Jonah: The definite — and VERY vituperative — article on plumbers was

written by Anthony Trollope, no less. It is in John Gross’s Oxford Book of Essays. Samples: “The plumber should be put down with the tax-gatherer as

being as certain as fate and as inexorable… Needless to deny that they

normal London plumber is a dishonest man… we earnestly recommend our

readers to keep as far as possible beyond his reach, and to submit rather to

all the ills of the Arctic and torrid zones than to have their patience

troubled by the coming of that much-hated individual.”

Amongst other points discussed by Trollope is whether a plumber can go to

Heaven. On balance he thinks one can: “We do not see why he should be

debarred if barristers and Cabinet Ministers be allowed to enter. Sound

undeviating honesty … is, as far as we can see, to be found exclusively

among writers for the press…”