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Inside the Shelter.

The cramped confines of a cabman's shelter showing the lunch counter. The proprietor (in apron) is standing in the doorway of the tiny kitchen.

Source:
Outing magazine, vol. XLV, 1904, p. 157.

Vance Thompson's Cab Drivers / 19

The London Cabby / 6

"I'd it from 'im," Old George 'Umphries, the Mush, remarked, "'e was driving for me an' 'e told me. 'E 'ad a girl an' she 'ad shaken him. 'S trewth! Shaken 'im. 'E was desprit. An' there 'e was with sixty pounds-worth o' 'orse-flesh, driving through the night an' 'im a desprit man! It makes my blood run cold to think of it. Wild 'e was an' desprit. 'E should have been on the 'Orseshoe rank. 'E found 'imself in Barnesbury. So 'e 'ad a drink in the Wynford Arms – w'ich is known to all present – an' came out more desprit than before, 'e told me. There 'e stood an' up came that white an' yellow tiger-cat an' rubbed 'erself against 'is leg. 'E told me, 'e says: 'If that ain't cheek!' and the tiger-cat rubs 'erself against 'is other leg. 'E picks 'er up an' puts 'er under 'is coat. An' Peppermint Jack, 'e told me," said Old George 'Umphries, the Mush, leaning forward and speaking with husky emphasis, "'e told me, that w'en 'e felt that 'eap o' warm 'air on 'is 'eart the despritness went out of 'im."

"Garn, 'e was barmy," said Old Sepoy.

"'E told me 'imself," the Mush repeated doggedly, "a 'eap o' warm 'air 'e called that tiger-cat an' 'e put it on 'is 'eart an' the depritness went out of 'im. 'E told me so 'imself."

There was no gainsaying it, so George Spinks sang a song; he was followed by Will Temple, "comic and sentimental," and Ted Mayo, "descriptive and sentimental" – and we all thought of the girl who had shaken Peppermint Jack. It was late when we went away and the cabbies were still arriving. Chair welcomed them with a stentorous "Roll up, ye night-men!" and they rolled.

From the time he passes his examination at Scotland Yard and gets his license the cabby is pretty well looked after by the philanthropic people who like to figure on boards and "mind someone else's business." Some of them do no harm; a few of the societies do a great deal of good. About the best of them is the "Cab-drivers Benevolent Association" in Soho Square, which is patronized by the King and of which Mr. S. Sutherland is the secretary. The cabman who becomes a member pays in an annual subscription of five shillings. When old or disabled he receives an annuity of twenty pounds a year; at least twelve annuitants are yearly chosen by vote of the members. Among those elected this year were our friends Knock Softly, who had driven a cab for forty-three years, Crimea Sailor Jack, who retires at seventy-one after forty-five years on the box and Little Hill of Westbourne Park and Davis Street, who had driven nearly half a century. Almost all of the old cabbies suffer from rheumatism, bronchitis and asthma. Quite as admirable is the Cabmen's Shelter Fund which has established forty-five shelters in various parts of London, where the cabby on rank may eat, smoke, drink harmless beverages, read the newspapers. The attendants are usually superannuated cabmen. The various shelters are used by about 4,000 cabmen daily.