Pinkerton, Lincoln, McClernand
On this day 1st of July in 1884 Allan Pinkerton, the Scottish-born detective, died.
The son of a Glasgow policeman, Pinkerton trained as a cooper before emigrating to the USA in 1842. Rumour has it that he fled for fear of imminent arrest.
After serving as a sheriff in Chicago, he set up the Pinkerton detective agency. He was responsible for guarding Abraham Lincoln and saved him from assassination in 1861.
Pinkerton also served as chief of US Secret Service during the American Civil War. The Pinkerton company logo was “We Never Sleep”, and emblazoned above the logo on the company headquarters was a huge black and white eye, which gave rise to the expression private eye. Scotclans
A Policeman’s Lot: W.S. Gilbert
Sergeant.
When a felon’s not engaged in his employment –
Police.
His employment,
Sergeant.
Or maturing his felonious little plans –
Police.
Little plans,
Sergeant.
His capacity for innocent enjoyment –
Police.
‘Cent enjoyment
Sergeant.
Is just as great as any honest man’s –
Police.
Honest man’s.
Sergeant.
Our feelings we with difficulty smother –
Police.
‘Culty smother,
Sergeant.
When constabulary duty’s to be done –
Police.
To be done.
Sergeant.
Ah, take one consideration with another –
Police.
With another,
Sergeant.
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one.
Police.
Ah!
Sergeant & Police.
When constabulary duty’s to be done, to be done,
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one, happy one.
Sergeant.
When the enterprising burglar’s not a-burgling –
Police.
Not a-burgling.
Sergeant.
When the cut-throat isn’t occupied in crime –
Police.
‘Pied in crime,
Sergeant.
He loves to hear the little brook a-gurgling –
Police.
Brook a-gurgling,
Sergeant.
And listen to the merry village chime –
Police.
Village chime.
Sergeant.
When the coster’s finished jumping on his mother –
Police.
On his mother,
Sergeant.
He loves to lie a-basking in the sun –
Police.
In the sun.
Sergeant.
Ah, take one consideration with another –
Police.
With another,
Sergeant.
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one.
Police.
Ah!
Sergeant & Police.
When constabulary duty’s to be done, to be done,
A policeman’s lot is not a happy one, happy one.
Categories: Culture
