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Sunday Under Three Heads
by Charles Dickens
DEDICATION
To The Right Reverend
THE BISHOP OF LONDON
MY LORD；
You were among the first； some years ago； to expatiate on the
vicious addiction of the lower classes of society to Sunday
excursions； and were thus instrumental in calling forth occasional
demonstrations of those extreme opinions on the subject； which are
very generally received with derision； if not with contempt。
Your elevated station； my Lord； affords you countless opportunities
of increasing the comforts and pleasures of the humbler classes of
society … not by the expenditure of the smallest portion of your
princely income； but by merely sanctioning with the influence of
your example； their harmless pastimes； and innocent recreations。
That your Lordship would ever have contemplated Sunday recreations
with so much horror； if you had been at all acquainted with the
wants and necessities of the people who indulged in them； I cannot
imagine possible。 That a Prelate of your elevated rank has the
faintest conception of the extent of those wants； and the nature of
those necessities； I do not believe。
For these reasons； I venture to address this little Pamphlet to
your Lordship's consideration。 I am quite conscious that the
outlines I have drawn； afford but a very imperfect description of
the feelings they are intended to illustrate； but I claim for them
one merit … their truth and freedom from exaggeration。 I may have
fallen short of the mark； but I have never overshot it： and while
I have pointed out what appears to me； to be injustice on the part
of others； I hope I have carefully abstained from committing it
myself。
I am；
My Lord；
Your Lordship's most obedient；
Humble Servant；
TIMOTHY SPARKS。
JUNE； 1836。
CHAPTER I … AS IT IS
There are few things from which I derive greater pleasure； than
walking through some of the principal streets of London on a fine
Sunday； in summer； and watching the cheerful faces of the lively
groups with which they are thronged。 There is something； to my
eyes at least； exceedingly pleasing in the general desire evinced
by the humbler classes of society； to appear neat and clean on this
their only holiday。 There are many grave old persons； I know； who
shake their heads with an air of profound wisdom； and tell you that
poor people dress too well now…a…days； that when they were
children； folks knew their stations in life better； that you may
depend upon it； no good will come of this sort of thing in the end；
… and so forth： but I fancy I can discern in the fine bonnet of
the working…man's wife； or the feather…bedizened hat of his child；
no inconsiderable evidence of good feeling on the part of the man
himself； and an affectionate desire to expend the few shillings he
can spare from his week's wages； in improving the appearance and
adding to the happiness of those who are nearest and dearest to
him。 This may be a very heinous and unbecoming degree of vanity；
perhaps； and the money might possibly be applied to better uses； it
must not be forgotten； however； that it might very easily be
devoted to worse： and if two or three faces can be rendered happy
and contented； by a trifling improvement of outward appearance； I
cannot help thinking that the object is very cheaply purchased；
even at the expense of a smart gown； or a gaudy riband。 There is a
great deal of very unnecessary cant about the over…dressing of the
common people。 There is not a manufacturer or tradesman in
existence； who would not employ a man who takes a reasonable degree
of pride in the appearance of himself and those about him； in
preference to a sullen； slovenly fellow； who works doggedly on；
regardless of his own clothing and that of his wife and children；
and seeming to take pleasure or pride in nothing。
The pampered aristocrat； whose life is one continued round of
licentious pleasures and sensual gratifications； or the gloomy
enthusiast； who detests the cheerful amusements he can never enjoy；
and envies the healthy feelings he can never know； and who would
put down the one and suppress the other； until he made the minds of
his fellow…beings as besotted and distorted as his own； … neither
of these men can by possibility form an adequate notion of what
Sunday really is to those whose lives are spent in sedentary or
laborious occupations； and who are accustomed to look forward to it
through their whole existence； as their only day of rest from toil；
and innocent enjoyment。
The sun that rises over the quiet streets of London on a bright
Sunday morning； shines till his setting； on gay and happy faces。
Here and there； so early as six o'clock； a young man and woman in
their best attire； may be seen hurrying along on their way to the
house of some acquaintance； who is included in their scheme of
pleasure for the day； from whence； after stopping to take 〃a bit of
breakfast；〃 they sally forth； accompanied by several old people；
and a whole crowd of young ones； bearing large hand…baskets full of
provisions； and Belcher handkerchiefs done up in bundles； with the
neck of a bottle sticking out at the top； and closely…packed apples
bulging out at the sides； … and away they hurry along the streets
leading to the steam…packet wharfs； which are already plentifully
sprinkled with parties bound for the same destination。 Their good
humour and delight know no bounds … for it is a delightful morning；
all blue over head； and nothing like a cloud in the whole sky； and
even the air of the river at London Bridge is something to them；
shut up as they have been； all the week； in close streets and
heated rooms。 There are dozens of steamers to all sorts of places
… Gravesend； Greenwich； and Richmond； and such numbers of people；
that when you have once sat down on the deck； it is all but a moral
impossibility to get up again … to say nothing of walking about；
which is entirely out of the question。 Away they go； joking and
laughing； and eating and drinking； and admiring everything they
see； and pleased with everything they hear； to climb Windmill Hill；
and catch a glimpse of the rich corn…fields and beautiful orchards
of Kent； or to stroll among the fine old trees of Greenwich Park；
and survey the wonders of Shooter's Hill and Lady James's Folly； or
to glide past the beautiful meadows of Twickenham and Richmond； and
to gaze with a delight which only people like them can know； on
every lovely object in the fair prospect around。 Boat follows
boat； and coach succeeds coach； for the next three hours； but all
are filled； and all with the same kind of people … neat and clean；
cheerful and contented。
They reach their places of destination； and the taverns are
crowded； but there is no drunkenness or brawling； for the class of
men who commit the enormity of making Sunday excursions； take their
families with them： and this in itself would be a check upon them；
even if they were inclined to dissipation； which they really are
not。 Boisterous their mirth may be； for they have all the
excitement of feeling that fresh air and green fields can impart to
the dwellers in crowded cities； but it is innocent and harmless。
The glass is circulated； and the joke goes round； but the one is
free from excess； and the other from offence； and nothing but good
humour and hilarity prevail。
In streets like Holborn and Tottenham Court Road； which form the
central market of a large neighbourhood； inhabited by a vast number
of mechanics and poor people； a few shops are open at an early hour
of the morning； and a very poor man； with a thin and sickly woman
by his side； may be seen with their little basket in hand；
purchasing the scanty quantity of necessaries they can afford；
which the time at which the man receives his wages； or his having a
good deal of work to do； or the woman's having been out charing
till a late hour； prevented their procuring over…night。 The
coffee…shops too； at which clerks and young men employed in
counting…houses can procure their breakfasts； are also open。 This
class comprises； in a place like London； an enormous number of
people； whose limited means prevent their engaging for their
lodgings any other apartment than a bedroom； and who have
consequently no alternative but to take their breakfasts at a
coffee…shop； or go without it altogether。 All these places；
however； are quickly closed； and by the time the church bells begin
to ring； all appearance of traffic has ceased。 And then； what are
the signs of immorality that meet the eye？ Churches are well
filled； and Dissenters' chapels are crowded to suffocation。 There
is no preaching to empty benches； while the drunken and dissolute
populace run riot in the streets。
Here is a fashionable church； where the service commences at a late
hour； for the accommodation of such members of the congregation …