FROM THE INHABITANTS OF KENSINGTON, HAMMERSMITH, TURNHAM-GREEN, ISLEWORTH, ETC. "The alarm occasioned throughout the neighbourhood is beyond description, most persons being afraid to venture out after dark, the darkness of the roads, from the discontinuance of the gas-lamps, affording every facility for the operations of evil-disposed persons." --Times, 23rd Nov. 1840. All hail to thee, O glorious Moon!
With joy we greet thine orb on high;
With joy we welcome as a boon
Thy lamp set in the wintry sky. No mundane feuds can quench thy light;
No gas commissioners withhold
Thy rays, that through the dreary night
Still shine, as they were wont of old. By love-lorn swain and pensive maid
Thou hast been often eulogized;
More grateful vows none ever paid
Than we, by darkness jeopardized. Diana, Cynthia, Luna, thou
Wert named erstwhile in classic Greece;
But we beg leave to call thee now,
"Best adjunct to the new police." For when the unlighted roads they pace,
If they don't see beyond their nose,
How can they possibly give chase
To every thief that comes and goes? Foot-pads again may take their ground,
Macheaths and Turpins re-appear;
And trembling travellers that sound,
"Stand and deliver!" once more hear. The curfew bell now tolls no more,
As 'neath the tyrant Norman's sway;
Yet woe betide the wight who o'er
His threshold dares at night to stray. When winter fairly has begun,
With all its slippery frost and thaw,
The mischief that will then be done
We contemplate with fear and awe. What splashing, clashing, crashing, smashing,
Of carts, cabs, omnibuses, flys!
What thumps! What bumps! What slashing, gashing!
Sprain'd arms, bruised shins, and blacken'd eyes! Then, glorious Moon, all hail to thee!
Hail to thy periodic light!
When thou art out, so may we be,
Kind guardian of the dang'rous night!