The sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, gent[pseud.] together with Abbotsford and other selections from the writings of Washington Irving .. . ng one of those noble charities set on foot by in-dividual munificence, and kept up with the quaintness andsanctity of ancient times amidst the modern changes andinnovations of London. Here eighty broken-down men, whohad seen better days, are provided, in their old age, with food,clothing, fuel, and a yearly allowance for private dine together as did the monks of old, in the hall whichhad been the refectory of the original convent. Attached to
The sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, gent[pseud.] together with Abbotsford and other selections from the writings of Washington Irving .. . ng one of those noble charities set on foot by in-dividual munificence, and kept up with the quaintness andsanctity of ancient times amidst the modern changes andinnovations of London. Here eighty broken-down men, whohad seen better days, are provided, in their old age, with food,clothing, fuel, and a yearly allowance for private dine together as did the monks of old, in the hall whichhad been the refectory of the original convent. Attached tothe establishment is a school for forty-four boys. 15. Stow, whose work I have consulted on the subject,speaking of the obligations of the gray-headed pensioners,says: They are not to intermeddle with any business touch-ing the affairs of the hospital, but to attend only to the serviceof God, and take thankfully what is provided for them, with- LONDON ANTIQUES 119 out muttering, murmuring, or grudging. None to wearweapon, long hair, colored boots, spurs or colored shoes,feathers in their hats, or any ruffian hke or unseemly apparel,. The Great Hall, Charterhouse but such as becomes hospital men to wear. And intruth, adds Stow, happyare they that are so taken from thecares and sorrows of the world, and fixed in so good a placeas these old men are; having nothing to care for, but thegood of their souls, to serve God and to live in brotherly love. 16. For the amusement of such as have been interested bythe preceding sketch, taken down from my own observation,and who may wish to know a little more about the mysteriesof London, I subjoin a modicum of local history, put into my 120 THE SKETCH-BOOK hands by an odd-looking old gentleman in a small brownwig and a snuff-colored coat, with whom I became acquaintedshortly after my visit to the Charterhouse. I confess I wasa little dubious at first, w^hether it was not one of those apoc-ryphal tales often passed off upon inquiring traveller
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