MODERN IMPROVEMENTS. 79 



railwa3'S instead of canvas sails and horses ; 

 active, wide-awake policemen instead of super- 

 annuated, sleeping " Charlies" of the Dogberry 

 school ; brilliant gas in lieu of the darkuess-made- 

 visible lignt, " whose oily rays shot from the 

 crystal lamp." 



No longer can we hail the " officious link-boy's 

 smoky light," except during a dense thick, pea- 

 soup coloured fog in the suicidal month of 

 November. Instead of paved streets we have 

 macadamised roads, albeit, there are some wise- 

 acres who are (to adopt the old joke) ■putting 

 their heads together to form a wooden pave- 

 ment. We have light broughams and neat cabs 

 instead of the rattling " agony" or hackney 

 coach ; iron vessels have taken the place of the 

 " wooden walls of Old England," though our 

 gallant tars are still "hearts of oak;" light 

 French wines have driven good old humble port 

 from our cellars, much to the advantage of gouty 

 subjects. 



Last, not least, the improved system of loco- 

 motion enables the sportsman to hunt from 

 London, to enjoy his breakfast and return to his 

 dinner in the metropolis, to run down to Ascot, 

 Epsom, Egham, Brighton, Croydon, Sandown 

 Park, Windsor, and Goodwood races, and be 



