The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-09-06 00:00:00

two daughters, and two eons, dependent on him
or euppart. lie endeavoured et firet to proc/It•
for himself and them a living by selling chemical
bottles, an occupation which, for a time, one of
the boys rendered him same assistance. Soon
this youth fell ill, and the anxious father, feeling
that he could not relinquish any part of the in-
come, tried to do the work of both, until, by
incessant toil, and care not less constant, he
disabled himeelf. Some little help was at this
period derived frcini the other ydutb, who, as
assistant to a wool-stapler, was earning I Wary
of a guinea a week. With the perversity of it
however, • bale of wool fell upon him,
and so injured him that ho was compelled to
relinquish his employment. Then the deurliters,
in order to keep thenuelves anl their father in
indepeedence of both publie and private charity
—an object dearer to them died life—toqk to
slop-work, and were paid at the rate of twd
shillings a dozen for sewing flannel shirts. By
working day and night, the younger of
them—Lucretia—managed to do two dozen
• week, thus earning four shillings; her
sister could earn only half that amount.
But Luoretie soon sickened, and became so ill
that she could not work at all, and her sister too
fidthfully followed bar example. One by one
the little articles of furniture were all sold to
buy food, and when this resource kited, Lucretia
--a fair educated young woman of four-and-
twenty years of age, brought up amid scenes of
comfort and without a thought of want—lay
down on the bare boards and died, rather than
week a shelter in the refuge appointed by the
legislature of the land. The coroner and jury,
at the inquest, told the survivors that they did
wrong in not going to the workhouse, yet the
other daughter, apparently on the very
threshold of death, still refused to be removed
thither. It is easy, however, to censure--far
more easy to tell persons hrought up in their
ffiraunistancea what thery odAt to do than enter
Into their feelings. They had in them the Very
Instinct, fostered by life long habits, of inde-
pendence. Not a shadow of the pauper-spirit
had ever fallen on them. As far as we are able
to judge, their ease seems as nearly one of pure
and simple misfortune as any we ever met with;
while in its heartrending and tragical results it
Is almost unparalleled. Although unfortunate,
they still retained a high and obstinate inde-
pendence of soul, and a sensitiveness under the
remembrance of having seen brighter days.
Perhaps were We to look at their conduct in the
sold spirit of aceteeisei we might see in it sortie-
thing of the criminality of suicide; but we would
rather take a more benevolent view of it, and
chasten ourselves into warmer and more solicitous
sympathy with the unfortunate. By no means
would we commend their conduct as an example
to others, although we confess that it has in it
much of the chivalry which makes martyrdom
sacred ; and we cannot therefore bring ourselves
to pass harsh and coldly injudicious censures
upon it.
'Unfortunately the case of Izacretia Jeffrep is not
the only ease of death from starvation "'Web has
taken place in London within the last few days.
George Holmes, • shoemaker by trade, succumbed
to absolute destitution, almost oonsentaneously with
the frightful end of that lady. This man was silty-
four years of age, and lived at Bethnal-green. He
had parted with his furniture, his tools, and every.
thing he had for food, although exceedingly abstem-
ious in his habits. When he mak on the fluor
exhausted, be was engaged in the vain attempt to
mend a boot, for which he was to have been paid
sixpence on the completion of the job. Very
often this poor wretch at his trade
so more than a shilling a creek. Though
poor, he was an honourable man. One of
the witnesses at the inquest said that "last winter,
when be was in • starving state, be sold witness •
bed for 10s. Recently he had lent it him, and he
died on it. Gees he beams surety for deceased for
Its. 6d., and had to pay; but deceased very honestly
repaid him 6d. • time. For the last fortnight he
was in extreme poverty and destitution. He had
not sufficient to keep body and soul together, and he
had none of the comfort*, yet he refused to go to the
workhouse." Can we 11011der that living on means
se slender he has at last dropped into the grave,
without a particle of food in his stomach?

carnal

DORCHESTER. Paulin Cons Mmtgier,
Saturday.—The supply of wheat was less than usual,
but prices were rather lower for both new and old.
Barley in some demand for grinding, but for malting
purposes it is not yet required. Tares and seeds for
autumn sowing sold freely at full prioes. There was
• brisk sale for oats at late rates.

Ala. &mem Riroarroar Sail, Batnrday.—Prime
beef was short, and sold readily at 12-s. per score;
inferior, 10s. 64. There were an %mussel somber of
sheep and lambs on °Mr. Best anthers realised Ad.,
and ewes 70. per lb. Down lambs fetched 31s. to 365.,
and horn lambs, 31a. 61. to 36t. 64. per head. Mr.
James Harding's down rams ranged from £2 Si. to EIO
each. . . . .

MR. JUSTICI WILLIAM/I.—We are glad to state that
thi. learned judge, who has been ill rises be rat in the
Nil Prin. Coon, at the Midrumwer AII.6S<SI in this
town, has been pronoun red out of danger, and it was
intended that his lord.hip should leave Exeter for
Exmouth for the purpose of enjoying the benefit of the
sea air. .

Fuse OCRING WIZ Writ. Wednesday, Toiler
Down ( Dorset). —Friday, Blandford (Dorset) ; Weston
Zoyland (Bontereet).
DOUBT VOLE/ 88888 A 'MOM ATIOIf . —The Oomltlities
of this meociation have annoitecad the fourth annual
openly rifle prise shooting to take place at Maiden
Castle, on Tnasday and Wedneeday, the 27th and 28th
inst. From a statement Maned we find that the High
Sheriff of the county, C. W. Dishy, Eq., ha l offered •
prise, fled that Lieut..-Colonel Mantel, boa presented •
silver gobl4 for cornpeti.ion. In addition to these,
three parses, containing £5 each, have been offered by
Lient.-Colonel Steward, Major Templer, and B. P.
Dundry. Eel., whilst there are the gold and
silver medals of the Association, valued nape.
lively at £lO and ES, and the bronze medal of the
Rational Rifle Association. The money prime
amount to 100 saints& In the various competitions
five rounds at each range will be rubstituted for
seven, in order to bring the sholting into defter
oompaas ; and the mooring will be according to It,
Wimbledon regulations. The all comers' prig" will be
competed for at 300, 600, and 900 yards, the long range
having been flied forth. special encouragement of small
bore rifles, of which there are many in the county.
There will also be pool targets at 200 yards for &fields
only; and as "egg pool" at 100 yards for any rile.
Rine MATCII.—A mate barn been arranged to lake
place at the butts, Maiden Coale, on Friday, between
two tens selected frost the Wareham and Dorchester
Rifle Corps.
Tb• sonnil prise *Looting of the members of the
Dorchester Rifle Corps is fired to take place at Maiden
Castle, on Toesday and Wednesday, the 27th and 26th
but.

MILS MATCH.—Chi Monday afternoon a rifle ousted
was entered into between ten officers and non-commis-
sioned officers on the one Me, and ten privates on the
other, belongieg to the Dorchester Ride Corps, at
Maiden Castle. The shooting, which was at 200, 800,
and 600 yards, with seven rounds at each range, was
very good, but the palm of victory was carried ofr by the
privates. At the AM range the officers were
only beaten by eight, whilst at the second both
parties were equal, but it was at the last range
that the differenos was made, the privates making
131, whilst the *Moms only scored 90. The
total some of the latter was 361, whilst that of the
former was 4, the privates thus winning by 19. The
highest seam on the oMeers' side was made by Colour-
Sergeant Gregory, and that on behalf of the privates by
Private Penney. The followieg is the score:—

Ornczis.

190 too moo

yd.. yds. yd.. To
Sulps Hodges ... 19 17 9 48
Sorgiaat-Major Newman ... 8 7 0 15
Colour-Betges.nt Gregory ... 20 18 14 52
elergesni Dan! ... 10 10 7 27
Homer • 23 8 11 41
Cross ... ... 16 9 13 38
Chick ... 14 17 10 41
Orsealai ... 17 19 11 47
Mein ... 21 19 11 51
Ramsey 9 11 4 24

PILIVATISL_

-15 16 12 43
17 14 16 47
18 14 12 44
17 15 8 40
16 11 14 41
14 8 13 35
16 15 8 39
10 12 13 35
11 15 19 57
18 15 16 49

Ling ...
Pariona...
Day ...
Mutford
Pallor"
Homor

Tata Warnto.—Tke reeding of the thermoinet7eist
Dorchester far the pest week Is as follows :