Note 14 — THE DRAMA.
Reading edition
It is curious to see the amount of fun which these writers extract from every little peculiarity of Cockney speech. There is an insane use of the relative pronoun, which is of immense service. We cannot remember a good quotation from the play-writers, but here is one from Thackeray:—
“Gallant gents and lovely ladies,
List a tail vich late befel,
Vich I heard it, bein on duty
At the Pleace Hoffice, Clerkenwell.
Praps you know the Fondling Chapel,
Vere the little children sings:
(Lor! I likes to hear on Sundies
Them there pooty little things!)
In the street there lived a housemaid,
If you particklarly ask me where—
Vy it vas at four-and-twenty,
Guilford Street, by Brunswick Square.
Vich her name was Eliza Davis,
And she went to fetch the beer:
In the street she met a party
As was quite surprised to see her.
Vich he was a British sailor
For to judge him by his look:
Tarry jacket, canvass trowsies
Ha-la Mr T. P. Cooke.”