage-owner was authorized for public service, and by the great number of strangers, who can not understand english, it should be, that this publication were also in french and German language.

But these rubberies are not alone standing; a number of taverns are no better—at example, the great Tavern at the entrance of Regents park, the York and Albany tavern. The undersigned, coming from the zoologial gardens in Regents park during raining weather, and having cold, maked give himself 10-12 drops (⅓ little glas) of rhum and a cup of coffe without milk. The rhum was bad and the coffe not good! But the wrongest was the prize of them.

“6 pence for the coffe”—paid! “The Waiter, Sir”—paid 1d. “6 pence the rhum, Sir!” This I would not pay, meaning that the rhum were paid with the coffe. But I must, would I not have scandal.

This, Sir, are only two facts of my experiences, and such facts are not plaising the stranger, which is coming to England in the meaning that the free people of England also would be a honest people! The last give much to wish!

If I publish these facts, 'tis not on account of me,—no, 'tis only for do the service, that such things may become an end, and for love to the people of England, for what I wish, that it should be great in every manner.

I have the honour, Sir, to remain, A POLITICAL FUGITIVE FROM GERMANY. London, 29 July, 1853.