Now! Then! The Sheffield Independent publishes a letter condemning “the blackguardism of the streets”

Excerpt

There is one disgusting practice which is daily on the increase, and little or no efforts appear to be made by the authorities to put a stop to it. I refer to the abominable manner in which young couples – one of each sex – are continually insulted and annoyed by gangs of unprincipled fellows who frequent the streets and outskirts of Sheffield. A young lady and gentleman are now positively unable to go anywhere without being compelled to listen to the most obscene and disgusting remarks from these ruffians: and should the insulters be remonstrated with, they either commence an assault on their remonstrators or subject them to still more abominable language. it is really time something was done to put an end to this class of annoyance, as it seems most atrocious that ladies – and, in fact, mere girls – are compelled to hear such disgusting language. I think if our police would put on a few policemen in plain clothes for a short time for the purpose of detecting and punishing these disgusting offenders, we should soon experience a better state of things.

Order the book

Subscribe to the free daily email

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Via Margaret Drinkall, who has unfortunately misdated it (Drinkall 2012).

Something to say? Get in touch

Original

There is one disgusting practice which is daily on the increase, and little or no efforts appear to be made by the authorities to put a stop to it. I refer to the abominable manner in which young couples – one of each sex – are continually insulted and annoyed by gangs of unprincipled fellows who frequent the streets and outskirts of Sheffield. A young lady and gentleman are now positively unable to go anywhere without being compelled to listen to the most obscene and disgusting remarks from these ruffians: and should the insulters be remonstrated with, they either commence an assault on their remonstrators or subject them to still more abominable language. it is really time something was done to put an end to this class of annoyance, as it seems most atrocious that ladies – and, in fact, mere girls – are compelled to hear such disgusting language. I think if our police would put on a few policemen in plain clothes for a short time for the purpose of detecting and punishing these disgusting offenders, we should soon experience a better state of things.

185 words.