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+ border:thin solid silver; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; font-family: Georgia, serif; + clear: both; } + .covernote { visibility: hidden; display: none; } + div.tnotes p { text-align: justify; } + .x-ebookmaker .covernote { visibility: visible; display: block; } + h1 {line-height: 150%; } + .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } + body {font-family: Garamond, Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; } + table {font-size: .9em; padding: 1.5em .5em 1em; page-break-inside: avoid; + clear: both; } + div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.titlepage p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 3em; } + .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; + page-break-before: always; } + .double {border-style: double;border-width: 4px; padding: 1em; clear: both; } + .x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { float: left; } + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78155 ***</div> + +<div class='tnotes covernote'> + +<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> + +<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class='double titlepage'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c001'> + <div>“<i>Familiar in their Mouths as HOUSEHOLD WORDS.</i>”—<span class='sc'>Shakespeare.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span> + <h1 class='c002'>HOUSEHOLD WORDS.<br> <span class='xlarge'>A WEEKLY JOURNAL.</span></h1> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c001'> + <div><span class='large'>CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DICKENS.</span></div> + <div class='c001'>N<sup>o.</sup> 12.]      SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1850.      [<span class='sc'>Price</span> 2<i>d.</i></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>OLD LAMPS FOR NEW ONES.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c004'>The Magician in “Aladdin” may possibly +have neglected the study of men, for the study +of alchemical books; but it is certain that in +spite of his profession he was no conjuror. +He knew nothing of human nature, or the +everlasting set of the current of human +affairs. If, when he fraudulently sought to +obtain possession of the wonderful Lamp, and +went up and down, disguised, before the +flying-palace, crying New Lamps for Old +ones, he had reversed his cry, and made it +Old Lamps for New ones, he would have been +so far before his time as to have projected +himself into the nineteenth century of our +Christian Era.</p> + +<p class='c005'>This age is so perverse, and is so very short +of faith—in consequence, as some suppose, +of there having been a run on that bank for +a few generations—that a parallel and beautiful +idea, generally known among the ignorant +as the Young England hallucination, unhappily +expired before it could run alone, to the +great grief of a small but a very select circle +of mourners. There is something so fascinating, +to a mind capable of any serious reflection, +in the notion of ignoring all that has +been done for the happiness and elevation of +mankind during three or four centuries of +slow and dearly-bought amelioration, that we +have always thought it would tend soundly +to the improvement of the general public, if +any tangible symbol, any outward and visible +sign, expressive of that admirable conception, +could be held up before them. We are happy +to have found such a sign at last; and although +it would make a very indifferent sign, indeed, +in the Licensed Victualling sense of the +word, and would probably be rejected with +contempt and horror by any Christian publican, +it has our warmest philosophical +appreciation.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In the fifteenth century, a certain feeble +lamp of art arose in the Italian town of +Urbino. This poor light, Raphael Sanzio by +name, better known to a few miserably +mistaken wretches in these later days, as +Raphael (another burned at the same time, +called Titian), was fed with a preposterous +idea of Beauty—with a ridiculous power of +etherealising, and exalting to the very +Heaven of Heavens, what was most sublime +and lovely in the expression of the human +face divine on Earth—with the truly contemptible +conceit of finding in poor humanity +the fallen likeness of the angels of God, and +raising it up again to their pure spiritual +condition. This very fantastic whim effected +a low revolution in Art, in this wise, that +Beauty came to be regarded as one of its indispensable +elements. In this very poor delusion, +Artists have continued until this +present nineteenth century, when it was +reserved for some bold aspirants to “put +it down.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Pre-Raphael Brotherhood, Ladies and +Gentlemen, is the dread Tribunal which is +to set this matter right. Walk up, walk up; +and here, conspicuous on the wall of the +Royal Academy of Art in England, in the +eighty-second year of their annual exhibition, +you shall see what this new Holy Brotherhood, +this terrible Police that is to disperse +all Post-Raphael offenders, has “been and +done!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>You come—in this Royal Academy Exhibition, +which is familiar with the works of +<span class='sc'>Wilkie</span>, <span class='sc'>Collins</span>, <span class='sc'>Etty</span>, <span class='sc'>Eastlake</span>, <span class='sc'>Mulready</span>, +<span class='sc'>Leslie</span>, <span class='sc'>Maclise</span>, <span class='sc'>Turner</span>, <span class='sc'>Stanfield</span>, <span class='sc'>Landseer</span>, +<span class='sc'>Roberts</span>, <span class='sc'>Danby</span>, <span class='sc'>Creswick</span>, <span class='sc'>Lee</span>, <span class='sc'>Webster</span>, +<span class='sc'>Herbert</span>, <span class='sc'>Dyce</span>, <span class='sc'>Cope</span>, and others who +would have been renowned as great masters in +any age or country—you come, in this place, to +the contemplation of a Holy Family. You will +have the goodness to discharge from your +minds all Post-Raphael ideas, all religious +aspirations, all elevating thoughts; all tender, +awful, sorrowful, ennobling, sacred, graceful, or +beautiful associations; and to prepare yourselves, +as befits such a subject—Pre-Raphaelly +considered—for the lowest depths of what is +mean, odious, repulsive, and revolting.</p> + +<p class='c005'>You behold the interior of a carpenter’s +shop. In the foreground of that carpenter’s +shop is a hideous, wry-necked, blubbering, +red-headed boy, in a bed-gown; who appears +to have received a poke in the hand, from +the stick of another boy with whom he +has been playing in an adjacent gutter, and +to be holding it up for the contemplation of +a kneeling woman, so horrible in her ugliness, +that (supposing it were possible for any +human creature to exist for a moment with +that dislocated throat) she would stand out +from the rest of the company as a Monster, in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>the vilest cabaret in France, or the lowest gin-shop +in England. Two almost naked carpenters, +master and journeyman, worthy companions +of this agreeable female, are working +at their trade; a boy, with some small flavor +of humanity in him, is entering with a vessel +of water; and nobody is paying any attention +to a snuffy old woman who seems to have +mistaken that shop for the tobacconist’s next +door, and to be hopelessly waiting at the +counter to be served with half an ounce of +her favourite mixture. Wherever it is +possible to express ugliness of feature, limb, +or attitude, you have it expressed. Such men +as the carpenters might be undressed in any +hospital where dirty drunkards, in a high +state of varicose veins, are received. Their +very toes have walked out of Saint Giles’s.</p> + +<p class='c005'>This, in the nineteenth century, and in the +eighty-second year of the annual exhibition of +the National Academy of Art, is the Pre-Raphael +representation to us, Ladies and +Gentlemen, of the most solemn passage which +our minds can ever approach. This, in the +nineteenth century, and in the eighty-second +year of the annual exhibition of the National +Academy of Art, is what Pre-Raphael Art can +do to render reverence and homage to the +faith in which we live and die! Consider this +picture well. Consider the pleasure we should +have in a similar Pre-Raphael rendering of +a favourite horse, or dog, or cat; and, coming +fresh from a pretty considerable turmoil +about “desecration” in connexion with the +National Post Office, let us extol this great +achievement, and commend the National +Academy!</p> + +<p class='c005'>In further considering this symbol of the +great retrogressive principle, it is particularly +gratifying to observe that such objects as the +shavings which are strewn on the carpenter’s +floor are admirably painted; and that the Pre-Raphael +Brother is indisputably accomplished +in the manipulation of his art. It is gratifying +to observe this, because the fact involves +no low effort at notoriety; everybody knowing +that it is by no means easier to call +attention to a very indifferent pig with five +legs, than to a symmetrical pig with four. +Also, because it is good to know that the +National Academy thoroughly feels and comprehends +the high range and exalted purposes +of Art; distinctly perceives that Art includes +something more than the faithful portraiture +of shavings, or the skilful colouring of drapery—imperatively +requires, in short, that it shall +be informed with mind and sentiment; will +on no account reduce it to a narrow question +of trade-juggling with a palette, palette-knife, +and paint-box. It is likewise pleasing to +reflect that the great educational establishment +foresees the difficulty into which it +would be led, by attaching greater weight +to mere handicraft, than to any other consideration—even +to considerations of common +reverence or decency; which absurd principle, +in the event of a skilful painter of the figure +becoming a very little more perverted in his +taste, than certain skilful painters are just +now, might place Her Gracious Majesty in a +very painful position, one of these fine Private +View Days.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Would it were in our power to congratulate +our readers on the hopeful prospects of the +great retrogressive principle, of which this +thoughtful picture is the sign and emblem! +Would that we could give our readers encouraging +assurance of a healthy demand for +Old Lamps in exchange for New ones, and a +steady improvement in the Old Lamp Market! +The perversity of mankind is such, and the +untoward arrangements of Providence are +such, that we cannot lay that flattering unction +to their souls. We can only report what +Brotherhoods, stimulated by this sign, are +forming; and what opportunities will be presented +to the people, if the people will but +accept them.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In the first place, the Pre-Perspective Brotherhood +will be presently incorporated, for +the subversion of all known rules and principles +of perspective. It is intended to swear +every P. P. B. to a solemn renunciation of the +art of perspective on a soup-plate of the willow +pattern; and we may expect, on the occasion +of the eighty-third Annual Exhibition of the +Royal Academy of Art in England, to see some +pictures by this pious Brotherhood, realising +<span class='sc'>Hogarth’s</span> idea of a man on a mountain +several miles off, lighting his pipe at the upper +window of a house in the foreground. But +we are informed that every brick in the house +will be a portrait; that the man’s boots will +be copied with the utmost fidelity from a pair of +Bluchers, sent up out of Northamptonshire for +the purpose; and that the texture of his hands +(including four chilblains, a whitlow, and ten +dirty nails) will be a triumph of the Painter’s +art.</p> + +<p class='c005'>A Society, to be called the Pre-Newtonian +Brotherhood, was lately projected by a young +gentleman, under articles to a Civil Engineer, +who objected to being considered bound to conduct +himself according to the laws of gravitation. +But this young gentleman, being reproached +by some aspiring companions with the timidity +of his conception, has abrogated that idea in +favour of a Pre-Galileo Brotherhood now +flourishing, who distinctly refuse to perform +any annual revolution round the Sun, and +have arranged that the world shall not do +so any more. The course to be taken by +the Royal Academy of Art in reference to +this Brotherhood is not yet decided upon; but +it is whispered that some other large Educational +Institutions in the neighbourhood of +Oxford are nearly ready to pronounce in +favour of it.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Several promising Students connected with +the Royal College of Surgeons have held a +meeting, to protest against the circulation of +the blood, and to pledge themselves to treat +all the patients they can get, on principles +condemnatory of that innovation. A Pre-Harvey-Brotherhood +<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>is the result, from +which a great deal may be expected—by +the undertakers.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In literature, a very spirited effort has +been made, which is no less than the formation +of a P. G. A. P. C. B., or Pre-Gower and +Pre-Chaucer-Brotherhood, for the restoration +of the ancient English style of spelling, and +the weeding out from all libraries, public and +private, of those and all later pretenders, particularly +a person of loose character named +<span class='sc'>Shakespeare</span>. It having been suggested, +however, that this happy idea could scarcely +be considered complete while the art of printing +was permitted to remain unmolested, +another society, under the name of the Pre-Laurentius +Brotherhood, has been established +in connexion with it, for the abolition of all +but manuscript books. These <span class='sc'>Mr. Pugin</span> has +engaged to supply, in characters that nobody +on earth shall be able to read. And it is confidently +expected by those who have seen the +House of Lords, that he will faithfully redeem +his pledge.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In Music, a retrogressive step, in which +there is much hope, has been taken. The +P. A. B., or Pre-Agincourt Brotherhood has +arisen, nobly devoted to consign to oblivion +Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, and every other +such ridiculous reputation, and to fix its +Millennium (as its name implies) before the +date of the first regular musical composition +known to have been achieved in England. As +this Institution has not yet commenced active +operations, it remains to be seen whether the +Royal Academy of Music will be a worthy +sister of the Royal Academy of Art, and +admit this enterprising body to its orchestra. +We have it on the best authority, that its +compositions will be quite as rough and +discordant as the real old original—that it +will be, in a word, exactly suited to the pictorial +Art we have endeavoured to describe. +We have strong hopes, therefore, that the +Royal Academy of Music, not wanting an +example, may not want courage.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The regulation of social matters, as separated +from the Fine Arts, has been undertaken by +the Pre-Henry-the-Seventh Brotherhood, who +date from the same period as the Pre-Raphael +Brotherhood. This society, as cancelling all +the advances of nearly four hundred years, +and reverting to one of the most disagreeable +periods of English History, when the Nation +was yet very slowly emerging from barbarism, +and when gentle female foreigners, come over +to be the wives of Scottish Kings, wept +bitterly (as well they might) at being left +alone among the savage Court, must be regarded +with peculiar favour. As the time of +ugly religious caricatures (called mysteries), +it is thoroughly Pre-Raphael in its spirit; and +may be deemed the twin brother to that great +society. We should be certain of the Plague +among many other advantages, if this Brotherhood +were properly encouraged.</p> + +<p class='c005'>All these Brotherhoods, and any other +society of the like kind, now in being or yet +to be, have at once a guiding star, and a +reduction of their great ideas to something +palpable and obvious to the senses, in the sign +to which we take the liberty of directing +their attention. We understand that it is +in the contemplation of each Society to +become possessed, with all convenient speed, +of a collection of such pictures; and that +once, every year, to wit upon the first of +April, the whole intend to amalgamate in +a high festival, to be called the Convocation +of Eternal Boobies.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>SAVINGS’ BANK DEFALCATIONS.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c004'>It is exactly fifty years ago since the clergyman +of a little town in Bucks circulated +among the poorer part of his parishioners a +proposal, which excited the ridicule of many +and the apprehension of not a few. “If any inhabitant +of Wendover chooses,” said he, “to +entrust me with any amount of his savings, in +sums of not less than twopence at a time, I shall +be happy to receive the money, and to repay +the sum to him next Christmas, with an addition +of one-third upon the amount of his deposit.” +It was some time before the population +of Wendover could be brought to understand +the value of the proposal; but it was still +longer before its universal application became +appreciated. Five years elapsed ere any +similar institution rose into existence: then a +“Charitable Bank” was opened at Tottenham, +by a lady named Priscilla Wakefield, assisted +by six gentlemen, who undertook from their +private purses to allow five per cent. interest +on the deposits. Three years passed, and +another society upon the same principle was +formed at Bath. After this, the eyes of the +public began to be opened; and by 1816, there +were established in England seventy different +Savings’ Banks; whilst Wales boasted of four, +and Ireland of five. At present the number +of Savings’ Banks in operation in Great +Britain, is five hundred and eighty-four. +Those doing the largest amount of business +are of course in London; and some idea may +be formed of the magnitude of their transactions, +when it is stated that the St. Martin’s +Bank, near Trafalgar Square, alone, has on its +books at present, forty thousand depositors, +whose investments amount to upwards of a +million and a quarter sterling. Since this +establishment was first commenced in 1816, +it has opened one hundred and seventy-three +thousand accounts for nearly eight millions of +money. The bank which approaches the +nearest to the St. Martin’s Bank in magnitude, +is the Bishopsgate Bank in Moorfields. That +bank has three-quarters of a million invested +in it. The Bloomsbury Bank has half a +million: the Marylebone Bank about 300,000<i>l.</i> +There are banks as large as the last, at +Newcastle, Nottingham, Norwich, Bristol, +Hull, Devonport, Leeds, and Birmingham. +The Liverpool and Manchester Banks have +<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>deposits of half a million each. In Exeter +there is a bank with thirty-five thousand +depositors, and half a million of money.</p> + +<p class='c005'>This immense amount of business is done +at no very great cost. For the five hundred +and eighty-four banks, there are altogether +only eleven hundred and forty paid officers. +The salaries of these officers amount to no +more than seventy-five thousand pounds +a year; and they manage the business of +more than a million of depositors, whose +accounts exceed twenty-eight millions sterling—a +sum equal to the capital of the Bank +of England.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The mere fact of any institution having to +deal with so enormous a capital, renders it one +of great importance commercially. But when +it is remembered that the vast aggregate is +made up of small savings; and that additions +to, or withdrawals from it, furnish a clue to +the fluctuations between the prosperity and +depression of the largest, most useful, and +least wealthy among us—the thews and +sinews of the nation—the administration and +management of Savings’ Banks cannot be too +jealously watched.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Unhappily a painful interest has been lately +imparted to the system by the abstraction of +large sums by certain local managers; and +by the discovery that to make these defalcations +good, there exists no government liability. +Indeed by law (the act of 1844) +even the Trustees are not liable; but honour +has always, as we shall see, proved with them +stronger than the statute. A clear understanding +of the actual connection of the State +with Savings’ Banks is of vital importance, +not only to depositors, but to those who interest +themselves in promoting the banking +system among the humbler classes; a system, +which, it may be safely affirmed, has hitherto +proved of the utmost benefit not only to the +worldly prosperity, but to the morals of the +working bees of our Great Hive.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Savings’ Banks were first established from +motives of benevolence. They soon, however, +came to involve such great responsibility that +the managers were anxious that the State +should give them the benefit of its support. +The State was nothing loth, for it saw the advantage +of having such large amounts of +money in possession. Accordingly, in 1817, +there was opened at the National Debt Office, +a “Fund for the Banks for Savings,” and an +act was passed compelling the Trustees to pay +in their deposits to that Fund, receiving a +debenture which bore interest at the rate of +4<i>l.</i> 10<i>s.</i> per cent.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Government, therefore, is only responsible +for the money <i>after</i> it is paid to the +National Debt Office: it is not accountable for +deficiencies arising in the course of Savings’ +Bank transactions, or from the embezzlement +or mismanagement of local officers. Still depositors +are seldom defrauded; for when such +defaults have happened, the Trustees and +Managers of the Bank concerned have +stepped in to cover the deficiencies, except in +a case which occurred in Wales in 1824, and +in other instances subsequently in Ireland. +In no one case, on the other hand, has the +Government ever rendered assistance to the +value of a farthing. Why, will be seen when +the dealings between the local authorities of +these banks and the National Debt Office are +explained. They are simply as follows:—The +accumulated deposits of each Savings’ Bank, +are paid over to some neighbouring banker, +or other person, who acts gratuitously as treasurer. +The treasurer pays the money, by check +or otherwise, to the National Debt Commissioners, +who invest it in Exchequer Bills or +Stock. At the end of the year they allow +an interest upon the amount deposited. Out +of this interest the Savings’ Banks Trustees +are authorised by law to pay interest to the +depositors at the rate of not less than 2<i>l.</i> 15<i>s.</i>, +nor more than 3<i>l.</i> 0<i>s.</i> 10<i>d.</i> per cent. per +annum. The Banks vary in the precise rate; +the average rate of interest afforded by all +the Banks in the United Kingdom is 2<i>l.</i> 17<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> +Thus 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> per cent.—which constitutes the +difference between 2<i>l.</i> 17<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> and the 3<i>l.</i> 5<i>s.</i>—forms +the fund out of which is defrayed the +charges of management.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In the majority of Banks, there is only one +paid officer; but of course the number varies +according to the amount of business. The +St. Martin’s Bank is the most complete +establishment of the kind, and consists of +sixteen persons. Some Banks have only one +remunerated official. In every case, the National +Debt Commissioners have power to +make such regulations, under the Savings’ +Bank Act, as enforce each paid officer giving +heavy security for his honesty.</p> + +<p class='c005'>It is of great consequence that the public +should understand that the defalcations which +have of late caused some distrust in the stability +of Savings’ Banks, have not arisen from +any defect of the great principles, but only +in the details, and from the abuses of the +system. They have happened chiefly in consequence +of the culpably loose and irregular +conduct of the local managers; but partly from +the carelessness or ignorance of depositors. +The chief manager of an Institution in default—as +in the latest case which has come +before the public—has left everything to the +actuary or cashier, who did precisely as he +pleased, and he is blamable for laxity. On +the other hand, most of the monies of which +depositors were plundered never passed +through a Savings’ Bank at all. They were +paid to the Officers of the Banks at their +own abodes, and these officers never gave +any account of them to the Managers. The +only way to stop this, is to make it criminal +for any officer of a Bank to receive the money +of any depositor, at any other time or place +than at the Bank during the regular Bank +hours. The fact is that there have rarely, if +ever, hitherto been any <i>genuine</i> frauds upon +Savings’ Banks. The frauds have taken +<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>place upon irregular transactions out of +doors. Hence it is that the National Debt +Commissioners repudiate all liability to the +depositors.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Against, however, the National Debt Office +itself there is a very serious charge. As we +have stated, it is bound to invest, in the public +securities, the monies paid over to them by +the Trustees and Treasurers of Savings’ Banks. +It appears, from parliamentary returns, that +at different periods the Commissioners have +accumulated large sums of this money, and +dealt with it in different classes of securities; +although the necessities of Savings’ Banks did +not require any such operations. The result +has been very unfortunate. The National +Debt Commissioners appear, by their accounts, +to have less stock by <i>two millions</i> of money, +than the capital paid to them ought to represent. +This glaring fact appears on the face of +the public accounts. No explanation has ever +been given; no reasons have ever been +assigned. The belief is, that the operations +by which the Savings’ Banks fund so seriously +suffered, were necessitated by the financial +exigencies of government some years since. +They commenced in 1834 and continued down +to 1843, when they were discovered and +checked by public opinion. As, then, for this +amount the Government is responsible, the +nation will be, ultimately, obliged to pay it +up to the depositors.</p> + +<p class='c005'>But a calm review of these facts—startling +as some of them are—should not essentially +affect the stability of Savings’ Banks, and +alarm is comparatively groundless. Firstly, +the defalcations of officers are generally made +good by their sureties, or by the local trustees; +and secondly, the deficiency of two millions is +not likely to be called for so suddenly as to +inconvenience the public purse.</p> + +<p class='c005'>It is now necessary to point out how—to +glance at the opposite page of the account—the +law guards against frauds attempted <i>by</i> +the public upon Savings’ Banks. The only +way in which they could be so abused, would +be by attempts, on the part of the comparatively +wealthy, to obtain a higher rate of +interest, for investments, than they could get +elsewhere. But an average interest, 2<i>l.</i> 17<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> +per cent. with a maximum of 3<i>l.</i> 0<i>s.</i> 10<i>d.</i>, would +seem a sufficient bar to such deposits. But +in order to guard against such a possibility, +the law has enacted that no one person shall +be permitted to deposit more than 30<i>l.</i> in any +one year, or more than 150<i>l.</i> pounds in the +whole; and if his principal and interest +together ever amounts to 200<i>l.</i>, then the payment +of all further interest is stopped. These +restrictions are effectual in preserving Savings’ +Banks to the sole object of savings—the +savings of the poor.</p> + +<p class='c005'>As regards actual frauds and attempts at +fraud by the public, we have been obliged +with the experience of the St. Martin’s Bank, +which very probably speaks for that of all the +Savings’ Banks in England:—“Since this Bank +was instituted, in 1816,” says our informant, +“there have been only five attempts at fraud, +by forgery of depositors’ signatures, or otherwise. +In two of those five cases the forgery +was detected and no loss ensued. In the other +three cases the Bank sustained the loss, which +amounted in the whole to less than 50<i>l.</i> Attempts +at personation seldom succeed,—nor +are these always fraudulent; absent depositors +are often consenting parties, in order to save +themselves the trouble of attending personally. +Such cases lead to dispute; but two such +cases which have occurred here are rather +curious. In 1847 a man married a female +depositor, and induced her to withdraw the +whole of her money (exceeding 100<i>l</i>), of which +having possessed himself, he abandoned +her. Subsequently he deposited 90<i>l.</i>., part of +this money, in three different Savings’ Banks, +our own among the number. The wife having +stated her case to us, we took advantage of +the law which prohibited him from depositing +in more than one Bank, and refused to +allow him to withdraw. The case was referred; +and the barrister appointed by act of +Parliament to settle such questions awarded +that, under the statute, the deposits were forfeited +to the Commissioners of the National +Debt. The Lords of the Treasury, upon the +wife’s memorial, ordered the restitution of the +money to her, for her own separate use, free +from her husband’s control; and this arrangement +we had the pleasure of carrying into +effect.—The other case was equally singular. +In 1848 the Painters’ and Glaziers’ Friendly +Society had an account with us. They sought +to eject one of the trustees of their fund from +the benefits of their Society, on the ground +that on the ‘10th of April’ he had acted as +a Special Constable, contrary to the rule prohibiting +him from ‘voluntarily entering Her +Majesty’s service.’ The trustee protested to +us, and we objected to pay the Society’s +money without his signature to the order. +Thereupon ‘the Painters and Glaziers’ caused +the case to be referred, and the barrister +awarded that the funds should not be transferred +or withdrawn without the trustee’s +consent.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>From the same quarter we ascertained, in +reference to unclaimed money, a remarkable +circumstance. The amount of unclaimed deposits +in the St. Martin’s Place Bank has of +late decreased instead of increased. In 1842 the +Bank held 10,800<i>l.</i>, which had been unclaimed +for seven years. In 1849, although its business +had so amazingly augmented, the amount +which had remained unclaimed for seven years +was 9898<i>l.</i> or nearly 1000<i>l.</i> less. This is accounted +for by the great pains taken to trace +and summon the depositors and their representatives. +It certainly is remarkable that +out of transactions to the extent of more +than eight and a half millions of money, only +9900<i>l.</i> should remain unclaimed.</p> + +<p class='c005'>From what we have stated on this subject +it will be seen that although Savings’ Banks +<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>are not on a satisfactory footing as between +the Government and depositors, or as between +the latter and the local managers; yet, on the +whole, the system is so well contrived, that no +good reason has lately been revealed for the +public to withdraw their confidence from +them. The cure of the more glaring defects is +now under the consideration of Government, +and this paper will be best concluded by a +sketch of the proposed remedy. The bill +introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer +deals with all the defects we have pointed +out: perhaps it introduces some new ones, but +these it will be purged of probably in Committee. +One of the chief evils is that exemption +from liability which was extended to +trustees in 1844: and it is proposed, for wilful +or neglectful losses, to restore this liability. +These officers are now unpaid; and it is proposed +to pay them, Government being responsible +for their acts, and having the privilege +of appointing. To prevent fraud, occasioned +by the treasurer or actuary receiving +monies at his own house, it is intended +that the treasurer alone shall receive money, +and that he shall attend at certain stated times +for that purpose. A local banker is to +fill the office, who will not be wholly unremunerated. +For any other person than the +treasurer to receive money as a savings’ bank +deposit, will be a misdemeanour. Daily accounts +are to be rendered to the Commissioners +of the National Debt; and those +Commissioners will appoint auditors, who +shall exercise a constant revision of the +accounts, subject to supervision by special +inspectors despatched at discretion. These +arrangements will necessarily entail greater +expence, and to meet it, the rate of interest +allowed to depositors, is to be reduced to +2<i>l.</i> 15<i>s.</i>, and deposits limited to 100<i>l.</i> Above +that amount, Government will either hold the +money without interest, or, at the depositor’s +option, invest it in the funds free of +charge.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>THE SUMMER SABBATH.</h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c006'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>The woods my Church, to-day—my preacher boughs,</div> + <div class='line'>Whispering high homilies through leafy lips;</div> + <div class='line'>And worshippers, in every bee that sips</div> + <div class='line'>Sweet cordial from the tiniest flower, that grows</div> + <div class='line'>’Mid the young grass, and, in each bird, that dips</div> + <div class='line'>Light pinions in the sunshine as it throws</div> + <div class='line'>Gold showers upon green trees. All things around</div> + <div class='line'>Are full of Prayer! The very blush which tips</div> + <div class='line'>Yon snowy cloud, is bright with adoration!</div> + <div class='line'>The grass breathes incense forth, and all the ground</div> + <div class='line'>Is a wide altar; while the stillest sound</div> + <div class='line'>Is vibrating with praise. No profanation</div> + <div class='line'>Reaches the thoughts, while thus to ears and eyes</div> + <div class='line'>Nature her music and her prayer supplies!</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>NEWSPAPER ANTECEDENTS.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c004'>Those in whom the appetite for news on +which we have already commented is very +strong, must wonder how our forefathers existed +without newspapers; for so it happened +that the lieges of these realms did get on very +well without them up to the days of the first +of the Stuarts. But although they had no +printed newspapers, they could not and did +not do without news; conveyed orally in the +form of gossip, or by means of manuscript +intelligencers. Friendly communications containing +the gossip of the town for the enlightenment +of cousins in the country are as +old as pen and ink, and much older than +paper; for many, still extant in the British +Museum, were written on vellum. By-and-bye, +the writing of such letters became a +profession, and every country family of pretension +could boast of “our own correspondent.” +These writers were generally disbanded +military officers, younger sons very +much “about town,” and, not unfrequently, +clergymen. Shirley in his “Love Tricks” +draws the portrait of one of these antecedents +of the present race of Editors.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“<i>Easparo.</i> I tell you, Sir, I have known a gentleman +that has spent the best part of a thousand +pounds while he was prentice to the trade in +Holland, and out of three sheets of paper, which +was his whole stock, (the pen and ink-horn he +borrowed,) he set up shop, and spent a hundred +pounds a year. It has been a great profession. +Marry, most commonly they are soldiers; a peace +concluded is a great plague upon them, and if the +wars hold we shall have store of them. Oh, they are +men worthy of commendation. They speak in +print.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“<i>Antonio.</i> Are they soldiers?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“<i>Eas.</i> Faith so they would be thought, though +indeed they are but mongrels, not worthy of that +noble attribute. They are indeed bastards, not +sons of war and true soldiers, whose divine souls +I honour, yet they may be called great spirits too, +for their valour is invisible; these, I say, will +write you a battle in any part of Europe at +an hour’s warning, and yet never set foot out of +a tavern; describe you towns, fortifications, +leaders, the strength of the enemy, what confederates, +every day’s march. Not a soldier shall +lose a hair, or have a bullet fly between his arms, +but he shall have a page to wait on him in quarto. +Nothing destroys them but want of a good +memory, for if they escape contradiction they +may be chronicled.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>By the time James the First began to +reign, this employment had so completely +moulded itself into a regular craft, that news-writers +set up offices and kept “emissaries,” +or reporters, to bring them accounts of what +was going on in various parts of the metropolis. +These reports were sifted, collected, +and arranged by the master of the office, or +“Register,” who acted as Editor. To Nathaniel +Butter, a news-writer of that period, +was the British public indebted for the first +printed newspaper. Ben Jonson in his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>“Staple of News” gives a vivid picture of +Mr. Butter’s office before he took to printing.</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Enter Register and Nathaniel.</i></p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Reg.</i> What, are those desks fit now? Set forth the table,</div> + <div class='line'>The carpet and the chair; where are the News</div> + <div class='line'>That were examined last? Have you filled them up?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Nath.</i> Not yet, I had no time.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Reg.</i> Are those News registered</div> + <div class='line'>That emissary Buz sent in last night,</div> + <div class='line'>Of Spinola and his eggs?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Nath.</i> Yes, sir, and filed.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Reg.</i> What are you now upon?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Nath.</i> That our new emissary</div> + <div class='line'>Westminster gave us, of the golden heir.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Reg.</i> Dispatch; that’s news indeed, and of importance.—</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c005'><i>Enter a Country-woman.</i></p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>What would you have, good woman?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Woman.</i> I would have, sir,</div> + <div class='line'>A groat’s-worth of any News, I care not what,</div> + <div class='line'>To carry down this Saturday to our vicar.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Reg.</i> O! you are a butter-woman; ask Nathaniel,</div> + <div class='line'>The clerk there.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Nath.</i> Sir, I tell her she must stay</div> + <div class='line'>Till emissary Exchange, or Paul’s send in,</div> + <div class='line'>And then I’ll fit her.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Reg.</i> Do, good woman, have patience;</div> + <div class='line'>It is not now, as when the Captain lived;</div> + <div class='line'>You’ll blast the reputation of the office,</div> + <div class='line'>Now in the bud, if you dispatch these groats</div> + <div class='line'>So soon: let them attend in name of policy.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c005'>To have served his gaping customers too +quickly, would have seemed as though the +News was <i>made</i> instead of being collected; +so thought the Register.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Respecting the first English printed newspaper, +the public have lain under a mistake for +nearly a century. Some ten years ago, however, +Mr. Thomas Watts of the British +Museum exploded the long prevalent fallacy +that the “<cite>English Mercurie</cite>,” dated in 1588, +was originally the progenitor of modern +journals. A copy of such a paper exists in +the Birch Collection; but it is a manifest +forgery, the concoction of which was traced +to the second Lord Hardwicke. It pretends +to give news from the expedition against the +Spanish Armada; but, besides a host of blunders +in dates, it is printed on paper made +posterior to the date it bears. The truth is +that no periodically printed newspaper appeared +till thirty years after.</p> + +<p class='c005'>When the reign of James the First was +drawing to a close; when Ben Jonson was +poet laureate, and the personal friends of +Shakspeare were lamenting his then recent +death; when Cromwell was trading as a +brewer at Huntingdon; when Milton was +a youth of sixteen, just trying his pen at +Latin verse, and Hampden a quiet country +gentleman in Buckinghamshire; London was +solicited to patronise its first Newspaper. +There is now no reason to doubt that the +puny ancestor of the myriads of broad sheets +of our time was published in the metropolis +in 1622, and that the most prominent of the +ingenious speculators who offered the novelty +to the world was Nathaniel Butter. His +companions in the work appear to have been +Nicholas Bourne, Thomas Archer, Nathaniel +Newberry, William Sheffard, Bartholomew +Downes, and Edward Allde. All these +different names appear in the imprints of +the early numbers of the first Newspaper—<span class='sc'>The +Weekly Newes</span>.<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c009'><sup>[1]</sup></a> This prime, original +progenitor of the acres of news which are now +rolled out from the press failed, after many +lapses and struggles, chiefly occasioned by +the Star Chamber. Its end was untimely. +The last number appeared on the 9th of +January, 1640. Could it have survived a +little longer it might have run a long career, +for the incubus which smothered it was itself +stifled—the Star Chamber was abolished in +1641.</p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f1'> +<p class='c005'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. The Fourth Estate, by F. K. Hunt.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c005'>Butter’s print was succeeded by a host of +“Mercuries,” but none of them were long-lived. +They were started for particular +objects, to advocate certain views, and sometimes +to circulate the likeliest lies that could +be invented to serve the cause espoused. Each +of these was laid down when its mission was +accomplished. During the civil war, nearly +thirty thousand journals, pamphlets, and +papers were issued in this manner. In the +heat of hostilities, each army carried its printing-press +as part of its munitions of war. +Leaden types were employed with as much +rancour and zeal as leaden bullets. These +were often headed as News, such as “Newes +out of Worcestershire,” “Newes of a bloody +battle,” fought at such a place, &c. In 1662 +a regular periodical, called the “Kingdom’s +Intelligencer,” was started, and in the following +year the “Intelligencer, published for the +satisfaction and information of the people,” +was set up by Sir Roger L’Estrange.</p> + +<p class='c005'>All these were superseded by a journal, +which has stood its ground so well that the +last number came out only yesterday. This +was the “Oxford Gazette,” set up in that +city in 1665, and now known as the “London +Gazette.” For many years after the Restoration +this was the only newspaper; for the law +restricted any man from publishing political +news without the consent of the Crown. +Charles and James the Second withheld that +consent whenever it suited them, and put +those who took “French leave” into the +pillory.</p> + +<p class='c005'>As a specimen of a newspaper, when these +restrictions were abated, after the flight of +James the Second, we may instance the +“Universal Intelligencer.” It was small in +size, and meagre in contents. It appeared +only twice a week, and consisted of two pages; +that is to say, one leaf of paper a little larger +than the page on which the reader’s eye now +rests, and with hardly so much matter. The +number for December 11, 1688, boasts two +advertisements. A small paragraph amongst +<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>its News describes the seizing of Judge Jefferies, +in his attempt to escape from the anger +of his enemies. Besides this interesting morsel +of intelligence, the paper has sixteen lines of +News from Ireland, and eight lines from +Scotland; whilst under its News of England, +we have not very much more. One of the +items tells us, that “on the 7th inst. the +Prince of Orange supt at the Bear Inn, +Hungerford.” There are other headings, +such as “Forrain News” and “Domestick +News.” Each item of intelligence is a mere +skeleton—more in the nature of memoranda, +or notifications of events, than accounts of +them. “Further particulars” had not been +invented then.</p> + +<p class='c005'>By Anne’s time, journalism had improved, +and—when the victories of Marlborough and +Rooke, the political contests of Godolphin and +Bolingbroke, and the writings of Addison, +Pope, Prior, Congreve, Steele, and Swift, +created a mental activity in the nation which +could not wait from week to week for its +News—the first daily paper was started. This +was the Daily Courant, which came out in +1709. Other such journals followed; but +three years afterwards, they received a severe +check by the imposition of the Stamp Duty. +“All Grub Street,” wrote Swift to Stella, “is +ruined by the Stamp Act.” On the 7th of +August, 1712, he writes:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Do you know that Grub Street is dead and +gone last week? No more ghosts or murders now +for love or money. I plied it pretty close the last +fortnight, and published at least seven penny +papers of my own, besides some of other people’s, +but now every single half-sheet pays a halfpenny +to the Queen. The ‘Observator’ is fallen; the +‘Medleys’ are jumbled together with the ‘Flying +Post;’ the ‘Examiner’ is deadly sick; the ‘Spectator’ +keeps up, and doubles its price; I know not +how long it will hold. Have you seen the red +stamp the papers are marked with? Methinks it +is worth a halfpenny the stamping.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Grub Street was not, however, so easily put +down; and from that time to the days of +Dr. Johnson, newspapers had considerably increased +in number and influence. In the Idler +the Doctor says:—“No species of literary men +has lately been so much multiplied as the +writers of News. Not many years ago, the +nation was content with one Gazette, but now +we have not only in the metropolis Papers for +every morning and every evening, but almost +every large town has its weekly historian, +who regularly circulates his periodical intelligence, +and fills the villagers of his +district with conjectures on the events of war, +and with debates on the true interests of +Europe.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>In Dr. Johnson’s day, the newspaper press +was fairly set upon its legs, and it has gone on +with some few vicissitudes to its present condition. +As illustrations of the antecedents +of the modern newspaper, we now purpose +giving, at random, a few curious extracts from +the earliest of them.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Daily Courant, dated March 1, 1711, +contains the following announcement of a +publication which is still read with delight, +and which was destined to play an important +part in the reform of the coarse social manners +of the time. It runs thus:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“<i>This day is Published</i>,</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A paper entitled <span class='sc'>The Spectator</span>, which will be +continued every day. Printed for James Buckley, +at the Dolphin in Little Britain, and sold by +A. Baldwin, in Warwick Lane.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>In the first number thus announced, which +was written by Addison, the Spectator says:—“As +my friends have engaged me to stand in +the front, those who have a mind to correspond +with me may direct their letters to +Mr. Buckley’s, in Little Britain.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Hogarth never painted a more graphic +picture of a horseman of the last century than +that drawn in the Postman of Saturday, +August 10, 1710. It is presented in the form +of a hue and cry after a stolen horse.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A Full Face, Round shoulder Middle sized +Man, with a light Bob Goat’s Hair Wig, a snuff-coloured +Secretary Drugget coat, the trimming the +same colour, 2 waistcoats, one of Black cloath, the +other blue, trimmed with silver lace, Black cloath +breeches, a Mourning Hatband, wears a cane with +a silver Head, made to screw at the top, a seafaring +man, stammering in his speech, his name +William Tunbridge but goes by the name of +William Richardson, rode away from 7 Oaks in +Kent the 20th of July last, with a Sorrel Horse +full 14 hands high, a star in his forehead, white +feet behind, high mettled, loth to have his hind +feet taken up, Bob Tail, a black saddle stitched +with silver, Tan Leather stirrup Leathers with a +slit crupper buckled on the saddle with 2 buckles. +Whoever gives notice of man or horse to Mr. +Adams, Postmaster of Seven Oaks, shall have a +guinea reward and reasonable charges.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Daily Courant of Thursday, March 15, +1711, puts forth the announcement of a +performance at the Haymarket Theatre, “on +the 1st of April,” to which the Bottle Conjuror’s +promised feat must sink into a mere +common occurrence. A gentleman was to sup +off several children “to the music of kettledrums.” +The same advertisement appeared +in the Spectator on the day after, namely, +Friday, March 16:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the first of April will be performed at the +play house in the Hay Market an Opera called the +Cruelty of Atræus. N. B. The scene wherein +Thyestes eats his own children is to be performed +by the famous Mr. Psalmanazaar, lately arrived +from Formosa, the whole supper being set to +kettle drums.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Scattered through the journals of 1712 are +advertisements of a patent medicine, which +has not wholly ceased to be imbibed by the +ailing of 1850. The Spectator of April 18th +has it thus:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Daffy’s famous Elixir Salutis prepared by +Catherine Daffy, the finest now exposed for sale, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>prepared from the best drugs and the original +receipt which my Father Mr. Thomas Daffy having +experienced the virtues of it imparted it to Mr. +Anthony Daffy who published the same to his own +great advantage. This very original receipt is now +in my possession, left me by my father under his +own bond. My brother Mr. Daniel Daffy, late +apothecary in Nottingham, made this Elixir from +the same receipt and sold it there during his life. +Those who know me will believe me, and those +who do not know me may be convinced I am no +counterfeit by the colour, taste, smell and just +operation of my Elixir. Sold at the Hand and +Pen, Maiden-lane, Covent Garden, London, and in +many other places in Town and Country.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mist’s weekly journal of Saturday, March +6th, 1725, contains an artful paragraph most +likely emanating from a despairing author +whose play had not succeeded:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mrs. Graspall, who has been our customer two +years, desires us to inform the masters of Drury +Lane playhouse, that if they please to play the +comedy, called <cite>A Wife to be Let</cite>, within ten days, +they will oblige her and a great many of the +quality to whom she has communicated her +design.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>We find by subsequent numbers that +Mrs. Graspall’s request was not complied +with.</p> + +<p class='c005'>There is an anecdote of historical interest +in the St. James’s Evening Post of Sept. 17th, +1734. It relates to the Chevalier St. George, +afterwards the rash but chivalric “Pretender” +to the British throne. It appears that when +the Spaniards made the Conquest of Italy, +and were sailing for Sicily, the Chevalier +was on board one of their ships with the +young King of Naples, the latter, doubtless, +a prisoner;—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When the fleet set sail,” says the ‘special correspondent,’ +“a blast of wind blew the young +Chevalier St. George’s hat off his head into the +sea. Immediately there were several officious +enough to endeavour to take it up; but the young +Chevalier called out, <i>Let it alone, let it alone; I +will go and get another in England</i>. Whereupon +the young King of Naples threw his hat into the +sea, and said, <i>and I will go along with you</i>. But +they may happen to go bare-headed a long time; +if they get no hats till they come amongst you: +for we are well assured that they will find none in +England that will fit their heads.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The designs of young Charles Edward must +have been deeply rooted to have been entertained +so early—for he was then only fourteen +years old—and so long before they were fulfilled. +At the end of his ’45 adventures, he +did indeed go bare-headed for months without +a hat or a roof to cover him.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Daily Post of Thursday, August 17th, +1738, must be a priceless treasure in the eye +of the collector for two remarkable paragraphs +with which it is enriched. On one of them +was founded the most pathetic and popular of +Scott’s novels—The Heart of Mid-Lothian. +The story of the girl “of a fine soul,” even as +told by the paragraphist is touching. The +communication is dated “Edinburgh, August +20th, 1738.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Isabel Walker, under sentence of death at +Dumfries for child-murder, has actually got a +remission. This unhappy creature was destitute +of friends, and had none to apply for her but an +only sister, a girl of a fine soul, that overlooked +the improbability of success, helpless and alone +went to London to address the Great, and solicit +so well (<i>sic</i>) that she got for her, first, a reprieve, +and now a remission. Such another instance of +onerous friendship can scarce be shown; it well +deserved the attention of the greatest who could +not but admire the virtue, and on that account +engage in her cause.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The other paragraph records the death of +Joe Miller, posthumous sponsor of the most +profitable jest book ever published. He was +as innocent of it as of any one of the jokes; +the collection—having been benevolently made +by his friend Jack Mottley for the benefit of +Miller’s widow—eventually proved to be the +best benefit ever known in the theatrical +world. The obituary is brief but complimentary:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yesterday morning died Jo: Miller, Comedian, +of merry memory. Very few of his profession +have gained more applause on the stage, and few +have acted off it with so much approbation from +their neighbours.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The London Daily Post (there were three +“Posts” in those days) of the same date gives +more information on the mournful subject. +It says:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yesterday morning died of Pleurisy, Mr. +Joseph Miller, a celebrated Comedian belonging +to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane; much +admired for his performances in general, but +particularly in the character of Teague, in <cite>The +Committee, or the Faithful Irishman</cite>.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The papers from which this <i>mélange</i> of extracts +has been culled are pigmies beside the +present race of Giants. There is about as +much matter in a single modern London +morning newspaper as was contained in a +year’s contents of the Postman, before it had +two leaves. To present the contrast between +to-day’s monsters of the press and their +antecedents the more forcibly, we shall conclude +with an extract from a paper recently +read by Mr. E. Cowper at the Institution of +Civil Engineers, relative to the <cite>Times</cite>:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“On the 7th of May, 1850, the <cite>Times</cite> and +<cite>Supplement</cite> contained 72 columns, or 17,500 lines, +made up of upwards of a million pieces of +type, of which matter about two-fifths were +written, composed, and corrected after seven +o’clock in the evening. The <cite>Supplement</cite> was sent +to press at 7 50 <span class='fss'>P. M.</span>, the first form of the paper +at 4 15 <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>; and the second form at 4 45 <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>; +on this occasion, 7000 papers were published before +6 15 <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>, 21,000 papers before 7 30 <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>, +and 34,000 before 8 45 <span class='fss'>A. M.</span>, or in about four +hours. The greatest number of copies ever +printed in one day was 54,000, and the greatest +quantity of printing in one day’s publication was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>on the 1st of March, 1848, when the paper used +weighed 7 tons, the weight usually required being +4½ tons; the surface to be printed every night, +including the Supplement, was 30 acres; the +weight of the fount of type in constant use was +7 tons; and 110 compositors and 25 pressmen +were constantly employed.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>At the beginning of the reign of Queen +Anne, we question whether so many operatives +as are now required, with the help of its +extraordinary machinery, to produce the +“Times,” found employment on the whole +then existing newspaper press.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>THE ROYAL ROTTEN ROW COMMISSION.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c004'>The Commission appointed to enquire into +and report upon the state of Rotten Row, +was entirely unpaid. The right honourable +gentleman on whom the appointment of the +Commissioners devolved, took great credit to +himself that the members of a Commission +whose report was likely to prove of such +infinite value to society, and especially to +metropolitan equestrians, had undertaken all +the laborious duties appertaining to their +office without expressing the slightest desire +for remuneration or reward. “He believed,” +he said, “that all the charges connected with +the performance of this great public duty +would begin and terminate with the mere +cost of the indispensable official staff, and +he undertook to pledge his word that the +expenses connected with that department +should all be settled at the lowest practicable +scale.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>In accordance with this declaration, the +Honourable Augustus Aigulet, first cousin +of the right hon. gentleman aforesaid, was +shortly after appointed Secretary to this +indispensable Commission, at a salary of +1400<i>l.</i> per annum, and Mr. Slaney, of Somerset +House, under a Special Minute of my Lords +Commissioners of the Treasury, was promoted +to perform the active duties of clerk to +the Commission, at an increased salary of +60<i>l.</i> a year, “in accordance with the scale +of savings recently effected in the public +service.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>These economic views were further carried +out by the saving of rent. The Rotten Row +Commission was to be accommodated in +certain new buildings, recently erected at a +small charge of 300,000<i>l.</i> The apartments +consisted of an office, a Secretary’s apartment, +and a Board-room. Mr. Slaney took +possession of his desk in the office, having +instructions to prepare the large room for +the meeting of a Board, which instructions +he duly performed by arranging the inkstands +in the centre of a table, and by spreading +sundry sheets of blotting-paper, with a due +proportion of foolscap and official pens, at +equal distances on either side. The Board +was to meet at two o’clock. At half-past +one the Honourable Augustus Aigulet opened +the door of the office, and proceeded to instal +himself as Secretary. By the time he had +taken possession of the key of a great despatch +box, on which was emblazoned, in gilt letters, +the words</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>ROTTEN ROW COMMISSION.</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c010'>the Chairman and three of the Commissioners +arrived. Her Majesty’s Commissioners for +enquiring into the state and condition of +Rotten Row, Hyde Park, did not commence +business immediately; but began an ardent +gossip about things in general. The noble +President was in the midst of a discussion +with his colleagues respecting the exact circumference +of Carlotta Grisi’s ancle, when +there came from the chimney an enormous +volume of smoke. With prompt alacrity, +Mr. Aigulet rose from behind the despatch +box, rang the bell, summoned the clerk to his +presence, and desired him to poke the fire. +This was done; but the result was overwhelming. +The smoke was so dense, that +the noble chairman could scarcely find his +way to the chair; but having succeeded, and +a board having been formed, he addressed +the secretary.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“These rooms” he said, “are excessively +ill-ventilated; the air is positively pestilential; +we must at once draw up a minute to the +Treasury for alteration.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“A minute, my Lord?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Yes, Sir; a minute.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Aigulet took a sheet of paper, folded +it lengthways, to make a margin; and proceeded +to write as his superior instructed +him.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c011'> + <div>ROTTEN ROW COMMISSION.</div> + <div class='c012'>[Such a date.]</div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='sidenote'>Minute No. 1. </div> +<p class='c007'>1, 6, 4—.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her Majesty’s Commissioners represent +to my Lords, that with a view to a +complete and satisfactory discharge of +the important duties devolved upon +them opportunity is necessary for calm +consideration of the varied subjects +into which it is committed to them to +inquire:—That such opportunity is +totally denied them in the apartments +assigned by my Lords, in which no +suitable provision exists for ventilation, +and in which the Smoke appears to +come down the Chimney, instead of +ascending in conformity with custom. +In order to the due performance of +their duties to the public Her Majesty’s +Commissioners, therefore, request +that my Lords will make an +order for the attendance and inspection +of the Ventilator-General, with +instructions to consider and report +upon a plan for improving the ingress +of air, and egress of smoke, to and +from the said apartments of Her +Majesty’s Commissioners.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c011'> + <div>By order of the Board.</div> + <div>(Signed) <span class='sc'>Augustus Aigulet.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c005'>The document was then handed to Mr. +Slaney, who made a fine copy thereof, on an +<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>extremely large and thick sheet of cream-coloured +foolscap, enclosed it in a ditto envelope, +sealed it with an enormous official signet, +rang the bell for the messenger, and dispatched +the document to the Assistant Secretary +of the Lords Commissioners of Her +Majesty’s Treasury.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In two hours a reply was returned. This +sufficiently demonstrates the extraordinary +despatch which all matters of this sort receive +at the hands of “my Lords,” and at once exhibits +the fallacy and absurdity of the constant +and therefore unreasonable complaints, which +are made by poor widows, orphans, and other +troublesome and disagreeable complainants +concerning the delays which they suppose +that they encounter in getting even the most +reasonable claims attended to.</p> + +<p class='c007'>ROTTEN ROW COMMISSION.</p> + +<div class='sidenote'>No. A. X. L.<br>C. E. T.<br>24783261107.<br>1,6,4.<br><br>1. 1,6,4—<br><br>Minute.<br>A. C. C. S.<br>2460077221.</div> + +<p class='c007'>My Lords having taken into consideration +the minute of Her Majesty’s +Commissioners appointed specially to +enquire into the state and condition of +the district known as Rotten Row, in +which statement is made of the important +duties devolving on them, of +the necessity for calm opportunity to +consider the subjects committed to +their inquiry; and of the imperfect +provision for ventilation, &c., in those +apartments placed at their disposal: +are pleased to order that the Ventilator-General +be instructed to inspect and +report upon the condition of the said +ventilation, and to propose a plan to +be approved by Her Majesty’s Commissioners, +and by them submitted to +my Lords for improving the ingress +and egress of air to and from the said +apartments.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Communicate this minute to the Ventilator-General, +and direct him to prepare estimate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Inform Her Majesty’s Commissioners hereof.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Treasury minute was acted on, and +this was the first day’s work of the Rotten Row +Commission.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Ventilator-General, who was thus instructed +to attend to the wishes and directions +of her Majesty’s Commission, applied the +next day and Mr. Aigulet formed “a Board” +for his reception. He took a survey of the +office, and declared that all the architectural +arrangements were so utterly erroneous in +principle, as to place it beyond all possible +skill to render the ventilation perfect. He +demonstrated most completely that for the +purposes of ventilation the door ought to +have been precisely where the chimney was, +and that the chimney should have stood +exactly where the window was. The window +itself he proposed to abrogate altogether, supplying +its place either by oil burners, or by a +fan-light opening into a dark passage, neither +of which arrangements would interfere with +the process of ventilation. He suggested, in +addition, “a breathing floor,” which he +thought it would be easy to obtain even +in the present ill-constructed edifice; and to +obviate the smoke, he proposed to place a +hot air apparatus under Mr. Slaney’s desk, +whereby, he said, the necessity of a chimney +would be dispensed with altogether. A new +shaft, communicating with an apparatus in +the ceiling would, he said, carry off all the +foul gases generated in the room; and if the +height of the shaft outside was such as to injure +the general effect of the building, why, the fault +would not be his so much as that of the architect +who had not adapted the edifice so as +to anticipate this necessary erection. Upon +the whole, his opinion was that the Rotten +Row Commissioners would do well to postpone +their sittings until early in the ensuing +year, in order to enable him, during the +interval, to carry out his designs for reconstructing +the building with a view to its +efficient ventilation.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Had this recommendation been made at +the close of a Session, and the commencement +of the grouse shooting, it is difficult to +say whether the great and important business +of the Rotten Row Commission might not +have stood adjourned for six months, as the +Ventilator-General suggested. But as the +Opera season was still at its height, and as +Mr. Augustus Aigulet had before his eyes +the fear of an awkward question from some +of those busybodies who occasionally interfere +about other people’s business in the House of +Commons, the secretary thought it desirable +to recommend the Board to resolve at present +only to adjourn to that day week. Adjourned +accordingly.</p> + +<p class='c005'>This was the Board’s second day’s work.</p> + +<p class='c005'>On the day of re-assembling, the Hon. +Mr. Augustus Aigulet found the following +official communication from the chief of the +ventilating department.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c011'> + <div>VENTILATOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE.</div> + <div class='c012'>[Such a Date.]</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>The Ventilator-General presents his compliments +to the Hon. Augustus Aigulet, and begs to +inform him of a serious abuse of Mr. Aigulet’s +authority, discovered in the office of the Rotten +Row department, this morning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It is reported to the Ventilator-General that in +the absence of Mr. Aigulet, the clerk of the department, +Mr. Slaney caused the chimney to be +swept, and the window to be thrown open. +The Ventilator-General submits that this is an +interference with his peculiar duty which the +Secretary to the Rotten Row Commission will not +sanction.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It is also reported to the Ventilator-General +that the clerk has had the consummate assurance +to object to the proposed formation of an apparatus +for heating air immediately under his own +desk: an obstruction to the Ventilator-General’s +proceedings which calls for marked reprobation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Ventilator-General repeats the occurrences +to Mr. Aigulet, in order that the fact may be duly +laid before my lords.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Commissioners having assembled, their +secretary read the letter, and the Chairman +<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>ordered in the Clerk. Mr. Slaney appeared, +trembled a little, and thought he had done +something dreadful. The following dialogue +ensued:—</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Chairman.</i> <i>Did</i> you open the window, Mr. +Slaney?</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Clerk.</i> Yes, my lord.</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Chairman.</i> Did you order the chimney to +be swept?</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Clerk.</i> Yes, my lord.</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Chairman.</i> Be pleased to state, briefly, your +reasons for these proceedings.</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Clerk.</i> The chimney was very foul, and the +rooms not having been recently used, the window +had apparently not been opened for some +time. The sash line was broken, and there +is a little difficulty about opening it.</p> + +<p class='c005'><i>Chairman.</i> You may withdraw.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Blushing to the very forehead, and feeling +as if his ears were setting his hair on fire, +Mr. Slaney retired.</p> + +<p class='c005'>After some discussion at the Board, the +following minute to the Lords of the Treasury, +was dictated to the Secretary.</p> + +<p class='c007'>ROTTEN ROW COMMISSION.</p> + +<div class='sidenote'>Minute No. 2. </div> +<p class='c007'>7, 6, 4—</p> + +<div class='sidenote'>No. A. XL. </div> +<p class='c007'>C. F. T.  +24,783,261,107  +1,6,4—</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her Majesty’s Commissioners having +had from the Ventilator-General his +report upon the state of ventilation in +the apartments allotted to them in +the Treasury Chambers, are of opinion +that the adoption of his plans would +involve very considerable expense, +and would cause a delay seriously +prejudicial to the business of the +Commission. Her Majesty’s Commissioners, +therefore, request that my +lords will be pleased to dispense with +the services of the Ventilator-General +in this case, as granted under their +lordships’ minute, referred to in the +margin, and instead thereof, that they +will pass a minute authorising the +attendance of the Treasury carpenter +to repair a line in a window, which +does not at present open with all the +facility desirable.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c011'> + <div>By Order of the Board.</div> + <div>(Signed) <span class='sc'>Augustus Aigulet.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c005'>These labours concluded the third day’s +proceedings.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The fourth day was occupied in receiving +counter instructions from the Lords Commissioners +of Her Majesty’s Treasury in +accordance with the Rotten Row Board’s +minute, No. 2—and in communicating with +the official carpenter. The result was, that +this humble individual superseded in half an +hour the threatened six months’ labour of the +Ventilator-General.</p> + +<p class='c005'>At its fifth meeting, the Royal Commission +drew up a list of witnesses to be examined. +The sixth day was wholly occupied in granting +the summonses, and as the Board has not yet +finished examining its first witness, the +report will not, it is expected, be ready for +the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of +All Nations in May, 1851.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>A VILLAGE TALE.</h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c006'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>The rooks are cawing in the elms,</div> + <div class='line in2'>As on the very day—</div> + <div class='line'>That sunny morning, mother dear,</div> + <div class='line in2'>When Lucy went away;</div> + <div class='line'>And April’s pleasant gleams have come,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And April’s gentle rain—</div> + <div class='line'>Fresh leaves are on the vine—but when</div> + <div class='line in2'>Will Lucy come again?</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>The spring is as it used to be,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And all must be the same;</div> + <div class='line'>And yet, I miss the feeling now,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That always with it came;</div> + <div class='line'>It seems as if to me she made</div> + <div class='line in2'>The sweetness of the year—</div> + <div class='line'>As if I could be glad no more,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Now Lucy is not here.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>A year—it seems but yesterday,</div> + <div class='line in2'>When in this very door</div> + <div class='line'>You stood; and she came running back,</div> + <div class='line in2'>To say good bye once more;</div> + <div class='line'>I hear you sob—your parting kiss—</div> + <div class='line in2'>The last fond words you said—</div> + <div class='line'>Ah! little did we think—one year,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And Lucy would be dead!</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>How all comes back—the happy times,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Before our father died;</div> + <div class='line'>When, blessed with him, we knew no want,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Scarce knew a wish denied—</div> + <div class='line'>His loss, and all our struggles on,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And that worst dread, to know,</div> + <div class='line'>From home, too poor to shelter all,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That one at last must go.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>How often do I blame myself,</div> + <div class='line in2'>How often do I think,</div> + <div class='line'>How wrong I was to shrink from that</div> + <div class='line in2'>From which she did not shrink;</div> + <div class='line'>And when I wish that I had gone,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And know the wish is vain;</div> + <div class='line'>And say, she might have lived, I think,—</div> + <div class='line in2'>How can I smile again.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>I dread to be alone, for then,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Before my swimming eyes,</div> + <div class='line'>Her parting face, her waving hand,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Distinct before me rise;</div> + <div class='line'>Slow rolls the waggon down the road—</div> + <div class='line in2'>I watch it disappear—</div> + <div class='line'>Her last “dear sister,” fond “good-bye,”</div> + <div class='line in2'>Still lingering in my ear.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Oh, mother, had but father lived</div> + <div class='line in2'>It would not have been thus;</div> + <div class='line'>Or, if God still had taken her,</div> + <div class='line in2'>She would have died with us;</div> + <div class='line'>She would have had kind looks, fond words,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Around her dying bed—</div> + <div class='line'>Our hands to press her dying hands,</div> + <div class='line in2'>To raise her dying head.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>I’m always thinking, mother, now,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of what she must have thought;</div> + <div class='line'>Poor girl! as day on day went by,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And neither of us brought;—</div> + <div class='line'>Of how she must have yearned, one face,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That was not strange, to see—</div> + <div class='line'>Have longed one moment to have set</div> + <div class='line in2'>One look on you and me.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>Sometimes I dream a happy dream—</div> + <div class='line in2'>I think that she is laid</div> + <div class='line'>Beside our own old village church,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Where we so often played;</div> + <div class='line'>And I can sit upon her grave,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And with her we shall lie,</div> + <div class='line'>Afar from where the city’s noise,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And thronging feet go by.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Nay, mother—mother—weep not so,</div> + <div class='line in2'>God judges for the best,</div> + <div class='line'>And from a world of pain and woe,</div> + <div class='line in2'>He took her to his rest;</div> + <div class='line'>Why should we wish her back again?</div> + <div class='line in2'>Oh, freed from sin and care,</div> + <div class='line'>Let us the rather pray God’s love,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ere long to join her there.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>THE FIRE ANNIHILATOR</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c004'>“Water, and nothing <i>but</i> water!” exclaimed +Mr. John Diggs, the great sugar-baker +(everybody knows old John Diggs), +“Water, I say, is the natural enemy of fire; +and any man who dares to say otherwise is no +better that a fool or a charlatan. I should +like to knock such a fellow down. I know +more about fire than all the learned talking +chaps in England, and it’s of no use to tell +me when a house is in a blaze, that any thing +but water <i>can</i> put it out. Not a bit of it. +Don’t attempt to say so; I won’t hear it!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Diggs gave vent to his feelings in the +above oracular form at his Club, on Thursday +evening last, on which occasion he happened +to be the Chairman. It was in consequence +of one of the junior members reading a +passage from a scientific Journal, to the effect +that water was almost as much a friend to +fire, as an enemy—and that, at any rate, they +were near of kin—quoting Mr. Phillips, the +Inventor of the Fire Annihilator, as a +practical authority on the subject. This was +what had so enraged Mr. Diggs, sugar-baker, +and chairman of the Albert Rock and Toffee +Club.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. John Diggs is a man who always +carries his will before him, like a crown on a +cushion, while his reason follows like a page, +holding up the skirts of his great coat. +Honest-hearted, and not without generosity, +he is much esteemed in spite of his many +perversities. He possesses a shrewd observation, +and a good understanding, when once +you can get at it; but his energies and animal +spirits commonly carry him out of all bounds, +so that to bring him back to rational judgment +is a work of no small difficulty. He +is <i>open</i> to conviction, as he always says, but +he is a tip-top specimen of the class who commonly +use that expression; his open door is +guarded by all the bludgeons of obstinacy, +behind which sits a pig-headed will, with its +eyes half shut.</p> + +<p class='c005'>This is the man, and in the condition of +mind which may be conjectured from his +speech in the chair, just quoted, who drove +up in his gig last Friday, as the clock struck +four, to the gates of the London Gas Works, +Vauxhall, in order to hear, with his own ears, +Mr. Phillips dare to say he could extinguish +the most violent flames without the use of +water; and to see, with his own eyes, the +total failure of the attempt, and the exposure +of the humbug.</p> + +<p class='c005'>To make sure of entire sympathy in all his +perversities, Mr. Diggs had brought his wife +with him; and to insure a ready assistance in +the detection of any tricks, his foreman, Mr. +White, had been sent on by the steamer. A +real reason lay at the bottom of all this; for +the work-place and warehouse of Mr. Diggs +were worth 60,000<i>l.</i>; part of which sum, no +insurance could cover; and his stock in trade +as well as his works, he but too well knew, +were of a most combustible nature. No +laughing matter—therefore not a thing to be +trifled with.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Diggs met his foreman in the yard, +waiting for his arrival; and the party having +displayed their tickets, were ushered across +and around, till they came to a large brick +building, with a long row of arched window holes +along the top, apparently for the ready +escape of volumes of smoke. The window +holes all looked very black about the edges. +So did the door-posts. The walls were very +dingy and besmutched. Mrs. Diggs had put +on her best spring bonnet with orange ribbons, +and her pink and fawn-coloured silk shawl. +She had a sudden misgiving, but it couldn’t +be helped now.</p> + +<p class='c005'>They were ushered through a large, smutty +door, into a brick building, paved with bricks, +and having arched recesses, here and there, at +the lower part. Commodious retreats, in case +the flames put forth their tongues beyond +their usual range, and advanced towards the +centre of the building,—as Mr. Diggs devoutly +hoped they might. At one end, the wooden +frame-work of a house, with ground-floor, and +first and second floor, presented its front. It +was black and charred from recent fire, with +sundry repairs of new planks, which “brought +out” the black of the rest, both without and +within, to the greatest advantage. Level +with the lowest window was a sort of lecturer’s +stage of rough planks, at the back of +which lay the model of a ship’s hull, some six +or seven feet in length; and to the right of +this, the model of a house, with lower and +upper floor, of about two feet and a half in +height.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Fronting this stage, model ship, model +house, and actual house, was a semicircle +of chairs and benches—not too near—with +ample room left at the sides for the sudden +flight of visitors who had seated themselves +in an incredulous and unimaginative state +of mind, nearer than subsequent events +seemed to warrant. Then, there were the +arched recesses; then, a low stage with seats; +then, a broad flight of wooden stairs at +the opposite end, by which visitors could +ascend to a high platform, leading also to side +<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>galleries, on the same level. The whole place +was most eloquent to the olfactory nerves of +coal-tar, pitch, resin, turpentine, &c. A light +sprinkling of sawdust completed the furnishing +of this hall, in which one of the most +extraordinary of all our modern discoveries +(provided it prove thoroughly efficient) was +about to be subjected to trial.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Diggs having planted his foreman at +one horn of the crescent of chairs, and dragging +his wife (whose thoughts of her handsome +bonnet and shawl were written in shady lines +all over her face) to a dirty-seated bench, on +the other, he darted straight across to the +scene of action, and without a moment’s hesitation +or ceremony, ascended the lecturer’s +stage, and diving with nose and hands into +the model of the ship’s hull, began to explore +its contents.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The hold, and, indeed, all the interior of +the hull, he found to be full of patent fire-wood, +for the rapid kindling of fire, each +separate piece being sufficient to light an +ordinary fire; but here, there was nothing +else. He passed on to the model house; +opened the door, and looked in. Here, also, +he found a quantity of patent fire-wood, lying +on both floors. A trap-door was left open in +the roof to allow of the escape of the smoke. +Mr. Diggs now descended from the little stage, +and advanced to the door of the house which +was to be set on fire. He entered the door-way, +and immediately found himself in a dark +chamber filled with charred planks, pitched +planks, cross-pieces of new wood, blackened +beams, and a variety of hangings and festoons +made of shavings saturated with coal-tar, resin, +and turpentine. A staircase, or, rather, a +broad charred ladder, led up to the first floor. +Mr. Diggs forthwith ascended, and stepped +upon a flooring perfectly black; in fact, the +whole room seemed made of charcoal, with +here and there a new plank laid across, or +slanting upwards, smeared with coal-tar, and +adorned like the ground-floor, with shavings +steeped in resin, pitch, turpentine, and other +combustible matter. “Well,” thought Mr. +Diggs, “at all events, there’ll be flames +enough.” A second charred ladder formed a +staircase leading to the top floor; but this +was so dilapidated and rotten from recent +burning, that our sceptical sugar-baker could +venture to do no more than clamber up, and +rest his chin on the blackened boards of the +floor above, in which position he clung by the +smutty tips of his fingers, and stared around, +above him, and on all sides. He then slowly +descended, and as he made his way out of the +front door, he hugged himself with the firm +belief that if the house were fairly set on fire +(as he determined it <i>should</i> be), and the flames +were allowed to get into full play, nothing could +stop them till they had burned the house to +the ground, and communicated with the brick +building—when the regular fire-engines, with +their torrents of water, would, of course, be +sent for, with all imaginable speed.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Meantime, a considerable number of people +of all ranks had assembled, many of them of +the aristocratic class, to judge by the row of +liveries, coachmen, and footmen, who lined +one of the side galleries. Mrs. Diggs comforted +herself with the sight of many elegantly-dressed +ladies, who seated themselves on the +chairs and benches in front of the little stage, +or platform. Perhaps the smoke and smuts +might not be so very bad, after all, or might +be driven back by the wind. Of this it was +rational to entertain some hopes, as the whole +building was in a thorough draught, evinced +by many a sneeze and cough,—a condition +some of the visitors thought very unnecessary +to be endured before the conflagration commenced.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Phillips now ascended the platform, +and commenced his brief lecture. He said he +had no sort of intention to undervalue the +real service of water in cases of fire, but only +to show that water was by no means the most +efficient agent. The more active part of fire +was flame; all fire commenced with flame, +and upon this, when at a great height, water +in any portable quantities, was comparatively +powerless. Moreover, there were many materials, +forming the staple commodity of +various trades, which, being ignited, not only +defied the power of water, but their state of +combustion was actually increased by the application +of water. This was the case with +oil or turpentine, when on fire, with tar, gas, +ardent spirits, &c. Every distiller must know +this—and so must every sugar-baker.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Diggs suddenly shifted his <i>pose</i> from +the right to the left leg; but said nothing. +This was not the point at issue.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In illustration of his last remark, Mr. +Phillips called upon his audience to imagine +the hull of the model ship to be a ship at sea +with a large crew, many passengers, and a +valuable cargo on board,—part of the cargo +consisting of highly combustible materials. +The ship takes fire! The alarm is given, all +hands called on deck, the fire-engine got out, +the pumps set to work! But before this has +been done, it happens that a cask of spirits of +turpentine has taken fire! (So saying, Mr. +Phillips sets light to a quantity of spirits of +turpentine in an iron vessel in the ship). The +flames rise rapidly!—terrifically—they ascend +the fore-rigging, which, being all tarred, is +quickly in a blaze! Now all is dismay and +confusion, more especially among the passengers. +Some of these, however, retain sufficient +presence of mind to be able to assist the +sailors in pumping. They drench the ship +with water,—they pour a continual stream +from the engine upon the flames of the turpentine! +(At these words Mr. Phillips dips +a jug in a bucket of water, and pours it upon +the flames.) But it only increases them—(it +does so)—more water is dashed upon the +flames by the men (Mr. Phillips suits the +action to the word) and by the boldest of the +passengers, but with no better result. Now, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>the fire communicates with a second barrel of +spirits of turpentine; the flames rise on all +sides, and ascend with a continuous roar to +the rigging of the mainmast, which is rapidly +in a blaze. (The model ship is literally all in +a blaze.) In despair and madness, buckets of +water are flung at random—nobody knows +what he is doing; all rush wildly about, preparing +to leap overboard at the very moment +they scream loudest for the boats!—the boats!—when +an individual suddenly recollects, as +by a flash of thought, that there is a machine +on board called a Fire Annihilator. (Here +Mr. Phillips seizes upon a small brass machine, +out of which he causes a white vapour to +issue.) In a second or two the flames are half +extinguished;—he carries the machine to the +other flaming mast, and to the casks in the +forehold,—the flames are gone!</p> + +<p class='c005'>And so they are! Of the volume of flames +in the model ship, which by this time had +risen to the height of eight or nine feet, not +a flash remains,—they were annihilated in four +or five seconds. The machine which wrought +this wonder was like a brass shaving-pot, or +bachelor’s coffee-pot, and certainly not larger.</p> + +<p class='c005'>But how was Mr. Diggs affected by this? +Did the worthy sugar-baker look peculiarly +wise, or did he stand rather aghast at his own +wisdom? Neither the one, nor the other. +Had Mr. Phillips been a fine actor, the foregoing +scene, with its fiery illustration, and the +frantic yet fruitless use of water, would have +had a tremendous effect; but his manner was +not sufficiently excited, and, worse than this, +he very much damaged the effect, and the +conviction it would have carried with it, by +turning his back towards the audience when +he poured the water upon the flames, so that +“standing in his own light,” it was impossible +for many people to see whether the +water was really poured into the model ship, +or over the other side, unless they could have +seen through his body. This was not lost +upon John Diggs, who loudly murmured his +dissatisfaction, accordingly, in opposition to +the general applause of those who <i>did</i> see, +which followed the rapid extinction of the +flames. How <i>this</i> was accomplished Mr. Diggs +did not know; he simply considered that water +had not had fair play. He suspected some +trick.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“The existence of water,” pursued Mr. +Phillips, “is continuous, flowing, not quickly +to be destroyed; the life of fire is momentary. +(He explodes a large lucifer-match.) Now +you see it at its height! (He dashes it into +water). Now it is nothing! Its life is from +instant to instant. Why has it become +nothing? Because water is its natural antagonist? +No—but because fire cannot exist +without a certain quantity of <i>air</i>; and when +it is entirely immersed in water, this requisite +quantity of air is suddenly withdrawn, and +the fire as instantly dies. The very same +result would follow if I were to dash a lighted +match into oil.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Let us see!” exclaimed Mr. Diggs; but +he was called to order by a number of +voices.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Phillips had been led many years ago, +as he now informed us, to consider the nature +of fire and water. It so chanced that he had +witnessed most of the great conflagrations +which have happened in London during the +last twenty or thirty years. The destruction +to the Royal Exchange, the Houses of Parliament—the +fire at the Tower, theatres, great +warehouses—he was present at them all; and +he could not but observe amidst the prodigious +efforts made to save them, that water was +comparatively powerless upon violent flames; +and therefore inadequate to the task it was +called upon to perform. He was also witness +of a series of terrible volcanic eruptions. He +was in a seventy-four gun-ship in the Mediterranean +at the time. For thirty or forty +days there was an eruption, and sometimes +two or three, almost daily. The most terrific +of these—and by which they were nearly lost, +having been driven towards it, and only saved +by a sudden change of wind—was of such +force, that the shock was felt throughout the +south of Europe,—from the Rock of Gibraltar, +to Stromboli. A volcanic island was thrown +up in the middle of the sea, from a depth of +four or five hundred feet. This island was of +molten lava, and rose in the form of a crescent +with an open crater, into which the sea continually +rushed like a cataract. But the fire +within was not extinguished. At each successive +eruption, the water was ejected with +a force that sent it up two miles, and sometimes +three miles high—again to descend in +thousands of tons upon the crater, but without +extinguishing the fire. The sea was boiling +for a quarter of a mile on one side of the +island: the fire was completely beyond its +power. Instead of extinguishing fire, the water +was made to boil. But he observed this further +phenomenon. A dense cloud of vapour was +sometimes generated; and whenever the wind +bore this vapour into the flames, they were +immediately extinguished.</p> + +<p class='c005'>A consideration of these phenomena led +Mr. Phillips to the following conclusions. +Fire and water are not natural enemies, but +very near relations. They are each composed +of the same elements; and in the same +proportions; the component parts of water can +be turned into fire; and when fire ceases to +be fire, it becomes water. (This latter proposition +caused Mr. Diggs to prick up his ears, +but he said nothing.) The two elements had +by no means the direct and immediate power +over each other that was generally supposed. +Water was a compact body, and acting in +this body, it could not act simultaneously +on the particles of gases which produce flame; +but a gaseous vapour being of an equally subtle +nature with the gases it has to attack, can instantly +intermix with them. Find, therefore, +a gaseous vapour, which shall intercept the +contact of the gases of flame, and thus prevent +<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>their chemical union, their inflammatory +forces are thereby destroyed, and the flame +is at once extinguished.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The means of immediately generating this +gaseous vapour had, after numerous experiments +during many years, been discovered by +Mr. Phillips. With this composition, his +machine, called the Fire Annihilator, was +charged.</p> + +<p class='c005'>He pointed to the small model house. It +was made of iron, and filled with combustible +materials. He had had the honour of exhibiting +it before many crowned heads.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Like the Wizard of the North!” muttered +Mr. Diggs, looking contemptuously at the +model.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The fuel within it, is now ignited. The +flames rapidly spread, and ascend to the +upper floor. A thick smoke issues from the +trap-door on the roof.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Here,” said Mr. Phillips, “is a house on +fire! Some of the inmates are trying to +escape by the trap-door on the roof. They +make their way out. The fire-escapes of the +Royal Society are in attendance with their +usual promptitude; their courageous men +are ascending the ladders to assist the inmates +in their descent. But where are the +inmates? Two of them have fallen down +somewhere, another has actually got back +into the attic. The reason is, that life cannot +exist in that smoke which the fire generates.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>A lighted match being held in it, instantly +went out. This was repeated quickly, once +or twice. It always went out. The interior +of the house was full of flames. One of the +little Fire Annihilators was now applied to +the door of the model. The flames sunk to +nothing almost immediately. A thick vapour +was left in their place. But in this vapour +life <i>can</i> exist. Mr. Phillips again lights a +match, and applies it to the vapour issuing +through the trap-door. The match continues +to burn. Mr. Phillips then thrusts his arm +through the door, and holds the match in the +interior of the house, where it still continues +to burn amidst the vapour. In this vapour +human life can equally exist.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Don’t believe it!” muttered Mr. Diggs, +amidst the otherwise unanimous applause, in +which was lost his additional request,—“Set +fire to the real house, and have done with it!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Phillips here described his machine. +Its various complications had been reduced to +a simple form and action. As he has printed +this for general circulation, it will be sufficient +to state that the ordinary size is less than that +of a small upright iron coal-skuttle, and its +weight not greater than can be easily carried +by man or woman to any part of the house. +It is charged with a compound of charcoal, +nitre, and gypsum, moulded into the form of a +large brick. The igniter is a glass tube inserted +in the top of the brick, inclosing two +phials—one filled with a mixture of chlorate +of potassa and sugar, the other containing a +few drops of sulphuric acid. A slight blow +upon a knob drives down a pin, which breaks +the phials, and the different mixtures coming +in contact, ignite the whole; and the gas of +this, acting upon a water chamber contained +in the machine, produces a steam, and the +whole escapes forcibly in a dense and expanding +cloud.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Preparations were now made for setting fire +to the three-roomed house. A “sensation” +passed over the room, and several ladies began +to rise from their chairs, and retire from the +semicircle in front of the lecture-stage. Mr. +Phillips assured them there was no danger, +as he had a perfect command over the flames; +at the same time, he requested the company +to observe that he had purposely arranged +that every disadvantage should be against +him. The house was full of combustible +materials—the whole building was in a +thorough draught (it was indeed) and they +would observe that the commencement of the +full force of the fire would be almost immediate, +and without any of the gradual advances +which were usual in almost all conflagrations. +Lastly, he called upon them to +take note that the fury of the flames would +be such that no life could exist near them for +a single instant.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Without further words a lighted match is +applied to one of the tarred and turpentined +shavings that hang in the ground-floor of the +house.</p> + +<p class='c005'>It sparkles—blazes—and in one moment +the lower room is full of flames! In the next, +they have risen to the floor above—they +crackle, roar, and beat about, springing up to +the roof, and darting out tongues and forks to +the right and left of the building, while a +dense hot cloud of smoke, full of red fragments +of shavings and other embers comes floating +and dancing over the heads of the assembled +company. Everybody has arisen from his +seat,—ladies—gentlemen,—and now all the +visitors, are crowding towards the other end +of the building! The whole place is filled +with the roar of flames, the noise of voices, +hurrying feet, and rustling garments—and +clouds of hot smoke!</p> + +<p class='c005'>But suddenly a man enters the building from +a side-door, bearing a portable Fire Annihilator +of the size we have mentioned; he is +followed by a second. The machines are +vomiting forth a dense white vapour. They +enter just within the door-way of the blazing +house. A change instantly takes place in the +colour and action of the flames, as though they +grew pale in presence of their master. They +sink. There is nothing but darkness—and the +dense white vapour coiling about in triumph.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Life can now exist!” cries Mr. Phillips, +rushing into the house, and ascending the +blackened stairs. Mr. Diggs (hoping he +might be suffocated) instantly follows. He +gains the top of the ladder, and plants one +foot on the floor. He cannot see for the +thick vapour. The hand of Mr. Phillips +assists him, and they both go to the window +<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>and look out upon the company. Mr. Diggs +coughs a little, but, to his disappointment, is +not suffocated. In another second or two, he +can take his breath freely. Very odd.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Diggs is more than staggered by such +a proof. He begins to suspect there may be +something in it. As Mr. Phillips assists the +worthy sugar-baker over a piece of very burnt +and precarious-looking flooring, out at a side +hole in the house, as the stairs are no longer +safe, Mr. Diggs thanks him very civilly for +his attention, and—he almost adds—for the +satisfactory result of this last experiment; +but he checked himself. Time would show.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Meanwhile, all was pleasant confusion, and +applause, and wonder, and satisfaction, and +congratulation, and the re-arrangement of +habiliments, and the polishing of smutty faces, +and laughing and good humour among the +company. With some difficulty, Mr. Diggs +discovered his wife, and with almost equal +difficulty recognised her after he had found +her. She had been honoured more than +almost any one else, with the falling embers +and black smut of the conflagration. Her +pink and fawn-coloured silk shawl was +spotted all over, and looked like a leopard-skin; +the orange ribbons on her bonnet were +speckled, and otherwise toadied, while her face, +after a diligent use of her handkerchief +(having no glass, or friend to ask), had a +complete shady tint all over it, giving her the +appearance of one of those complexions of +lead colour, presented by unfortunate invalids +who have had occasion to undergo a course of +nitrate of silver. Many other persons were +in a spotty and smutted predicament, but +none so bad as poor Mrs. Diggs, except, +indeed her husband; but he was insensible to +such matters.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Issuing forth into the spacious yard of the +gas works, a final demonstration was about to +be given to the visitors on their way out. A +circular pool, of eighteen feet in circumference, +was filled with tar and naphtha. This thick +liquid mixture was ignited, and in a few +seconds the whole surface sent up a prodigious +blaze of great brilliancy. A boy of about +eleven years of age (apparently a stranger +to the machine, to judge from his awkwardness) +was desired to strike down the knob +which put the portable Fire Annihilator in +action. He did so; and immediately the thick +white vapour began to gush forth. The boy +carried the machine, with very little effort, to +within four or five feet of the flames. Instantly +the flames changed colour, as though +with a sort of ghastly purple horror of their +destroyer—and, in a few seconds, down +they sank, and became nothing. There lay +the black mixture, looking as if it had never +been disturbed. But the machine, meantime, +went on vomiting forth its vapour, with +surplus power, like the escape-pipe of a steam-engine, +and the boy being in a state of confusion, +was bringing the machine back among +the company assembled round, who all begun +to retreat, when somebody connected with +the Works told him to let it off against the +dead wall. While this was taking place, the +same individual remarked aloud, that the +vapour could not only be breathed after it +had ascended and extinguished a fire, but +would not burn even as it gushed forth fresh +and furious from the machine. As he said +this, he passed his hand through it once or +twice. Mr. Diggs suddenly thought he had +a last chance,—and, rushing forward, passed +his hand (hoping he might be dreadfully +scorched) through the fierce vapour as it +rushed out. Actually, he was not at all +scorched. It was only rather hot. He passed +his hand backwards and forwards twice more—a +sort of greasy and rather dirty warm +moisture covered his hand—this was all. John +Diggs was fairly conquered—admitted it to +himself—and, seeking out Mr. Phillips, went +honestly up to him, and shook him heartily +by the hand—saying, with a laugh, that if all +was fairly done, and no necromancy, he had +witnessed a great fact, and he congratulated +him.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Still—in a friendly way—he could not help +asking Mr. Phillips for a word of explanation +as to his assertion that fire and water were of +the same family—in fact, convertible, each into +the other. Mr. Phillips accordingly favoured +Mr. Diggs with the following remarks:—“Fire,” +said he, “is mainly composed of eight +parts of oxygen, and one part of hydrogen; +thus making a whole of nine parts. When +fire ceases to be fire, it becomes water, retaining +the same elements and proportions, viz., +eight of oxygen and one of hydrogen, and will +weigh (if the measure has been in pounds) +nine pounds or parts. If you decompose +these nine pounds of water by voltaic battery, +the gases generated will render eight pounds +of oxygen and one of hydrogen. Moreover, +this law of nature cannot be deranged or disturbed +by human agency. If, to make fire, +you take eight parts of oxygen, and <i>two</i> of +hydrogen, the false proportion will not prevent +the product of fire; for the principle of +fire, as if by instinct, will elect its own proper +proportions, become fire, and throw over the +excess, whether the error be an excess of +oxygen or hydrogen.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Thank you, Sir—thank you!” said Mr. +John Diggs;—but he determined to take a +glass of punch with a friend of his, an experimental +chemist, that same evening.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Now, taking it for granted that there is no +necromancy in all this, it may be asked, how +will the discovery affect, not only the Fire Brigade +of London, but the use of fire-engines +(with hose and water) all over the country, +and the civilised world. Will they not be superseded? +We answer without hesitation, we +think they will by no means be superseded. +One great value of this magnificent discovery +of Mr. Phillips, consists in its immediate +command over the active part of fire, viz., +flame: whereby a fire in a large building +<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>full of combustible materials, a private dwelling, +a theatre, or a ship at sea, may be extinguished +before it has time to make any +very destructive advances. But in all cases +where a fire has gained any ascendancy, and +extended over a considerable space, the use +of water <i>after</i> the flames have been extinguished, +continues as important as ever. The +<i>red heat</i> which remains on the smouldering +and heated materials, may re-ignite; and +it is to prevent this, that water is still an +imperative requisition. Moreover, water is +necessary to drench adjoining chambers, partywalls, +or adjoining houses and premises, to +prevent their liability to taking fire from +the conflagration that has already commenced. +We earnestly trust, therefore, that +the greatest unanimity will exist in all +branches of this great Fire and Water Question, +and that they will cordially receive the +new Vapour into amicable partnership and +co-operation. Fully recognising the immense +importance to the community at large, of a +body of brave, well-trained, and skilful men, +like those of the Fire Brigade, and those who +compose the staff of the Fire-Escapes of the +Royal Society (and two more efficient and +admirable staffs do not exist in this country, +or any other country); we think, after Mr. +Phillips’s invention has passed through every +test that can reasonably be required, that all +Fire-engines, and every Fire-escape, would do +well to have one or more of these Fire +Annihilators with them as a regular part of +their apparatus.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Of the Fire-escapes of the Royal Society, the +promptitude of their action (they are almost +always first at a fire), and the many lives +saved by them every year—nay, sometimes, in +the course of a week—we had contemplated a +substantive account, but have been withheld +by the impossibility of doing justice to the +various patents without accurate drawings and +diagrams. However, as these are already +before the public, we may content ourselves +by saying, that, whether the Royal Society +make use of the Fire-escape invented by +Winter and Sons, by Wivell, or by Davies, +the humane exertions of the Society have +attained a success which commands the +admiration, and ensures the gratitude, of +society at large.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Respecting the annihilating properties of +water, much may be said, and will be said; +but all in vain, until the water companies are +brought to their senses, and the utter abolition +of domestic cisterns and water-butts is +effected. Without the continuous supply +system—till all the water-pipes in all the +houses and all the streets are kept always fully +charged at high pressure, conflagrations never +will, and never can, be promptly put out by the +agency of what the penny-a-liners have lately +taken to call the “antagonistic element.” +Fire-engines, if not wholly laid aside, must be +only kept for exceptional cases, and the Fire +Brigade—well conducted, efficient, courageous +as it is—may, some of these days, be turned +into a corps of reserve. With the mains ever +charged, with water at high service, no +engines will be required. At the first +alarm of fire, the policeman pulls up the +fire plug—which should be opposite every +sixth or eighth house—fixes the hose, and out +spouts a cataract in two minutes. Assistance +arrives; trails of hoses are made to lead from +the rows of plugs on either side, or in other +streets, and in five minutes a deluge—and no +more fire.</p> + +<p class='c005'>For the extinguishing of fire, <i>time</i> is a most +important consideration. A few gallons of +water would be effective if used at once, where +thousands of gallons would effect little after +ten or fifteen minutes had elapsed. The +average time the Brigade engines take in +arriving at a fire after the first alarm is ten +minutes or a quarter of an hour, rapid as are +their movements. The Parish engines are far +more numerous, but always last—and seldom +of any use when they <i>do</i> come. Conceive a +parish beadle at a fire!</p> + +<p class='c005'>In some towns in the north—among others +Preston, Oldham, Ashton, Bolton, Bury, and +Manchester—the continuous water supply +system has been in use for some time with +manifest benefit to the inhabitants. The fire +plug and jet, without engines, have, in these +places, already done great execution. Under +recent improvements, also, the same plans have +been adopted in Hamburgh; Philadelphia and +other American towns have, in their wisdom, +“done likewise.” On one occasion, at Liverpool, +a fire was extinguished by a hose which +was promptly applied; a fire-engine arrived +presently after, when the engine-man, finding +the fire had been extinguished, knocked the +hoseman down, as an impertinent fellow.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In factories, and other large buildings, if +an arrangement of the above kind were +adopted, on the first alarm of fire a man +would only have to unwind a hose, and turn a +cock. This, with one of the Fire Annihilators +at hand, would probably render the building +quite secure.</p> + +<p class='c005'>These improvements and precautions carry +with them a variety of interesting consequences,—such +as the check to incendiarism, +the effect on insurances, the benefit to health +by the plug and hose being used daily in +washing the streets, and thus destroying foul +exhalations after a storm, &c.</p> + +<p class='c005'>While bringing this paper to a conclusion, +we learn that Mr. John Diggs has determined +to have a <i>self-acting</i> Fire Annihilator fixed in +a central position of his warehouse; so that if +a fire should burst out in the night, the flames +would melt one or other of a series of leaden +wires, any one of which being thus divided, would +liberate a heavy weight, which would instantly +run down an iron wire leading to the knob and +pin of his special Annihilator—ignite the contents +of the machine, and destroy the flames +in his sugar-bakery, while he slept soundly in +his bed.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span> + <h2 class='c003'>THE SICKNESS AND HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF BLEABURN.</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c013'>IN THREE PARTS.—CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<p class='c014'>The spectacle of carrying the Good Lady +up to the brow was more terrifying to the +people of Bleaburn than any of the funerals +they had seen creeping along by the same +path,—more even than the passage of the +laden cart, with the pall over it, on the morning +of the opening of the new burying-grounds. +The people of Bleaburn, extremely ignorant, +were naturally extremely superstitious. It +was not only the very ignorant who were +superstitious. The fever itself was never supposed +to be more catching than a mood of +superstition; and so it now appeared in +Bleaburn. For many weeks past the Good +Lady had been regarded as a sort of talisman +in the people’s possession. She breathed out +such cheerfulness wherever she turned her +face, that it seemed as if the place could not +go quite to destruction while she was in it. +Some who would not have admitted to themselves +that they held such an impression were +yet infected with the common dismay, as well +as with the sorrow of parting with her. If +Mary had had the least idea of the probable +effect of her departure, she would have been +less admired by the Kirbys for her docility,—for +she would certainly have insisted on staying +where she was.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I declare I don’t know what to do,” the +doctor confessed in confidence to the clergyman. +“Every patient I have is drooping, and +the people in the street look like creatures +under doom. The comet was bad enough; +and, before we have well done with it, here is +a panic which is ten times worse.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I tried to lend a hand to help you against +the comet,” replied Mr. Kirby. “I think I +may be of some use again now. Shall I tell +them it is a clear case of idolatry?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Why, it is in fact so, Mr. Kirby; but yet, +I shrink from appearing to cast the slightest +disrespect on her.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Of course; of course. The thing I want +to show them is what she would think,—how +shocked she would be if she knew the state of +mind she left behind.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Ah! if you can do that!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I will see about it. Now tell me how we +are going on.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Doctor replied by a look, which made +Mr. Kirby shake his head. Neither of them +liked to say in words how awful was the state +of things.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“It is such weather you see,” said the +Doctor. “Damp and disagreeable as it is, +this December is as warm as September.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Five-and-twenty sorts of flowers out in +my garden,” observed Mr. Kirby. “I set +the boys to count them yesterday. We shall +have as many as that on Christmas-day. A +thing unheard of!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“There will be no Christmas kept this year, +surely,” said the Doctor.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I don’t know that. My wife and I were +talking it over yesterday. We think * * +Well, my boy,” to a little fellow who stood +pulling his forelock, “what have you to say +to me? I am wanted at home, am I? Is +Mrs. Kirby there?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>The Doctor heard him say to himself, +“Thank God!” when they saw the lady +coming out of a cottage near. The Doctor +had long suspected that the clergyman and +his wife were as sensible of one another’s +danger as the most timid person in Bleaburn +was of his own; and now he was sure of it. +Henceforth, he understood that they were +never easy out of one another’s sight; and +that when the clergyman was sent for from +the houses he was passing, his first idea always +was that his wife was taken ill. It was so. +They were not people of sentiment. They +had settled their case with readiness and decision, +when it first presented itself to them; +and they never looked back. But it did not +follow that they did not feel. They agreed, +with the smallest possible delay, that they +ought to succeed to the charge of Bleaburn on +Mr. Finch’s death; that they ought to place +their boys at school, and their two girls with +their aunt till Bleaburn should be healthy +again; and that they must stand or fall by +the duty they had undertaken. As for separating, +that was an idea mentioned only to be +dismissed. They now nodded across the little +street, as Mrs. Kirby proceeded on her round +of visits, and her husband went home, to see +who wanted him there.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In the corner of the little porch was a man +sitting, crouching and cowering as if in bodily +pain. Mr. Kirby went up to him, stooped +down to see his face (but it was covered with +his hands), and at last ventured to remove +his hat. Then the man looked up. It was a +square, hard face, which from its make would +have seemed immovable; but it was anything +but that now. It is a strange sight, the +working of emotion in a countenance usually +as hard as marble!</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Neale!” exclaimed Mr. Kirby. “Somebody +ill at the farm, I am afraid.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Not yet, Sir; not yet, Mr. Kirby. But +Lord save us! we know nothing of how soon +it may be so.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Exactly so: that has been the case of +every man, woman, and child, hour by hour +since Adam fell.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Yes, Sir; but the present time is something +different from that. I came, Sir, to +say * * I came, Mr. Kirby, because I can +get no peace or rest, day or night; for +thoughts, Sir; for thoughts.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Kirby glanced round him. “Come in,” +said he, “Come into my study.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Neale followed him in; but instead of sitting +down, he walked straight to the window, and +seemed to be looking into the garden. Mr. +Kirby, who had been on foot all the morning, +sat down and waited, shaving away at a pen +meanwhile.</p> + +<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>“On Sunday, Sir,” said Neale at last, in a +whispering kind of voice, “you read that I +have kept back the hire of the labourers that +reaped down my fields, and that their cry has +entered into the ears of the Lord.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“That <i>you</i> kept back the hire of the +labourer?” exclaimed Mr. Kirby, quickly +turning in his seat, so as to face his visitor. +He laid his hand on the pocket-bible on the +table, opened at the Epistle of James, and, +with his finger on the line, walked to the +window with it.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Yes, Sir, that is it,” said Neale. “I +would return the hire I kept back,—(I can’t +exactly say by fraud, for it was from hardness)—I +would pay it all willingly now; but +the men are dead. The fever has left but a +few of them.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I see,” said Mr. Kirby. “I see how it is. +You think the fever is dogging your heels, +because the cries of your labourers have entered +into the ears of the Lord. You want +to buy off the complaints of the dead, and the +anger of God, by spending now on the living. +You are afraid of dying; and you would +rather part with your money, dearly as you +love it, than die; and so you are planning to +bribe God to let you live.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Is not that rather hard, Sir?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Hard?—Is it true? that is the question.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>When they came to look closely into the +matter, it was clear enough. Neale, driven +from his accustomed methods and employments, +and from his profits, and all his outward +reliances, was adrift and panic-stricken. +When the Good Lady was carried out of the +hollow, the last security seemed gone, and the +place appeared to be delivered over to God’s +wrath; his share of which, his conscience +showed him to be pointed out in the words of +scripture which had so impressed his mind, +and which were ringing in his ears, as he said, +day and night.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“As for the Good Lady,” said Mr. Kirby, +“I am sure I hope she will never hear how +some of the people here regard her, after all +she has done for them. If anything could +bow her spirit, it would be that.” Seeing +Neale stare in surprise, he went on. “One +would think she was a kind of witch or sorceress; +that there was some sort of magic +about her; instead of her being a sensible, +kind-hearted, fearless woman, who knows +how to nurse, and is not afraid to do it when +it is most wanted.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Don’t you think then, Sir, that God sent +her to us?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Certainly; as he sent the Doctor, and my +wife and me: as he sends people to each other +whenever they meet. I am sure you never +heard the Good Lady say that she was specially +sent.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“She is so humble,—so natural, Sir,—she +was not likely to say such a thing.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Very true: and she is too wise to think +it. No—there is nothing to be frightened +about in her going away. She could have +done no good here, while unable to walk or +sit up; and she will recover better where she +is gone. If she recovers, as I expect she +will, she will come and see us; and I shall +think that as good luck as you can do; not +because she carries luck about with her, but +because there is nothing we so much want +as her example of courage, and sense and +cheerfulness.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“To be sure,” said Neale, in a meditative +way, “she could not keep the people from +dying.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“No indeed,” observed Mr. Kirby; “you +and some others took care that she should +not.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>In reply to the man’s stare of amazement, +Mr. Kirby asked:—</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Are not you the proprietor of several of +the cottages in Bleaburn?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Yes: I have seven altogether.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I know them well,—too well. Neale, +your conscience accuses you about the hire +of your labourers: but you have done worse +things than oppress them about wages. Part +of the mischief you may be unaware of; but +I know you are not of all. I know that +Widow Slaney speaks to you, year by year, +about repairing that wretched place she lives +in. Have you done it yet? Not you! I +need not have asked; and yet you screw that +poor woman for her rent till she cannot sleep +at night for thinking of it. You know in +your heart that what she says is true,—that +if her son was alive,—(and it was partly your +hardness that sent him to the wars, and to +his terrible fate)—”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Stop, Sir! I cannot bear it!” exclaimed +Neale. “Sir, you should not bear so hard on +me. I have a son that met another bad fate +at the wars: and you know it, Mr. Kirby.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“To be sure I do. And how do you treat +him? You drove him away by harshness; +and now you say he shall not come back, +because you cannot be troubled with a cripple +at home.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Not now, Sir. I say no such thing now. +When I said that, I was in a bad mood. I +mean to be kind to him now: and I have told +him so:—that is, I have said so to the girl +he is attached to.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“You have? You have really seen her, +and shown respect to the young people?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I have, Sir.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Well: that is so far good. That is some +foundation laid for a better future.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I should be thankful, Sir, to make up for +the past.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Ah!” said Mr. Kirby, shaking his head; +“that is what can never be done. The people, +as you say, are dead: the misery is suffered: +the mischief is done, and cannot be undone. +It is a lie, and a very fatal one, to say that +past sins may be atoned for.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“O, Mr. Kirby!—don’t say that!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I must say it, because it is true. You +said yourself that you cannot make it up to +those you have injured, because the men are +<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>dead. What is that you are saying? that you +wish the fever had taken you; and you could +go now and shoot yourself? Before you dare +to say such things, you should look at the +other half of the case. Is not the future +greater than the past, because we have power +over it? And is there not a good text somewhere +about forgetting the things that are +behind, and pressing forwards to those that +are before?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“O, Sir! if I could forget the past!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Well: you see you have scripture warrant +for trying. But then the pressing forwards +to better things must go with it. If you +forget the past, and go on the same as ever, +you might as well be in hell at once. Then, I +don’t know that your shooting yourself would +do much harm to anybody.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“But, Sir, I am willing to do all I can. +I am willing to spend all I have. I am, +indeed.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Well, spend away,—money, time, thought, +kindness,—till you can fairly say that you +have done by everybody as you would be done +by! It will be time enough then to think +what next. And, first, about these cottages +of yours. If no more people are to die in +them, murdered by filth and damp, you have +no time to lose. You must not sit here, talking +remorse, and planning fine deeds, but you +must set the work going this very day. Come! +let us go and see.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Farmer Neale walked rather feebly through +the hall: so Mr. Kirby called him into the +parlour, and gave him a glass of wine. Still, +as they went down the street, one man +observed to another, that Neale looked ten +years older in a day. He looked round him, +however, with some signs of returning spirits, +when he saw the boys at their street-cleaning, +and observed, that hereabouts things looked +wholesome enough.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Mere outside scouring,” said Mr. Kirby. +“Better than dirt, as far as it goes; unless, +indeed, it makes us satisfied to have whited +sepulchres for dwellings. Come and see the +uncleanness within.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mr. Kirby did not spare him. He took him +through all the seven cottages, for which he +had extorted extravagant rents, without fulfilling +any conditions on his own part. He +showed him every bit of broken roof, of damp +wall, of soaked floor. He showed him every +heap of filth, every puddle of nastiness caused +by there being no drains, or other means of +removal of refuse. He advised him to make +a note of every repair needed; and, when he +saw that Neale’s hand shook so that he could +not write, took the pencil from his hand, and +did it himself. Two of the seven cottages he +condemned utterly: and Neale eagerly agreed +to pull them down, and rebuild them with +every improvement requisite to health. To +the others he would supply what was wanting, +and especially drainage. They stood in such +a cluster that it was practicable to drain them +all into a gully of the rock which, by being +covered over, by a little building up at one +end, and a little blasting at one side, might be +made into a considerable tank, which was to +be closed by a tight-fitting, and very heavy +slab at top. Mr. Kirby conceded so much to +the worldly spirit of the man he had to deal +with, as to point out that the manure thus +saved would so fertilise his fields as soon to +repay the cost of this batch of drainage. +Neale did not care for this at the moment. +He was too sore at heart at the spectacle of +these cottages and their inmates,—too much +shaken by remorse and fear,—for any idea of +profit and loss: but Mr. Kirby thought it as +well to point out the fact, as it might help to +animate the hard man to proceed in a good +work, when his present melting mood should +be passing away.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Well: I think this is all we can do to-day,” +said Mr. Kirby, as they issued from the +seventh cottage. “The worst of it is, the +workmen from O—— will not come,—I am +afraid no builder will come, even to make an +estimate—till we are declared free of fever. +But there is a good deal that your own people +can do.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“They can knock on a few slates before +dark, Sir; and those windows can be mended +to-day. I trust, Mr. Kirby, you will give me +encouragement; and not be harder than you +can help.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Why, Neale; the thing is this. You do +not hold your doom from my hand; and you +ought not to hang upon my words. You +come to me to tell me what you feel, and to +ask what I think. All I can do is to be +honest with you, and (as indeed I am) +sorry for you. Time must do the rest. If +you are now acting well from fear of the +fever only, time will show you how worthless +is the effort; for you will break off as soon +as the fright has passed away. If you really +mean to do justly and love mercy, through +good and bad fortune, time will prove you +there, too: and then you will see whether I +am hard, or whether we are to be friends. +This is my view of the matter.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Neale touched his hat, and was slowly going +away, when Mr. Kirby followed him, to say +one thing more.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“It may throw light to yourself, on your +own state of mind, to tell you that it is quite +a usual one among people who have deeply +sinned, when any thing happens to terrify +them. Histories of earthquakes and plagues +tell of people thinking and feeling as you do +to-day. I dare say you think nobody ever +felt the same before; but you are not the only +one in Bleaburn.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Indeed, Sir!” exclaimed Neale, exceedingly +struck.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Far from it. A person who has often +robbed your poultry-yard, and taken your +duck eggs, thought that I was preaching at +him, last Sunday; though I knew nothing +about it. He wished to make reparation; +and he asked me if I thought you would +<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>forgive him. Do you really wish to know +my answer? I told him I thought you +would not: but that he must confess and +make reparation, nevertheless.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“You thought I should not forgive him?”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I did: and I think so now, thus far. You +would say and believe that you forgave him: +but, at odd times, for years to come, you would +show him that you had not forgotten it, and +remind him that you had a hold over him. If +not,—if I do you injustice in this, I should——”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“You do not, Sir. I am afraid what you +say is very true.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Well, just think it over, before he comes to +you. This is the only confession made to me +which it concerns you to hear: but I assure +you, I believe there is not an evil doer in Bleaburn +that is not sick at heart as you are; and +for the same reason. We all have our pains +and troubles; and yours may turn out a great +blessing to you,—or a curse, according as you +persevere or give way.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Neale said to himself as he went home, that +Mr. Kirby had surely been very hard. If a +man hanged for murder was filled with hope +and triumph, and certainty of glory, there must +be some more speedy comfort for him than +the pastor had held out. Yet, in his inmost +heart, he felt that Mr. Kirby was right; and +he could not for the life of him, keep away +from him. He managed to meet him every day. +He could seldom get a word said about the +state of his mind; for Mr. Kirby did not +approve of people’s talking of their feelings,—and +especially of those connected with conscience: +but in the deeds which issued from +conscientious feelings, he found cordial assistance +given. And Farmer Neale sometimes +fancied that he could see the time,—far as it +was ahead—when Mr. Kirby and he might +be, as the pastor had himself said,—friends.</p> + +<p class='c005'>The amount of confession and remorse +opened out to the pastor was indeed striking, +and more affecting to him than he chose to +show to anybody but his wife; and not even +to her did he tell many of the facts. The +mushroom resolutions spawned in the heat of +panic were offensive and discouraging to him: +but there were better cases than these. A +man who had taken into wrath with a neighbour +about a gate, and had kept so for years, +and refused to go to church lest he should +meet him there, now discovered that life is +too short for strife, and too precarious to be +wasted in painful quarrels. A little girl whispered +to Mr. Kirby that she had taken a +turnip in his field without leave, and got permission +to weed the great flower-bed without +pay, to make up for it. Simpson and Sally +asked him to marry them; and for poor Sally’s +sake, he was right glad to do it. They were +straightforward enough in their declaration +of their reasons. Simpson thought nobody’s +life was worth a halfpenny now, and he did +not wish to be taken in his sins: while Sally +said it would be worse still if the innocent +baby was taken for its parents’ sin. They +had to hear the publication of banns, at a +time when other people were thinking of anything +but marriage; and, when the now disused +church was unlocked to admit them to +the altar,—just themselves and the clerk,—it +was very dreary; but they immediately +after felt the safer and better for it. Sally +thought the Good Lady would have gone to +church with her, if she had been here; and +she wished she could let her know that +Simpson had fulfilled his promise at last. +Other people besides Sally wished they could +let the Good Lady know how they were going +on;—how frost came at last, in January, +and stopped the fever;—how families who +had lived crowded together now spread themselves +into the empty houses; and how +there was so much room that the worst cottages +were left uninhabited, or were already +in course of demolition, to make airy spaces, +or afford sites for better dwellings; and how +it was now certain that above two-thirds of the +people of Bleaburn had perished in the fever, +or by decline, after it. But they did not think +of getting anybody who could write to tell all +this to the Good Lady: nor did it occur to +them that she might possibly know it all. +The men and boys collected pretty spars for +her; and the women and girls knitted gloves +and comforters, and made pincushions for her, +in the faith that they should some day see her +again. Meanwhile, they talked of her every +day.</p> + +<h3 class='c015'>CHAPTER IX, AND LAST.</h3> + +<p class='c014'>It was a fine spring day when the Good +Lady re-appeared at Bleaburn. There she +was, perfectly well, and glad to see health on +so many of the faces about her. Some were +absent whom she had left walking about in +the strength of their prime; but others whom +she had last seen lying helpless, like living +skeletons, were now on their feet, with a light +in their eyes, and some little tinge of colour +in their cheeks. There were sad spectacles to +be seen of premature decrepitude, of dreadful +sores, of deafness, of lameness, left by the +fever. There were enough of these to have +saddened the heart of any stranger entering +Bleaburn for the first time, but to Mary, the +impression was that of a place risen from the +dead. There was much grass in the churchyard, +and none in the streets: the windows +of the cottages were standing wide, letting it +be seen that the rooms were white-washed +within. There was an indescribable air of +freshness and brightness about the whole +place, which made her feel and say that she +hardly thought the fever could harbour there +again. As she turned into the lane leading +to her aunt’s, the sound of the hammer, and +the chipping of stone were heard; and some +workmen whom she did not know, turned +from their work of planing boards, to see +why a crowd could be coming round the +corner. These were workmen from O——, +building Neale’s new cottages, in capital +style. And, for a moment, two young ladies +<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>entering from the other end, were equally perplexed +as to what the extraordinary bustle +could mean. Their mother, however, understood +it at a glance, and hastened forward to +greet the Good Lady, sending a boy to fetch +Mr. Kirby immediately. Mrs. Kirby’s dryness +of manner broke down altogether when +she introduced her daughters to Mary. “Let +them say they have shaken hands with you,” +said she, as she herself kissed the hand she +held.</p> + +<p class='c005'>It was not easy for Mary to spare a hand, +so laden was she with pincushions and knitted +wares; but the Kirbys took them from her, +and followed in her train, till the Widow +Johnson appeared on her threshold, pale as +marble, and grave as a monument, but well +and able to hold out her arms to Mary. Poor +Jem’s excitement seemed to show that he was +aware that some great event was happening. +His habits were the same as before his illness, +and he had no peace till he had shut the door +when Mary entered. Everybody then went +away for the time; plenty of eyes, however, +being on the watch for the moment when the +Good Lady should be visible again.</p> + +<p class='c005'>In a few minutes, the movements of Jem’s +head showed his mother that, as she said, +something was coming. Jem’s hearing was +uncommonly acute: and what he now heard, +and what other people heard directly after, +was a drum and fife. Neighbour after neighbour +came to tell the Johnsons what their +ears had told them already,—that there was +a recruiting party in Bleaburn again; and +Jem went out, attracted by the music.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“It is like the candle to the moth to him,” +said his mother. “I must go and see that +nobody makes sport of him, or gives him +drink.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Sit still, Aunty; I will go. And there is +Warrender, I see, and Ann. We will take +care of Jem.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>And so they did. Ann looked so meaningly +at Mary, meantime, as to make Mary look inquiringly +at Ann.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Only, Ma’am,” said Ann, “that Sally +Simpson is standing yonder. She does not +like to come forward, but I know she would +be pleased.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Her name is Simpson? How glad I am +he has married her!” whispered Mary, as +she glanced at the ring which Sally was rather +striving to show. “I hope you are happy at +last, Sally.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Oh, Ma’am, it is such a weight gone! +And I do try to make him happy at home, +that he may never repent.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mary thought the doubt should be all the +other way—whether the wife might not be +the most likely to repent having bound herself +to a man who could act towards her as +Simpson had done. Widow Slaney was not +to be seen. The fife and drum had sent her +to the loft. She came down to see Mary; +but her agitation was so great that it would +have been cruelty to stay. They heard her +draw the bolt as they turned from the +door.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“She does not like seeing Jack Neale any +more than hearing the drum,” observed the +host of the Plough and Harrow, who had +come forth to invite the Good Lady in, ‘to +take a glass of something.’ “That is Jack +Neale, Ma’am; that wooden-legged young +man. He is married, though, for all his being +so crippled. The young woman loved him +before; and she loves him all the more now; +and they married last week, and live at his +father’s. It must be a sad sight to his father; +but he says no word about it. Better not; +for Britons must be loyal.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“And why not?” said the Doctor, who had +hastened in from the brow, on seeing that +something unusual was going forward below, +and had ventured to offer the Good Lady his +arm, as he thought an old comrade in the +conflict with sickness and death might do.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Why not?” said the Doctor. “We make +grievous complaints of the fatality of war; +and it <i>is</i> sad to see the maiming and hear of +the slaughter. But we had better spend our +lamentations on a fatality that we can manage. +It would take many a battle of Albuera to +mow us down, and hurt us in sense and limb, +as the fever has done.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“Why, that is true!” cried some, as if +struck by a new conviction.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“True, yes,” continued the Doctor. “I +don’t like the sight of a recruiting party, or +the sound of the drum much better than the +poor woman in yonder house, who will die of +heart-break after all—of horror and pining +for her son. But there is something that I +like still less; the first giddiness and trembling +of the strong man, the sinking feebleness +of the young mother, the dimming of the +infant’s eyes; and the creeping fog along the +river-bank, the stench in the hot weather, and +the damp in the cold, that tell us that fever +has lodged among us. I know then that we +shall have, many times over, the slaughter of +war, without any comfort from thoughts of +glory to ourselves or duty to our country. +There is neither glory nor duty in dying like +vermin in a ditch.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>“I don’t see,” said Warrender, “that the +sergeant will carry off any of our youngsters +now. If he had come with his drum three +months since, some might have gone with +him to get away from the fever, as a more +terrible thing than war; but at present I +think he will find that death has left us no +young men to spare.”</p> + +<p class='c005'>And so it proved. The sergeant and his +party soon marched up to the brow, and +disappeared, delivering the prophecy that +Bleaburn would now lose its reputation for +eagerness to support king and country. And +in truth, Bleaburn was little heard of from +that time till the peace.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Mary could not stay now. She had been +detained very long from home—in America—and +somebody was waiting very impatiently +<span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>there to give her a new and happy home. +This is said as if we were speaking of a real +person—and so we are. There was such a +Mary Pickard; and what she did for a Yorkshire +village in a season of fever is <span class='fss'>TRUE</span>.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>THE REVENGE OF ÆSOP.</h2> +</div> + +<div class='lg-container-b c006'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in12'>IMITATED FROM PHÆDRUS.</div> + <div class='line'>A blockhead once a stone at Æsop threw:</div> + <div class='line'>‘A better marksman, friend, I never knew,’</div> + <div class='line'>Exclaimed the wit, and gaily rubbed his leg;</div> + <div class='line'>‘A hand so dexterous ne’er will come to beg.</div> + <div class='line'>‘Excuse these pence; how poor I am, you know!</div> + <div class='line'>‘If <i>I</i> give these, what would the rich bestow?</div> + <div class='line'>‘Look, look! that well-drest gentleman you see;</div> + <div class='line'>‘Quick, prove on him the skill misspent on me!</div> + <div class='line'>‘Here, take the stone. Be cool—a steadfast eye—</div> + <div class='line'>‘And make your fortune with one lucky shy.’</div> + <div class='line'>The blockhead took the counsel of the wit;</div> + <div class='line'>He poised the pebble, and his mark he hit.</div> + <div class='line'>‘Arrest the traitor! He has struck the king!’</div> + <div class='line'>And Æsop, smiling, saw the ruffian swing.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <h2 class='c003'>THE GOLDEN FAGOTS.</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c013'>A CHILD’S TALE.</h3> + +<p class='c014'>An old woman went into a wood to gather +fagots. As she was breaking, with much +difficulty, one very long, tough branch across +her knee, a splinter went into her hand. It +made a wound from which the blood flowed, +but she bound her hand up with a ragged +handkerchief, and went home to her hut.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Now this old woman was very cross, because +she had hurt herself; and therefore +when she arrived home and saw her little +granddaughter, Ellie, singing and spinning, +she was very glad that there was somebody to +punish. So she told little Ellie that she was +a minx, and beat her with a fagot. But the +old woman had for a long time depended for +support upon her granddaughter, and the +daily bread had never yet been wanting from +her table.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Then this old woman told little Ellie that +she was to untie the handkerchief and dress +the wound upon her hand.</p> + +<p class='c005'>“The cloth feels very stiff,” said the old +woman.</p> + +<p class='c005'>And that was a thing not to be wondered +at, for when the bandage was unrolled, one +half of it was found to be made of a thick +golden tissue. And there was a lump of gold +in the old woman’s hand, where otherwise a +blood clot might have been.</p> + +<p class='c005'>At all this Ellie was not much surprised, +because she knew little of gold, and as her +grandmother was very yellow outside, it appeared +to her not unlikely that she was yellow +the whole way through.</p> + +<p class='c005'>But the sun now shone into the little room, +and Ellie started with delight: “Look at the +beautiful bright beetles there among the +fagots!” She had often watched the golden +beetles, scampering to and fro, near a hot +stone upon the rock. “Ah, this is very odd!” +said little Ellie, seeing that the bright specks +did not move. “These poor insects must be +all asleep!”</p> + +<p class='c005'>But the old woman, who had fallen down +upon her knees before the wood, bade Ellie +go into the town and sell the caps that she +had finished; not forgetting to bring home +another load of flax.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Grannie, when left to herself, made a great +many curious grimaces. Then she scratched +another wound into her hand, and caused the +blood to drop among the fagots. Then she +hobbled and screamed, endeavouring, no +doubt, all the while to dance and sing. It +was quite certain that her blood had the +power of converting into gold whatever lifeless +thing it dropped upon.</p> + +<p class='c005'>For many months after this time little +Ellie continued to support her grandmother +by daily toil. The old woman left off fires, +although it was cold winter weather, and the +snow lay thick upon the cottage roof. Ellie +must jump to warm herself, and her grandmother +dragged all the fagots into her own +bedroom. Ellie was forbidden ever again to +make Grannie’s bed, or to go into the old +woman’s room on any account whatever. +Grannie’s head was always in a bandage; and +it never required dressing. Grannie could +not hurt Ellie so much now when she used +the stick, her strength was considerably +lessened.</p> + +<p class='c005'>One day, this old woman did not come out +to breakfast; and she made no answer when +she was called to dinner; and Ellie, when +she listened through a crevice, could not hear +her snore. She always snored when she was +asleep, so Ellie made no doubt she must be +obstinate.</p> + +<p class='c005'>When the night came, Ellie was frightened, +and dared not sleep until she had peeped in.</p> + +<p class='c005'>There was a stack of golden fagots; and +her grandmother was on the floor quite white +and dead.</p> + +<p class='c005'>When she alarmed her neighbours they all +came together, and held up their hands and +said, “What a clever miser this old woman +must have been!” But when they looked at +little Ellie, as she sat weeping on the pile of +gold, they all quarrelled among each other +over the question, Who should be her friend?</p> + +<p class='c005'>A good spirit came in the night, and that +was Ellie’s friend; for in the morning all her +fagots were of wood again.</p> + +<p class='c005'>Nobody then quarrelled for her love; but +she found love, and was happy; because +nobody thought it worth while to deceive +her.</p> + +<hr class='c016'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>Monthly Supplement of ‘HOUSEHOLD WORDS,’</div> + <div class='c012'>Conducted by <span class='sc'>Charles Dickens</span>.</div> + <div class='c012'><i>Price 2d.</i>, <i>Stamped 3d.</i>,</div> + <div class='c012'><span class='large'>THE HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE</span></div> + <div class='c012'>OF</div> + <div class='c012'>CURRENT EVENTS.</div> + <div class='c012'><span class='small'><i>The Number, containing a history of the past month, was issued with the Magazines.</i></span></div> + <div class='c001'><span class='large'>Published at the Office, No. 16, Wellington Street North, Strand. Printed by <span class='sc'>Bradbury & Evans</span>, Whitefriars, London.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c012'> +</div> +<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> + +<div class='chapter ph2'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c017'> + <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + + <ul class='ul_1 c001'> + <li>Fixed typos; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + + </li> + <li>Renumbered footnotes. + </li> + </ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78155 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57i (with regex) on 2026-03-09 17:08:37 GMT --> +</html> |