Halfpenny Ices (1877), from Street Life in London by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: “Italian
Halfpenny Ices (1877), from Street Life in London by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: “Italian ice-men constitute a distinct feature of London life, which,however, is generally ignored by the public at large, so far as itsintimate details are concerned. We note in various quarters the ice-barrow surrounded by groups of eager and greedy children, but fail torealize what a vast and elaborate organization is necessary to providethis delicacy in all parts of London. Most persons are aware thatthere is an Italian colony at Saffron Hill, but it is strange how few visitors ever penetrate this curious quarter. The Italians have certainlysucceeded in keeping themselves apart from the rest of the population. Whole courts and alleys are entirely inhabited by these foreigners;there is not a single English person among them, and the tradesmen of theneighbourhood are also for the most part Italians. From this centre themen radiate to all parts of London and the suburbs, many preferring to walk ten andtwenty miles per day, to living nearer their “pitch,” but further away from theircountrymen.“It is true they enjoy certain facilities at Saffron Hill, which could notbe obtained readily elsewhere. The tradesmen of that locality supply all theparaphernalia necessary to the business of their customers. There also the milk iskept and sold on special terms for the mixing of ices. In little villainous-looking anddirty shops an enormous business is transacted in the sale of milk for the manufactureof halfpenny ices. This trade commences at about four in the morning. The men invaried and extraordinary déshabille pour into the streets, throng the milk-shops, dragtheir barrows out, and begin to mix and freeze the ices. Carlo Gatti has an ice depotclose at hand, which opens at four in the morning, and here a motley crowd congregateswith baskets, pieces of cloth, flannel, and various other contrivances for carrying awaytheir daily supply of ice. Gradually the freezing process is terminated, and thenthe men, after dressing themselves in a comparatively-speaking decent manner, startoff, one by one, to their respective destinations. It is a veritable exodus. Thequarter, at first so noisy and full of bustle, is soon deserted, a few women onlyremaining to attend to the domestic affairs and to quarrel with their loquaciousneighbours.” -- source link
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