On this page
-
Text (6)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
" A gentleman riding in an eastern railroad car , which rather sparely supplied with passengers , observed in a at before him ft lean slab-sided Yankee , every feature of whose face seemed to ask a question , and a little circumtancc soon proved that he possessed a ' most inquiring mind . ' Before him , occupying the entire seat , sat a lady , Messed in "deep black , and after shifting his position several times , and manoeuvring to get an opportunity to look in her face , he at length ' caught her eye . ' He nodded familiarly to her , and asked , with a nasal twang utterly in-Lnable of imitation , ' In affliction ? ' ' Yes , sir / replied the lady ' Parents—father or motherP 'No sir . ' ' Child , perhaps ?—a boy or girl ? ' 'No , sir , not a child , ' was the response , ' I Jmvo no children . ' ' Husband then , ' xpect ?' ' Yes' was the curt answer . ' Hum!—cholery ? a tradinman mebbe ? ' ' My husband was a sea-faring man—the captain of a vessel : he didn't die of cholera , he was
t - * * s y" \ "l J , I , , . _ J , L , Q 5 _________ _ . _ 1 J . T . -- . ?__ *** _ . - — _¦_ . 1 a « drowned . ' 'Oh , drowned , ehp' pursued the inquisitor , hesitating for a brief instant . ' Save his chist ? ' he asked . ' Yes ; the vessel was saved , and nay husband's effects , ' said the widow . ' Was they ? ' asked the Yankee , his eyes brightening up ; ' Pious man ? ' he continued . ' He was a member of the Methodist church . ' The next question was a little delayed , but it came— ' Don't yeou think you got great cause to be thankful that he was a pious man , and saved his chist f ' I do , ' said the widow abruptly , and turning her head to look out of the car window . The indefatigable ' pump' changed his position , held the widow by his ' glittering eye' once more , and propounded one more query , in a little lower tone , with his head slightly inclined forward over the back of the seat , ' Was you caV latin' to get married agin V ' Sir ! ' said the widow , indignantly , ' you are impertinent ! ' And she left her seat and took another on the other side of the car . ' 'Pears to
be a little huffy ! ' said the ineffable bore , turning to our narrator behind him ; ' she needn't be mad ; I didn't want to hurt her feelin ' s . What did they make you pay for that umberel you ¦ got in your hand ? It ' s a real pooty one !'
Untitled Article
LAW REFORM . It is instructive to note how numerous are the claimants for the credit of originating and suggesting the recent Law Reforms . The Earl of Derby claimed it ; theWhigs have claimed it j Parliament has claimed it ; and the Society for the Amendment of the Law has claimed it . We have now a new claimant in the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association , who have issued a circular to their subscribers , giving a brief account of the various reforms which have been effected during the past Session of Parliament in the practice of Law and Equity . It is no doubt highly satisfactory to the members of this Association , that in many particulars the modifications have been in accordance with , if not based upon , suggestions made by their committee .
It will , perhaps , be as well to observe , that this Association has been established by the Solicitors for the purpose of watching the changes made in the law of this country , and promoting those alterations which may be deemed beneficial . Although their immediate purpose ia to protect the interests of their own profession , yot , aa no system which ia injurious to the community at large can in the long run be beneficial to any particular class , this Association , so long as it is influe nced by enlightened principles , cannot but do good service to society in general . The circular avo have alluded to points out the following changes which have taken place in the constitution and practice of our courts : —
Tho offico of the Masters in Chancery , which has now become sufficiently notorious for its inefficiency and its grievouH abuses , is dispensed witli altogether in regard to all new matters , except in cases of winding up abortive joint stock companies , to which its services will in future bo exclusively devoted . In these cases , tho Masters will be endowed with additional powers , which will enable them to dispoao of business more promptly . The duties which have hitherto been performed by the Masters in ordinary canes , will devolve » pon tho judges , who will ' have tho assistance of eight Chief Clerks .
Omit modifications are made in Chancery pleadings ; bills may bo printed instead of being engrossed upon parchment ; they aro not to contain " interrogatories ;" answers will , in gonoml . be dispensed with , and , when put n » , may contain tho real ground of tho dofonco . " Exceptions for impertinence , " too , aro no longer to bo taken . Various other technicalities , fertile in delay and costs , Mich an " bills of Rovivor and Supplemental , " for introducing now parties , or substituting tho roproHentativoH ( deooiwod parties , and for bringing new facts boforo < he court ; actions Hunt to tho Common Law Courts , ' ¦<> decide points which tho JudgoH in Equity aro too modest to pronounce upon , together with variotiH other fanciful
Tho modo of taking evidence has ul « o boon greatly ' ¦ eformod ; tho Judge is to have a discretionary power "' having any witness orally examined in opon court . Various other changes have lieun made , and , on tho whole , wo may feol confident that tho now regulations , when full y brought into practice , will bo found to havo uono uvruy with many of tho grosa abuses which have
excited so just an abhorrence for our Court of Chancery , and to have rendered " Equity" really a useful branch of our judicature . An act has been passed to enable either the lord or the tenant of copyhold to compel enfranchisement ; the compensation , which may either be paid as a gross sum of money , or be converted into a rent charge , to be estimated by two valuers or their umpire . The Common Law Procedure Act has abolished the distinctions between different forms of action , those formidable snares for young pleaders , and has enabled different causes of action to be included in one action . It has effected also other important improvements , facilitating the proceedings where there is no defence offered , and obviating the difficulties occasioned by the death or marriage of parties .
Untitled Article
TAVERN SIGNS . A CORBESPondent of the Bristol Mirror supplies the editor with the following amusing enumeration of the public-house signs of that city : — Sir , —Allow me to send you a short epitome of the public-house signs in this city , which I have noticed in my rambles : — Eoyalty meets with great patronage , there being " Kings" and " Queens' Heads" by the dozen , and " Crowns" enough for every State in Europe 5 there is nearly every " Duke" in the peerage , including an " Old Duke" and a " Waterloo" Arms ; there is a " Lord Chancellor" and two " Woolsacks ; " an " Adam and Eve , " two or three " Angels , " and a " Noah ' s Ark ; " there are more than a score of "Bells , " but only one " Brass Knocker ;" there are " Horses" both " White" and " Black ; " a "Coach and Horses , " a " Waggon and Horses , " and a " Sedan Chair ; " there are a number of " Swans , " a "Spread Eagle , " " Ostrich , " a " Bird in Hand , " a few " Blackbirds , " and a " Crow . " I notice an " Old Fox" who has a watchful eye , doubtless , on the " Hen and Chicken . " There is a '' Neptune , " a " Mermaid , " a " Sea Horse , " several " Dolphins , " and a " Trout 5 " more than twenty " Ships , " another on " Launch , " and a " Steam Packet /' a " Lord Nelson , " " Old England , " a " John Bull , " a few " Britannias . " In moons , I notice " Full Moons , " and " Half Moons ; " the" " Seven Stars , " and the " Fourteen Stars , " and a " Eising Sun , " by way of a change . Thflrfl is the " Traveller ' s Best , " for the " Scotchman and
his Pack , " and the " Pilgrim ; " a " Robin Hood , " and a " Foresters" Arms ; " a " King David , " and a " Harp . " Poetry meets with little support ; poor old " Shakspeare " standing alone . I find a " Hole in the Wall , " but no " Pyramis and Thisbe ; " a " Champion of Wales , " and a " Goat in Armour . " There are many " Bacchuses , " including a " Jolly" one ; but , after hunting all over the city , I cannot find a " Venus . " T here is the " Coffee Pot , " with ' Three Cups" to go with it ; a " Bear and Ragged Staff" ( a delicate allusion , no doubt , to Nicholas of Russia ) . The "Lion 9 come in for the lion ' s share , there being a lareo quantity of them , both " White" and " Red ; " an
" Elephant , " a " White ' Bear , " a " Leopard , " a few " Foxes , " and several " Greyhounds . " Decapitations seem to be strongly advocated b y " Boniface ; " for , in addition to the numerous " Heads of tho " Kings" and " Queens , " they have , also , a " Saracen ' s" and a " Blackamoors . " Tho " Jolly Skinners , " " Jolly Tanners , " " Jolly Nailers , " and " Jolly Sailors , " aro too numorous to mention . I can't understand what is meant by tho " Cat and Wheel , " or " Cock and Bottle ; " I Icavo them to some local antiquary to unriddle ; there is , however , something moro tangible in . " Artichoke . " I notico several " Sailor ' s Homes" scattered about tho city : may I ask when wo aro to oxpect tho other that is promised for the accommodation of our " Jolly Sailors P "
Untitled Article
A PATRON OF THE BEGGING TRADE . Last wcok wo reported one of the foats of Mr . Solly , who patronises beggars to such a great extent . On Wednesday , Sarah Ilolditoh , Sarah Harrigan , and Eliza Tylor , wcro brought boforo tho Lord Mayor , charged with boing common beggars and impostors . Tho defendants had boon apprehended tho day before in Cornhill , while following Mr . Solly , of Groat Ormond-strcot , and endeavouring to prevail upon him to givo thorn monoy . Thoy woro all
woll-dresscd and decent-looking womon , and woll known as indefatigable impostors by Horsford , and tho other active agents of tho Mendicity Kocioty . Ah it was considered useless to call upon Mr . Holly for evidence , that gentloman ' fl steward , who has boon long a witness to the manner in which the begging system was carried on in his master ' s neighbourhood , was requeued to attend tho justice-room on Wednesday , to hoar a description of tho intolerable travelling nuisance bo recently exposed in tins City . officer of tho MendicitSociet
llorsford , and another y y , had found it necessary to apprehend these women , who , with about forty others , had boon waiting in Groat Onnond-stroot for Mr . Holly ' s appearance , ana who , wlion the old gentleman walked out of his honso , clamoured for monoy . The rosoluto measures tak . 011 by tho odicor had its oitoet upon tho rest of tho swarm . They separated , and then their companions wero taken at once beloro tho magistrate at Clorkonwoll , and sentenced to imprisonment uimF hard labour . Tho of I i com , conjecturing that tho boggars would follow their willing and placid victim to tho Union Firo-odioo , to which they know ho was bound , made arrangements to moot them at the spot whore ho wan expected to alight from his vehicle . Tlioro wort ) between forty and filly audacious f ' emalu mendicants ussomhlod at tho place , and thoy followed him up bo oloHuly and so furiously , that he was obliged to struggle into an omnibus or run tho hazard of having hio clothed actually torn from his back by thoflo who might bo diuappointod in their
expectation of what they called " alms . " Amongst the most resolute beggars wero Holditch , Harrigon , and Tyler ; and when tho officers apprehended them the rest quickly disappeared . The three defendants were identified as having been amongst the Great Ormond-street beggars , daily . Wicks , Mr . Solly ' s steward , said , upon being questioned by the Lord Mayor : —My Lord , it is quite impossible to give you a . correct idea of the scenes I witness daily . Our persecution begins in Great Ormond- street , and master is besieged by all sorts of beggars , from the tip-top begging ladies in silk stockings and shawls , down to the lowest poor creature without any stockings at all . I havo seen the three women at that bar frequently receivo money from him . In fact , they would not leavo him without dragging money from him . Sometimes tho beggars abuse him m the most shocking manner , so that the ladies in tho street are quite ashamed at the scene . Sometimes they fight amongst themselves , and accuse each other of getting afl from the old People would suppose that the
newspapers would frighten them away . Quite the other way . Ever since the account of my master and his beggars was published , he has been ten times more solicited . I am now obliged to take up his letters on the largest sized waiter , and the crowds of fashionable beggars that apply to him would astonish any one in his sensed . The Lord Mayor : Surely , the representation of the very great impediment he causes in the City would have some effect in giving a better direction to his charity . It is quite impossible that such a nuisance can be endured in our crowded and busy streets . Wicks : I don't know what ' s to be done , my lord . He gives away a mint of money , but in a very unsatisfactory manner . Several of the females pretend that they wero acquainted with him when he was a much younger man , and that his charity is mere gratitude . One of these women ( Harrigan ) swears that they have been old friends of twenty years' standing .
Some other evidence was given , and the Lord Mayor decided that they must clear our streets in the City of all such nuisances , and he sentenced each of the defendants to hard labour in prison for one month .
Untitled Article
BINGHAM UPON BAGPIPES . Timothy SuiiiiiVAsr , a blind Irish piper , put himself into the witness-box at Marlborough-street , on Thursday , by the help of his wife , and , in a tone intended to be particularly insinuating , begged his wortship to do him a small thrifie of a favour . Mr . Bingham—Well , what do you want me to do ? Sullivan—The police wont let me play me pipes in Fitzroy-market , and I want ycr honour to give me lave . Mr . Bingham—Give you leave to play the bagpipes in the street , by no means I do assure you . I know nothing more afflicting to English , Welsh , French , or German ears , to all care , indeed , except Scotch and Irish ears , than the harrowing noise made by the
bagpipes . Sullivan—But me pipes isn't the Scotch pipes , yer wortship ; the ' the rale Irish pipes , they don't give a noise at all , thoy give the finest of music . Mr . Bingham—If there ' s any difference between Scotch and Irish bagpipes , it is against the Irish pipes , I believe . There ' s a drone , is there not , to your pipes ? Sullivan—It was a beautiful drone , your wortship . Mr . Bingham—I thought so . Woll , the only permission I can givo you is to go to an Irish locality , whoro your pipes will not bo considered a nuisance . You must not create a disturbance in an English neighbourhood .
Sullivan—Its Scotch and not Irish pipes that s tho nuisance . I must play , or how am I to get my bit of broad P Mr . Bingham—You must not urge that pica , for if people nro allowed to get their bit of broad by breaking tho law , thon pickpockets may justify their acts . No , you must find an Irish locality , when ; tho Irish aro at least ton to one . There aro plenty of such places in London , and there you may inako as much noiso with tho pipes an you please .
The pipor , after declaring ho must give up music as a profession , and try what ho could do with 11 " handful of fruit , " left the court with a very disconsolate air .
Untitled Article
ATHKN / KUM IAVK ASSUIIANCU SOCIETY . TjriH society held its first annual mooting on Tuesday , at tho oflicc , MO , ttackvillo-Htrcot ; tho Rev . . 1 . . Hartlott , of Ateham-park , in the chair . Tho report set forth that , although the sooict y was a now one , branch boards , consisting of directors influential in their various localities , had been formed at JVlunoliestor , Birmingham , Hhoflield , Hull , and tho Ih 1 o of Man , ami that otbors are in course of formation . An arrangement had further boon made with an institution of a kindred nature , entitled tho Athoniiium institute , and by thin
junction of interests with thai lilrgo and powerful cIuhb , the members of tho literary and newspaper pross , beneficial results to the society wore anticipated . The balunco shoot of the society showed its capital to bo 18 , 616 / ., and tho amount received for premiums to be 411 i )/ . Tho disbursements were UfiHG / . in preliminary expensoH , and tho company ' s capital now consisted of 6020 / . invented in hoouritioH , HOMU . at its bankers , and about 1400 / . in tho liundH of < bo manager and tho Hooioty's agents . During the first nino months policies bad been issued that yielded 4 AiL \) L in premiums . Tho total number of policica wau
Untitled Article
September 4 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 845
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 4, 1852, page 845, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1950/page/9/
-