Delectations: Oh, to Be in England

Some observations after a winter, including Christmas, largely spent in London:

Part of the time, England was buried in snow such as, apparently, they’d not seen in a hundred years. The English were very surprised that snow should fall in winter: they kept saying: “We never expected this—it should not happen.” In London, no snow was swept away anywhere, apparently on the principle that “if the Lord put it there, let Him take it away.” But He did not, for the longest time. No sidewalks were swept either—nowhere, not even in front of the fanciest stores. You can imagine the spills and the mess. The stated reason for this neglect was that there was no public money available to have it done, and that houseowners and storekeepers had never done this kind of work before.

NH

About the Author

Nika Hazelton

Featured Tags

Some observations after a winter, including Christmas, largely spent in London:

Part of the time, England was buried in snow such as, apparently, they’d not seen in a hundred years. The English were very surprised that snow should fall in winter: they kept saying: “We never expected this—it should not happen.” In London, no snow was swept away anywhere, apparently on the principle that “if the Lord put it there, let Him take it away.” But He did not, for the longest time. No sidewalks were swept either—nowhere, not even in front of the fanciest stores. You can imagine the spills and the mess. The stated reason for this neglect was that there was no public money available to have it done, and that houseowners and storekeepers had never done this kind of work before.