ABSTRACT
InowcometotheStreetMusiciansandStreetVocalistsofLondon. Theseareamorenumerouscla~sthananyotherofthestreetperformers thatIhaveyetdealtwith.TheMusiciansareestimatedat1,000,andthe BalladSingersat250.
TheStreetMusiciansareoftwokinds-theskilfulandtheblind.The formerobtaintheirmoneybytheagreeablenessoftheirperformance,and thelatterinpityfortheirapplicationratherthanoftheirharmony.The blindStreetMusicians,itmustbeconfessed,belonggenerallytotherudest classofperformers.Musicisnotusedbythemasameansofpleasing,but ratherasamodeofsolicitingattention.Suchindividualsareknowninthe "profession"bythenameof"pensioners;"theyhavetheirregularrounds tomake,andparticularhousesatwhichtocalloncertaindaysoftheweek, andfromwhichtheygenerallyobtaina''smalltrifle.''Theyform,however, amostpeculiarclassofindividuals.Theyaremostlywell-knowncharacters, andmanyofthemhavebeenperforminginthestreetsofLondonformany years.Theyarealsoremarkableforthereligiouscastoftheirthoughts,and thecomparativerefmementoftheirtastesandfeelings.
