FROZEN MEAT IN ENGLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4465, 27 April 1883, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT IN ENGLAND.

The following skit from Pan of February. 21 indicates that the bntcher is still master of the situation at Home, in' regard to the frozen meat tradr:—lt was the midnight which followed Wednesday, February 8. A laden vessel arrived - in the docks. Cautiously and glancing > hurriedly on every side as. if in deadly 'apprehension, the .reporter crept to the vessel's side and scribbled in his note* book:—-"The steamship Sorrento, from New Zealand with a car——." Then the reporter fled hastily towards the swift steed that waited for him round the

corner, for he was pursued, by % muffled . figure 'with a bine apron, wielding a long knife. . . The unhappy reporter has not been heard of since.

"•-.-> But somehow the tidin sof truth sped on, for, seated in his most secluded cham- "-■" ber, and protected by his most heavilybarred door, the editor nervously penned r !the glad report for press. Yes, the editor 'himself,'for none other on the paper dared ; .to face the dangerous task. The writing ran thus:—" The steamship Sorrento, ...from..New Zealand, with a cargo of fro——-." ' Then he looked up nervously, !.for.a swift chopper was hewing its way through the wall, and in another instant he was confronted by a figure with a dark ■ blue serge apron, light blue cotton sleeves, .and knife All subsequent inquiries for the unfortunate editor have proved vain. 'Yet the truth crept on. Uuder the coyer of darkness, in the highest and most inaccessible composing room, a daring -J',' compositor was apprensively setting up *'"]type.", He had already set up the words: ; '.^"Xne steamship Sorrento, ', from New „ Zealand, with a cargo of frozen " when the figure with a dark blue serge -" *pron, light bliie cotton sleeves, sharpening steel, and gleaming knife, stood behind -him. . ... The report as to the mis- . . sing compositor having gone on a visit to Ms aunt at the Malstrom is feared to be without foundation.

■': Still the good news sped on its way. The newsboy, cautiously hurried along, '' eTCT and' anon glancing to the right and left in anxiety."'_ His face was pale, yet he nobly sought .to fulfil his duty. Warily he unveiled to the gentle reader a paragraph in the ' newspaper. It ran thus:—"The steamship Sorrento, from New Zealand, with a cargo of frozen me——." Bnt the figure with the dark I>lue apron, light blue sleeves, sharpening steel hung from a leather thong, hatchet, and gleaming knife, stood behind him. ..... . No hope of recovering the newsboy is entertained. ''" Yet the message sped on until it reached the right hands. And here it is : " : The steamship Sorrento, from New Zealand, with a cargo of frozen mutton amounting to 5838 carcases, arrived in London on Wednesday, 7th February. Theaverage rate at which the meat was purchased by the butchers was 7£ per lb." But now—aha !—let the figure in the blue* apron come and do his worst! We ■have told it, and we are prepared to die in ■'^tjiei (Sxebntionbf our duty. And this is what the newspaper (which seems equally :/Jsv*^';.witbourself) says about it-.-The. general consumer is not likely, therefore, to benefit in the slightest degree by this welcome shipment; but he will gain indirectly, since every successfnl arrival of 'ftipzenl meat from the antipodes brings nearer the day when he will be able to purchase it direct, and free from the intervention of the übiquitous middleman.', Ah, yes ! let us hope so. Meanwhile, you—you needn't, don't you know —tell the übiquitous middle-iman-^unless he asks you—that we helped to circulate the news. He's a powerful .person, and there's no knowing what aw;fnl,punishment on us the "Custom of the . Twde" may legalise..

inhere Ignoranceis Bliss, &c—Friend (pulling, long face)—" Hullo, Wagstaff, how are you, old man! So grieved to hear *©f ; your troubles. -I hope you're all 1 * right;"' I: assure you I fully symp —" Wagstaff 1 (with surprise)— •• Eh ? Thanks ~but I've been all right—never better in lire! Troubles! Must be some mis- : "take." Friend^" Well—l heard you bad been seriously embarrassed —'n fact that »ypu'd been through the Court." Wag ''Staff (enlightened)—"Oh !—I see. You mean my cVeditor?! Lor, yes, poor fel.lb^s.^hey have had a bad time of it!" )i [Exe»nt, laughing.]'; ; " - ,