THE PRAISE OF CHIMNEY-SWEEPERS

Synopsis

Lamb tells us that he feels attracted towards young chimney-sweepers

whose cry of "sweep, sweep" at dawn reminds him of the chirping of

sparrows. He describes chimney-sweepers as "dim specks," "poor blots,"

"innocent blacknesses," etc. The work of chimney-sweepers, says Lamb,

demands a lot of patience. As a child, Lamb used greatly to marvel at the

manner in which a young chimney sweeper would enter the chimney from

below and climb higher and higher, brushing its walls, till he emerged at the

top.

Lamb urges his readers to give a penny or a twopence to a young

chimney-sweeper if they happen to meet one, because a boy of this category is

surely deserving of that much charity.

Lamb then goes on to describe a concoction which is prepared from a

kind of sweet wood called "sassafras." This sassafras tea, or "salop" as it is

called, is a favourite beverage with chimney-sweepers. Lamb himself has

never tasted it because of its unsavoury smell, but there is some quality of this

concoction that makes it very palatable to young chimney-sweepers. They

find it as gratifying to-their senses of smell and taste as a sprig of valerian* is

to cats. A man called Mr. Read keeps a shop on the south side of Fleet Street

where he sells this "wholesome and pleasant beverage." But Mr. Read has his

imitators who sell the same concoction from their stalls in the early hours of

the morning to artisans setting forth to commence the labours of the day. Let

the reader, says Lamb, offer a basin, of this drink (costing only a twopence or

so) to a chimney-sweeper. The chimney-sweeper will work the better for this

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hospitality and will clean his benefactor's chimney so well that it will never

catch fire from a casual spark. The reader's hospitality, says Lamb, will thus

be well rewarded as may save him the expense of having to call fire-engines

in the event of the accumulated thick soot inside his chimney catching fire.

Lamb says that, although he cannot tolerate the jeers and ridicule of a

street crowd, he does not mind a young chimney-sweeper jeering and

laughing at him. Once, in the course of a walk, Lamb slipped and fell on his

back in a street. A roguish young chimney-sweeper, seeing him in that

condition, laughed and laughed till the tears flowed from his eyes. But Lamb

did not feel offended in the least. Indeed, he felt happy that he had provided

so much fun to'a young chimney-sweeper. After all, there is not the least

malice in a young chimney-sweeper's laughter.

* valerian—a kind of plant with a rather unpleasant smell.

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Lamb does not like young ladies to make a display of their beautiful

white teeth. But the sight of a young chimney-sweeper displaying his white

and shining teeth is welcome to him. A black and sooty figure showing a set of

white teeth looks an attractive sight.

Lamb then goes on to say that all the chimney-sweepers are not low-born.

Some of them were born in high, aristocratic families and were kidnapped

from their palatial homes in their infancy. Lamb tells the story of how once a

young chimney-sweeper was found fast asleep in a luxurious bed in an

aristocratic mansion. Obviously, this boy, feeling exhausted after his

sweeping of the chimneys of that mansion, had crept into this bed and fallen

asleep. But, says Lamb, no low-born chimney-sweeper could have ever dared

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to lie down on a lordly bed. The only possible explanation of the conduct of

this young boy was that, having aristocratic blood in his veins, he was

promoted by some natural instinct to get into that aristocratic bed. This boy

must have been the scion of an aristocratic family and must, in his early

childhood, have been kidnapped from his home.

Finally, Lamb tells us the story of how his friend Jem White used to give

annual parties to entertain a large number of young chimney-sweepers. Jem

White was a very benevolent man with a great deal of sympathy for these

unfortunate chimney-sweepers. At his annual feasts, he would offer to his

guests a sumptuous meal He would evince a lot of interest in his guests and

go round to each one of them, offering a morsel here and a slice there. Then he

used to propose several toasts—to the king, to the chimney-sweepers'

profession, and so on. The slogan of one of the toasts was: "May the Brush

supersede the Laurel." The chimney-sweepers really used to enjoy

themselves on these occasions. But, with the death of Jem White, these annual

parties came to an end.

Critical Comments

This is one of the finest of Lamb's essays. We do not, of course have

chimney-sweepers in our country and England, too, has no need of chimney-sweepers these days. But
neither of these two facts hinders or diminishes our

enjoyment of this essay. His praise of chimney-sweepers show Lamb's

essential humanity, his profoundly sympathetic nature, and his concern for the

under-dog. Here he shows himself as a champion of an unfortunate class of

workmen. Of course, he speaks only for the young chimney-sweepers, "those

tender novices," and not the grown-up or old chimney-sweepers who do not

interest him. Lamb recalls his childish wonder at a young chimney-sweeper's

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disappearing into the chimney from below and, after a while, emerging at the

top like a warrior who has conquered a citadel. Lamb's sympathetic nature is

seen in his urging the reader to give a penny or a twopence to a chimney-sweeper whenever he
happens to meet one. Lamb gives an edge to his praise

of chimney-sweepers when he tells us that he does not in the least feel

offended when a young chimney-sweeper laughs and jeers at him. Normally

sensitive to street insults, he is indulgent towards this kind of behaviour on the

part of young chimney-sweepers. Similarly, he welcomes the sight of the

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white teeth of a sooty young chimney-sweeper, though he cannot tolerate a

lady making a display of her white teeth.

This is a deeply personal essay. Lamb here talks as much about himself as

about chimney-sweepers. We get an insight into Lamb's mind and nature. The

personal pronoun "I" is used throughout. But the kind of egotism that we find

in this essay is charming and not irritating or annoying. The personality of

Lamb shines through this essay* and it is a very attractive personality, indeed.

His advocacy of the unfortunate class of young chimney-sweepers endears

him to us. So persuasively does he speak in their behalf, that we readily begin

to share his sentiments with regard to them.

Lamb does not always stick closely to his subject in his essays. Here, for

instance, there are as many as three paragraphs in which he describes what he

calls "sassafras tea" which, in spite of its repellent odour, is greatly relished

by chimney-sweepers. In these paragraphs, he waxes eloquent over this

particular kind of concoction which is relished not only by chimney-sweepers

but also by other classes of workmen leaving their homes at dawn to

commence the labour of the day.

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Lamb often gives free reins to his fancy, as he does in this essay. He

imagines that some of the chimney-sweepers were born in noble families and

were kidnapped from their aristocratic homes in their infancy. In order to lend

credibility to his fanciful theory, he relates the anecdote of a young chimney-sweeper who was found
fast asleep in a lordly bed in Arundel Castle.

Lamb is fond of interspersing his essays with anecdotes. This essay

contains at least three anecdotes. There is the story of how once he slipped in

the course of a walk and became the butt of ridicule for a young chimney-sweeper. Then there is the
story of the chimney-sweeper whose aristocratic

instinct prompted him to get into a lordly bed in order to rest his tired limbs.

Finally, there is the long anecdote relating to the sumptuous entertainments

which Jem White used annually to arrange in honour of young chimney-sweepers. These anecdotes lend
a narrative interest to this essay. There are

also a number of allusions in the essay to give point to an argument or to lend

emphasis to a statement.

Lamb's gift to wit and humour finds an ample illustration in this essay.

We are greatly amused by the manner in which he describes the young

chimney-sweepers by using different phrases. We are amused by a

description of the disappearance of a young chimney-sweeper entering a

chimney and his re-appearance, after doing his job, at the top. The entire

description of "sassafras" tea and the young chimney-sweepers' preference

for his beverage is humourous.* Then follows the. incident of Lamb's

stumbling in a street and exciting the mirth and laughter of a young chimney-sweeper. The satirical
reference to fine ladies making a display of their "white

and shining ossifications" is yet another example of Lamb's humour. The

whole account of the annual parties arranged by Jem White to entertain young

chimney-sweepers is characterised by Lamb's characteristic wit and humour.

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Although humour is the pervading quality of this essays, there are a few

examples of pathos in it also. A touching reference is made to the poverty of

chimney-sweepers: "Reader, if thou meetest one of these small gentry in thy

early rambles, it is good to give him a penny." The need of further charity to

chimney-sweepers is indicated by Lamb when he calls upon the reader to

"regale" these chimney-sweepers with a sumptuous basin of sassafras tea.

There is pathos also in Lamb's account of how some of these chimney-sweepers might have been
kidnapped in their infancy from the aristocratic

homes where they were born.

In point of style, this essay is a rich feast for the literary epicure. The

reader who loves high sounding words and phrases and who has a taste for the

unusual word rather than the usual or common word, or who has a

predilection for a high-flown style of writing, will draw much pleasure from

this essay. Iteration, which is one of the ingredients of Lamb's style in some of

his essays, finds a place here also. Examples of the use of this device are

given below:

(1) I have a kindly yearning towards these aim specks—-poor blots—

innocent blacknesses—these young Africans of our own growth—the almost

clergy imps (The various phrases here have been used as a description of

young chimney-sweepers).

(2) It is like some remnant of gentry not quite extinct; a badge of better

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days: a hint of nobility. and a lapsed pedigree. The italicized phrases are

an example of iteration.)

Here are examples of the use of high-sounding or unusual words and

phrases (which have been italized):

(1) —but one of those tender novices, blooming through their first

negritude.

(2) to come just in time to see the sable phenomenon emerge in

safety.

(3) I have never yet venture*4 to dip my own particular lip in a basin of his

commended ingredients—a cautious premonition to the olfactories

constantly whispering to me.

(4) Yet I have seen palates, otherwise not uninstructed in dietetical

elegances, sup it up with avidity.

(5) —whether the oily particles (sassafras is slightly oleaginuous) do

attenuate and soften the fuliginous concretions.

(6) The rake, who wishes to dissipate his o 'er-night vapour in more

grateful coffee, curses the ungenial fume, as he passeth.

(7) Him shouldest thou haply encounter, with his dim visage pendent

over the grateful steam, regale him with a sumptuous basin

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(8) —so may thy culinary fires, eased of the o 'er-charged secretions

from thy worse-placed hospitalities, curl up a lighter volume in the welkin.

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The style of this essay is remarkable for its eloquence. The description of

a chimney-sweeper gleefully enjoying the sight of the author's slipping in the

street is an example of sheer eloquence. Almost this entire description is

given in one long sentence containing several parentheses. (There are three

pairs of brackets in this sentence and four dashes.)

Even more eloquent is the description of the annual feasts to which

Lamb's friend Jem White used to invite your chimney-sweepers. The

descriptive powers of Lamb find a remarkable expression here. We are

irresistibly carried forward from one sentence of this description to another as

if over a flood.

This is a highly imaginative essay with a deep emotional appeal and is

written in a poetic style. It may, indeed, be called a 'lyric in prose."

Notes and Explanations

Page 141

Line 3

tender novices—young beginners.

Line 7 IllllS

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peep, peep—Young chimney-sweepers passing through the streets in the

morning used to offer their services to house-wives by shouting: "sweep,

sweep." Their cry of "sweep, sweep," is compared by Lamb to the "peep,

peep" (chirping) of a young sparrow.

or liker to the matin lark—ox more like the sound of the morning lark.

Line 8

their aerial ascents—their climbing up the high chimneys.

Lines 10—12

dim specks—poor blots-—innocent blackness—young Africans of our

own growth—These indifferent phrases are intended to describe young

chimney-sweepers. These phrases convey the youth of the chimney-sweepers, their blackness (caused,
by the soot which covers their faces and

garments), and their poverty.

Lines 13—14 -

**

who sport their cloth without assumption—who go about in their

professional clothes without any touch of pride. "Cloth" actually refers to the

professional dress of a clergyman. Lamb has already referred to chimney

sweepers as "clergy imps." A clergyman is a moralist who gives advice.

Chimney-sweepers are also moralists because, by working hard, they preach

the lesson of patience to others, (without assumption—in an unassuming

manner; humble)

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20

fauces Averni—the jaws of hell. A chimney-sweeper entering a chimney

from below seemed to Lamb to be entering the jaws of hell.

Line 25

the sable phenomenon—the black figure of a chimney-sweeper.

Line 29

a stack—a row of chimneys in the same block of houses.

Line 31

Macbeth—a. famous tragic play by Shakespeare.

Line 33

these small gentry—these humble chimney-sweepers.

Line 36

kibed heels—sore heels. "Kibe" is an "itching sore" on hands or heels.

Lines 37—38

the demand on thy humanity wilt surely rise to a tester—your spirit of

charity will compel you to give the chimney sweepers at least a sixpence.

{tester-—a coin of the value of sixpence).

Page 142

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Line 40

'yclept—called; described as.

sassafras—the name of a shrub.

Lines42—43

a delicacy beyond the China luxury—something more enjoyable than tea

("China luxury" is an expression used for tea.)

Line 48

Salopian House—shop selling "salop" or "sassafras tea."

Lines 48—50

I have never yet ventured.......his commended ingredients—Lamb says

that he has never himself tasted the concoction recommended by Mr. Read,

the owner of the "Salopian" shop.

Lines50—51

a camToc^nremom^on to ^e °tfactories—a warning to the sense of

smell. (The strong ree^ent smell of sassafras tea prevented Lamb from .

tasting it; his sense of smej?!ood in the way of his tasting this tea)

NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS

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Lines 52—54

319

Yet I have seen palates with avidity—In spite of its foul smell, Lamb

had seen people taking this tea greedily. Some of the persons he had seen

drinking this tea were men of a discriminating taste in matters of food and

drink, (dietetical elegances—excellent taste in diet or food.)

Lines 58—59

oleaginous—oily or greasy.

Line 59

fuliginous concretions—soot formations: quantities of soot.

Line 61

these unpledged practitioners-—these juvenile chimney-sweepers.

lenitive—a soothing agent.

Line 74 ' - IflilillSllilt !

who keepest what are called good hours—who goest to bed early.

Lines 76—77

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dispense the same savoury mess—sell the same excellent beverage.

Lines 78—79

the rake, reeling home from his midnight cups—the pleasure-loving,

dissipated man staggering homewards in a drunken condition after his

midnight revelry.{midnight cups—midnight drinking).

Lines 81—82

¦*

for the honours of the pavement—-for the right of walking close to the

wall of the pavement. (Walking along the wall of the pavement used to be

safer. There used to be a good deal of jostling among pedestrains to. gain this

advantage).

Page 143

Line 86

curses the ungenial fume—curses sassafras tea because he would prefer

to drink coffee in order to neutralise the effect of excessive drinking during

the night, coffee being a superior beverage,

Lines 91—92

Covent Garden's famed piazza—the principal vegetable market in

London in those days.

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Line 93

unpennied sweep-r-penniiess chimney-sweepers.-

320

Lines93—99

Him shouldest thou haply encounter. a lighter volume to the welkin—

If the reader finds a black-faced chimney-sweeper bending over the agreeable

fumes of sassafras tea, let him buy a basin of this tea and offer it to the poor

fellow. Let the reader buy him a slice of bread and butter also. All these will

hardly cost him four halfpennies. In return for this generosity, the chimney¬

sweeper will put in some extra labour to clean the reader's chimney, with the

result that only light smoke will rise from his chimney toward the sky.

Line 94

dim visage—dark face, pendent—hanging; bending.

Line 97

culinary fires—fires lighted in order to cook meat and vegetables.

Line 98

eased of the ov 'r-charged secretions—the chimney walls from which are

accumulated soot has been brushed off.

Lines 98—99

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worse-placed hospitalities—entertainments arranged in honour of

people who do not need them; misplaced hospitalities.

-send up a column of lighter

Line 99

curl up a lighter volume to the welkin-

smoke to the sky. (welkin—sky.)

Line 103

casual scintillation—an accidental spark setting fire to the soot in a

chimney.

Line 121

Hogarth—a famous English painter and engraver (1697-1764).

Lines 121—123

but Hogarth has got him already. to Finchley—Hogarth has painted a

picture depicting soldiers on the march through the streets. In this picture, a

chimney-sweeper has also been shown. Thus Hogarth did not neglect or

ignore chimney-sweepers. He found them a fit subject for painting.

Page 144

Lines 130—131

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obdurate to the seductiveness teeth—indifferent to the charm of a

woman's beautiful teeth.

Lines 131—138

Every pair of rosy lips.. piece of foppery—Here is a fling at women

who make a display of their beautiful white teeth. Lamb says that he is totally

321

unresponsive to this display. Teeth are after all bones. There is no reason for

him to feel thrilled by the sight of these bones in the mouth of a woman.

However, when a chimney-sweeper displays.his white and shining teeth,

Lamb does not feel offended. He does not adopt an attitude of scorn towards a

chimney-sweeper who is displaying his white teeth which shine all the more

because of his soot-covered face.

Lines 137—138

an agreeable anomaly in manners—an acceptable breach of good

manners.

Line 137

ossifications—bones; here used for teeth, allowable piece of foppery—

permissible bit of display.

Line 139

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A sable cloud, etc/—a quotation from Milton's Comus.

Line 151

Rachels—mothers who have lost their children. (Rachel is a Biblical

character.)

Line 154

young Montagu—young son of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. This boy

ran away from school and became a chimney-sweeper. Eventually he was

recovered and taken home.

Line 155

defiliations—loss of sons.

Lines 161—162

the lap where Venus lulled Ascanius—Ascanius in ancient mythology

was the son of Aeneas who was the son of Archises and the goddess Venus.

Page 145

Line 189

incunabula (Latin)—birthplace.

Lines 207—208

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all is not soot which looks so—a parody of the proverb, "All is not gold

that glitters."

Line 208

quiotedout—driven out

Lines 209—210

as not having on the wedding garment—as not wearing the chimney¬

sweepers' garb and therefore not fit to be admitted to the feast.

Line 211

among the pens—among the cattle-sheds of Smithfield Market.

Page 146

Lines 223—225

for Rochester in his modest days than my friend—The Earl of

Rochester was the witty and dissolute companion of King Charles II. Lamb

says that even Rochester in his wildest and gayest days could not have played

the part of a host with as much success as. Jem White achieved.

Lines 232—234

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O it was a pleasure to see the sable younkers lick in the unctuous meat,

with his more unctuous sayings—Lamb says that it was a pleasure for him to

see the black chimney-sweepers licking the delicious meat and also enjoying

the witty and amusing remarks of their host, Jem White.

Line 233

sable—dark; black, younkers—youngsters.

unctuous—soft or delicious; enjoyable.

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