"Two youths, named LEE and FULFORD, were charged with being on Saturday at the bottom of Paris-street, the former with a broom with which he swept the crossing, and then they each begged of the individuals, who availed themselves of this clean part to cross on, something to remunerate them for their troubles, but at the same time using impertinent language to those who did not reward them.
"The Superintendent informed the Bench that he had had many complaints made of him of late of the insolence of these boys.
"The Bench ordered Fulford to be locked up for six hours, and the other was dismissed with a reprimand."
What these boys, they would have been very little boys, were doing was surely a public-service, a bit like being a lolipop-lady. These days they might have found themselves in the running for an M.B.E.
Clearly the Magistrates at Exeter Guildhall did not see it like that. It would have been the impertinent language that they leveled at those respectable citizens who failed to pay for their swept-clean passage across the filthy road that caused them to be charged. I should like to know just what the boys said.
I notice these days that the mendicants of Exeter , with a few exceptions, are wonderfully polite to people, like me, who do not give them money. The much muttered "Have a good day!" being the depressing mantra that they address to our, the meanies', retreating backs.
Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 10th January, 1850.
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