University of Virginia Library

OF THE PROVIDENCE AND IMPROVIDENCE
OF COSTERMONGERS.

The costermongers, like all wandering tribes,
have generally no foresight; only an exceptional
few are provident — and these are mostly the
more intelligent of the class — though some of
the very ignorant do occasionally save. The
providence of the more intelligent costermonger
enables him in some few cases to become "a
settled man," as I have before pointed out. He
perhaps gets to be the proprietor of a coal-shed,
with a greengrocery and potato business attached
to it; and with the usual trade in oysters and
ginger-beer. He may too, sometimes, have a sum
of money in the savings'-bank, or he may invest
it in the purchase of a lease of the premises he
occupies, or expend it in furnishing the rooms of
his house to let them out to single-men lodgers;
or he may become an usurer, and lend out his

[Description: 915EAF. Page 057.]

money to his less provident brethren at 1040l. per cent. per annum; or he may purchase largely
at the markets, and engage youths to sell his
surplus stock at half profits.

The provident costermonger, who has thus
"got on in the world," is rarely speculative. He
can hardly be induced to become a member of a
"building" or "freehold land" society, for in-
stance. He has been accustomed to an almost
immediate return for his outlays, and distrusts
any remote or contingent profit. A regular cos-
termonger — or any one who has been a regular
costermonger, in whatever trade he may be after-
wards engaged — generally dies intestate, let his
property be what it may; but there is seldom
any dispute as to the disposition of his effects:
the widow takes possession of them, as a matter
of course. If there be grown-up children, they
may be estranged from home, and not trouble
their heads about the matter; or, if not es-
tranged, an amicable arrangement is usually
come to. The costermongers' dread of all courts
of law, or of anything connected with the law,
is only second to their hatred of the police.

The more ignorant costermonger, on the other
hand, if he be of a saving turn, and have no
great passion for strong drink or gaming, is often
afraid to resort to the simple modes of invest-
ment which I have mentioned. He will rather
keep money in his pocket; for, though it does
not fructify there, at least it is safe. But this
is only when provided with a donkey or pony
"what suits;" when not so provided, he will
"suit himself" forthwith. If, however, he have
saved a little money, and have a craving after
gambling or amusements, he is sure at last to
squander it that way. Such a man, without any
craving for drink or gaming, will often continue
to pay usuriously for the hire of his barrow, not
suspecting that he is purchasing it over and
over and over again, in his weekly payments.
To suggest to him that he might place his
money in a bank, is to satisfy him that he would
be "had" in some way or other, as he believes
all banks and public institutions to be connected
with government, and the taxes, and the police.
Were any one to advise a man of this class — and
it must be remembered that I am speaking of
the ignorant costers — to invest a spare 50l. (supposing he possessed it) in the "three per
cents.," it would but provoke a snappish remark
that he knew nothing about them, and would
have nothing to do with them; for he would
be satisfied that there was "some cheatery at
the bottom." If he could be made to under-
stand what is meant by 3l. per centum per
annum, he would be sure to be indignant at the
robbery of giving only 7½d. for the use of 1l. for a whole year!

I may state, in conclusion, that a costermonger
of the class I have been describing, mostly objects
to give change for a five-pound note; he will
sooner give credit — when he knows "the party"
— than change, even if he have it. If, however,
he feels compelled, rather than offend a regular
customer, to take the note, he will not rest
until he has obtained sovereigns for it at a
neighbouring innkeeper's, or from some trades-
man to whom he is known. "Sovereigns,"
said one man, and not a very ignorant man,
to me, "is something to lay hold on; a note
ain't."

Moreover, should one of the more ignorant,
having tastes for the beer-shop, &c., meet with
"a great haul," or save 5l. by some continuous
industry (which he will most likely set down as
"luck"), he will spend it idly or recklessly in
dissipation and amusement, regardless of the
coming winter, whatever he may have suffered
during the past. Nor, though they know, from
the bitterest experience, that their earnings in
the winter are not half those of the rest of the
year, and that they are incapacitated from
pursuing their trade in bad weather, do they
endeavour to make the extra gains of their best
time mitigate the want of the worst.