Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Promulgation

Baker Street.

A place famous as 221B the boarding house of Sherlock Holmes, but from before it was already a familiar neighborhood to laborers.

Because here was one of the key points of London transportation.

Not only the intermediate stop of ground tram, omnibus that plays the role of bus, hackney carriage no different from taxi, but the station of the Metropolitan Railway the first commercial subway that opened dozens of years ago was also located on Baker Street.

Thanks to that numerous laborers came and went Baker Street morning and evening, and this place naturally also became the optimal sales place for newspaper sellers.

Of course I've almost never ridden the subway.

The subway was mostly lines that transport laborers from the outskirts of London, and there were almost no lines that circulate the downtown like modern times.

I've ridden once out of curiosity, but it was no different from connecting several carriage passenger cars to a steam locomotive.

If riding the subway one has to drink the exhaust that spews out from that narrow underground cave as is who would like it? It's not even free smog experience.

If a fire accident occurs in a place like this? A level so dangerous one really has to risk one's life. People aren't fools so there's no way they wouldn't know that.

So to most people the subway was an emergency means one seeks only when having to go a distance one can't go by carriage unavoidably, usually everyone much preferred the omnibus.

And the subway also had long dispatch intervals, so often if mismatching the time one gets caught among people pouring out onto the street in droves.

Now was exactly such a time.

But the feeling was somehow strange. Seeing people who flocked out onto the street we naturally faced each other's faces.

"People are gathered. The street feels quite lively."

"Right? Did something happen?"

Anyway Baker Street is a stopover to go over to London's central street. It's that the floating population is many, not that people living here are many.

But people stopped their footsteps and gathered in threes and fives looking at something and exchanging heated conversations with each other.

What they were trying to do was clear. Because everyone was holding one newspaper each in their hands.

I took out the pocket watch from my bosom and checked the time.

4:20 PM. The time today's evening newspaper would have been circulated.

"Somehow it seems some fun breaking news was announced while we were spending time at St. Thomas' Hospital? Everyone is holding newspapers in their hands."

It was an era when there weren't many things to enjoy.

The active hobbies ordinary commoners below middle class could enjoy were buying and eating various foods at street stalls, riding bicycles on the outskirts of the city, or playing cards with friends at pubs about all.

A bit more gentlemanly people also bought and read cheap 1 penny newspapers or cheap popular novels (Penny Dreadful).

Especially newspapers carried not only current news but also common sense, life information, serialized novels, simple comics, riddles or crossword puzzles various contents together, so regardless of commoners or middle class it was regarded as an excellent leisure means.

So several newspaper companies issued newspapers morning and evening and waged fierce competition, and among people there were also many who made coming out to the street at a set time and buying and reading newspapers while walking a natural daily routine.

I asked to stop the carriage briefly, and called one newspaper seller who was raising his voice and calling extras at the corner.

That boy was carrying a pile of newspapers on his back, and the typical appearance of a newspaper seller wearing a worn flat cap with short brim deeply pressed.

This guy was one of the friends who inherited my sales area after I moved residence to Lombard Street.

"Bo-Boss! What matter is it suddenly here?!"

"Gary! Can't I come to my hometown? But today's earnings seem good? The newspapers in the bag are half less than usual?"

While taking out the words I took out a 6 pence coin from the pocket and flicked it to him. It was information fee.

Gary made a broad smile and quickly snatched that coin. Between the widely bloomed lips the missing canine tooth was seen empty.

"Ah, Boss! Breaking news, breaking news!"

"I know breaking news came out! You were chattering so noisily. So what's the content?"

In fact even while asking I didn't have big expectations.

An era when newspapers do infinite competition. There were also often cases of chattering as breaking news with nothing special and making big headlines and people getting irritated.

What somewhere some brothers flew an airplane in the sky, or somewhere some navy launched the world's first dreadnought-class battleship, or somewhere some prince couple were shot while doing a car parade such would be common sense breaking news?

I had no interest at all in cricket team match results or such! But some people even discuss such match results raising veins on the forehead so one couldn't let down guard.

"That's, from the royal family, no His Majesty Edward VII!"

His Majesty Edward VII?! Why does that name come out here again?

"Just now he promulgated a special recipe for the subjects of the British Empire they say!!"

"...What?!"

What promulgation? Recipe? Why does the royal family announce a cooking recipe?!

While I made a hollow laugh and lost my soul, similarly surprised Mr. Doyle stuck his head out with a jerk.

"There newspaper seller boy, can you explain in detail? I don't understand. For now is what the royal family announced some... specific dish's recipe?"

It wasn't that the royal family was sanctified and didn't give newspaper article material at all.

Rather now that ruling rights were taken away and it became a constitutional monarchy they were making tremendous efforts to communicate with citizens and build a good image.

So sometimes they gave speeches on specific issues, or directly contributed handwritten statements on diplomatically important matters to newspapers.

If not that announcements about marriage or childbirth, engagement of royal family members, or mourning or condolences of some famous celebrity etc. were also usually through newspapers.

But cooking recipe!

That's a laughingstock no matter who sees?!

But the content Gary summarized while scratching his head, was news that was at least a million light years away to just laugh ordinarily and pass.

"Yes, right! His Majesty recently obtained a recipe of some special dish, and this was so delicious he asked to widely spread so all British Empire subjects can share! What was the name? Wait a moment, this is a bit long so memory... Ah, was it Bun Patty Sauce Butterhead Cheese Pickle Sandwich?"

Ah, crazy, it's hamburger!

That bizarre and long name, was of course the word I roughly glossed over because in Britain where there's no hamburger and doesn't know hamburger steak either it's hard to use the word hamburger!

I can't say I blurted it as is because some specific franchise hamburger's CM song suddenly played in my head!

His Majesty Edward VII's excessive love of meat!

At that age continuing to insist only on meat it wouldn't be strange if collapsing from adult disease anytime, so I devised a hamburger recipe to somehow feed even one more bite of vegetables and sold it to the Countess of Albemarle, and they're spreading that outside so suddenly?!

Your Majesty, what about the royal family's face?! Dignity?!

Clearly this was a reason for political attack. Especially it wouldn't be strange if some old-fashioned nobles or gentry who extremely value maintaining tradition and dignity hang on.

But worrying about such problems right now seemed there was no one around here but me.

"Amazing! Cool! I've heard a lot the talk that His Majesty Edward VII is a truly enlightened monarch but I didn't know he had such an open mind! Here's a tip! Give three copies of that newspaper!"

"Another 6 pence coin! Really thank you, my lord!"

Somehow strangely people look elevated.

Differently from me worrying about the aftermath of the incident, the commoners who know nothing were now gathered on the street raising their voices and praising the merits of His Majesty Edward VII.

Whatever if something fresh and innovative appears people receive shock first.

A monarch who informs to make cooking for citizens?!

This honestly even if now was the 21st century was breaking news that would be big headlined!

Anyway Mr. Doyle received the newspaper and distributed one copy to me, and one copy even to the coachman respectively.

"Oh my, giving newspaper even to this lowly one, thank you, my lord!"

"What, I thought you'd be curious the same. Then let's read the detailed content together."

This article dealt with as 1st page breaking news, simple know-how for making delicious hamburger, no 'Bun Patty Sauce Butterhead Cheese Pickle Sandwich', and a recipe about what one can substitute if ingredients are lacking was written in detail.

And that even taking photos!

No, no matter how much an era when cameras were popularizing the idea of taking food photos besides person or landscape photos with a camera and uploading was really unheard of!

Really shocking! This seems the work of the Countess of Albemarle?! Was it the thought of doing media play?

"Bun Patty Sauce Butterhead Cheese Pickle Sandwich! Certainly the name is long but it's a clever naming that exactly pierces the manufacturing method. If just memorizing this name there would be no reason to confuse the contents. One could even make a song!"

Mr. Doyle, you're joking, right? A song?

Do I have to be thankful for not calling this 'Durand Sandwich'?!

It was a heart of wanting to question if the Countess of Albemarle was in front of my eyes.

Just now I really thought my heart would fall out! What on earth are they trying to give me such a big reward that they even cause such a matter.

But exactly one thing was certain.

His Majesty Edward VII, it was clear he liked the hamburger very much!

"He hasn't even held the coronation yet but His Majesty already left a strong impression on people. Look at the people chattering excitedly over there. He even left a handwritten signature at the end of the newspaper here. 'I dedicate this dish to all beloved British Empire subjects. Eat delicious dishes every festival day and become healthy. Especially eat vegetables without removing.' Hahaha! Sir Durand, really Britain might be changing something! I have the feeling stall vendors selling this sandwich will be laid out all over within this week right away!"

The brioche bun or beef patty I first proposed as recipe if middle class and above one can obtain without problem but to the majority of commoners who earn a day and eat a day it was a matter with a bit of difficulty.

Considering even that other food ingredients that can substitute by price range while guaranteeing excellent taste were meticulously recorded.

For example bread cut any bread instead of brioche and use, cheese also roughly slice or cut into pieces what's at home and put, pickle if no dill just use cucumber pickle, patty if using roast beef or Durand Barbecue one can greatly lower the price... No wait, why is samgyeopsal mentioned here again?!

"Mr. Durand! With this all citizens of Britain will widely know the teacher's name! Hahahat!"

"Don't laugh! This side is very troubled!"

"It was fame one would obtain sometime due to the teacher's good influence. I think even now the timing is late. Get used to it. Aren't I also living well like this?"

Words befitting Britain's best influencer! But isn't that just resignation?!

What if someone throws a stone at my restaurant window and breaks it?! Becoming famous means even crazy antis arise that talk. It absolutely wasn't only a matter to be happy about!

Fortunately this dish didn't even attach the name Durand Sandwich. People passing by also recognized the name was too long, and were calling it 'Edward Sandwich'.

"Wait, this newspaper article doesn't seem to end here?"

The article ate up 1st page, 2nd page and continued even to 3rd page there.

No matter how much content to convey is many I've never seen overinvestment to this point!

However differently from the long front the content of the back was very short.

And it wasn't content the royal family told to write either.

It was a separate editorial the newspaper company put out, unrelated to the royal family.

"Praising the merits and goodwill of His Majesty Edward VII, our Evening Standard paper is soliciting recipes that London citizens can enjoy deliciously... it says?"

What crazy sound is this again?!