The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-15 00:00:00

A COSTERMONGERS' CLUB. '

The Baroness Burdett-Coutts presided, on Thursday even-
ing in last week, at a dinner given by her ladyship to the
members of the Columbia Costermongers' Club and to the
Shoeblaek and Messengers' Brigade. The entertainment was
held at the Sewing School in tsrown's-lane, Spitalfields, and
there were over 200 persons present. The Daily Telegraph
gives the following description of the proceedings :
After dinner, which consisted of roast beef, mutton
and pork, plum pudding, &c., Mr. John Sapsford, the
manager of the Baroness's East London Charities, in-
troduced three of the costers—Richard Piper, Charles
Fobbester, and William Hall. The first stepped for-
ward, and read in a clear, simple manner an address
detailing the advantages flowing from the establish-
ment of the club, and showing its present satisfactory
condition. The document concluded by "asking your
ladyship's acceptance of the accompanying token of
gratitude, not only as an acknowledgment of your
kindness to I.ls, but also of our appreciation of your
ever-thoughtful consideration for those poor animals
who , are so useful to us in our calling." The
second costermonger then made the presentation,
which consisted of an ebony casket on a stand,
surmounted by a beautifully executed figure in silver
of a donkey, there being a suitable inscription inscribed
onthe pedestal. Hall banded the address, which was
mounted on a novel frame of fretwork, and was orna-
mented with a coronet, initials, and the date of pre-
sentation. This was followed by immense cheering.
The Baroness was so overpowered by emotion as to be
scarcely able to ask her chaplain, the Rev. Francis
Palmer, to respond for her. The rev, gentleman
thereupon addressed the working men on the part of
one who, he said, estimated most highly the dignity
and virtue of labour, and he touched happily upon the
value of a day of rest to workers, and then alluded to
the known tenderness. of the Baroness towards the
animal world generally, concluding by complimenting
the donors on the sele:ition of their present.
On the rev, gentleman sitting down, Mr. Sapsford
introduced a novel guest—a live ass—as an example
of the good effects of the kindness of a coster to hit:
donkey. The animal having broken its leg, its owner,
by tender and careful nursing, had cured it; and this
fact, it was mentioned, had been noticed by the
Ladies' Committee of the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals, while this committee
had moreover testified their approval of this kindly
treatment by the presentation of a valuable watch to
the possessor of the donkey.
The Baroness and friends then mingled for some
time amongst the guests. On her ladyship resuming
her seat on the dais, one of the men rose and thanked
her for so kindly receiving their present, on which
Lady Burdett-Goutts addressed those assemblcd in
words which few who heard would readily forget.
Thanking the members of the club for their gift, which
would be one of her most prized possessions, she gave
them encouragement in their.everyday life, reminding
them how, by their calling they carried to the humbler
folk the overflowings of the markets, so giving comforts
to many. She also urged the practical religion of
kindness to all God's creatures, and in choice and
touching words referred to a higher life. Here her
ladyship, in tones of pathos which melted some of her
hearers to tears, spoke of the uncertainty of life, and
then alluded to that Star which is our guide through
life, and which can give light even in the Gloomy
Valley.
The Rector of Spitalfields then spoke of the inesti-
mable value of her ladyship's institution in East
London, and bore testimony, from personal observa-
tion, to the gratitude of the sick poor for the benefits
they receive from it. The Baroness, after cutting
a large twelfthcake placed on her table, then bade
her friends good night, leaving the loom amid deafen-
ing cheers.

Lady Burdett-Coutts was accompanied by Mrs.
Brown, Lady Augusta Paulet, Miss Gordon, the
Rev. Francis Palmer, Mr. H. Wagner, &c. The
proceedings of the evening were enlivened by a band
of music.