The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-10-17 00:00:00

TUE " lIELIGIOUd DIFFICULTY" OF TUE
EDUCATION ACT.

Proluror Plunipl re interprets °hum zee, to this
effect : "The State has a right to require the poor mart to
unit his children to be taught In school. It has no right to
Impose on him any religious or irreligious system as to the con-
dition of his getting secular instruction for them, when he is
foo poor to pay for it, at the cost of the State.% The Rev. J.
Allanson fficton, • member of the London School Board, tak-
ing this to moan that the State has no right to compol the poor
parent to send his ciiild toschool, unless it enables the former
to si.cure, in connection with secular instruction, the sort of
religious influence Which he prefers, makes the following thatch
of London School Board, sitting to receive refractory or
indigent parents who wish to explain the absence of their
children from school. Enter John Wiles, "Wily isn't your
boy at school I" asks the chairman. "Well, you see. sir, k"
se bad, and—" "But ther's • free school clue to your's
Ye+, sir, but his mother, she don't exactly bring her mind to
th it school ; there an't no catechis nor collexes, and my ruiuus
g..es very rester to church, she do." "0, but you shall have a
free ticket to SL Jonah's." "Thank ye, genlemen, and much
Now, enter William Nolo, Ratio question ; same
complaint about work; saute offer of the free school. "Writ.
I don't know. We're Oldoonites, we are; and we think as
we'vu got the right +hiliboletla, we're • moulds.' on to glory,
bless the Lord ; and our fist thought for our children is how's
we to nave their precious sowls." "Well, but my good friend,"
says the chairman, "you can choose any religious school you
like." "That's where it is, air; there ant no school that's got
tho right religion ; there's none as rightly divides the word of
truth ; I'm • looking' out, and I'm a prayin' for guidance; but
tiii 1 can find • schovl with the spirit of the Gospel is it, no
toy lad's better leari.ite a honest trade along of his father.'
Tde chairman thinks this is pushing things too for; the room is
reared, and a debate onion.; but the great pi ineiple that you
have "no right to impose any religious or irredgious system,
•,.." presents peculiar difficulties in UllA cue, and it is allowed
to stand over. Meantime, the acute occupants of the waiting-
rootn,largely interested Ia child labour, have also their friendly
conversation. One is a Jew living exactly throe miles and one
yard from the nearest Jewish school. He winks to hint.elf and
comfortably waits his turn, assured of an unanswerable deli nix.
Another consults with a knowing friend. " Say your •
NAlindei Bill," suggests the latter. " There an% no tfethodr
-.chool anywhere. near, and they can't do nothin' with you."
A ti.ird, with hair brushed back, and argumentative defiant
flee, dotermines when his turn comes to protest at any risk of
or impiisimment against the op i riserion of compelling him
to send hie c'ilist to any school where ho must listen to Evan-
gelical explanations of tho Bible or else bo ticketed as an
infidel. The worthy ci”irman will hare no little litliculty in
applying to all thou 4,114,1 the great principle of 'imposing no
relklous or Irreligious system, &c."—and so, I Imagine, would
Prot...or Plunitre

FORTUNFeTELLING IN LONDON.
At Lambeth police-court, on Monday, Emily nowcil
alai Royal, 45, of 2, Wyld's-buildinga, Kennington,
" letter-writer," was charged before Mr. Chance with
obtaining from Lavinia Jupe Gil., and also a similar
sum from another woman, by falsely pretending to tell
their fortunes.
Tile wife of detective Jape went to prisoner's house,
to have her fortune told. Prisoner gave her a pack of
cards and told her to shale them three times, Then
after looking at them prisoner said, " Your husband's
a very bad temper"—(A laugh)—and she added " (leis
very gay"—(laughter). Prisoner also said a dark young
man was talking about her, but did not say he was fond
of her. A fair young man wee very fond of her, and
would offer her marriage. She told her she was going
co,ouillsralody,iitogtdhueartagnaietas ykrnalei,lhw,e"boydhuwhgoeueri dwfoahresivhe6ee unpleasant
osrit ewno de
if swhbeee.
oneolArSrti ,tyghao!rhernnkeeiw:Mwmeo ,our"meant
shelta br:dr
neswaoea Phi
gydo::::"hhnege; nlibmamauce:ldn' :dnvhofeiena rer:da
i nntnh:eil r ow° oujfo nugahhlPedteriw: aaiwgi nntl: and
tilling
that
itene.,atiapdrioncrctoofoolt:._on.;imnburereitnitrloyhf:tilresde twtei
beapl;:orlwhioai showing
lug as •
ing
;gatonabl
udvo gave
otrememberho themtohnfrdAteeimtthwhfiree.wal kddsldirlailalso"..;:anhi
ealdtanoimd:
calledmhtht'eeeheoyatndalewitaleFreemreurteokinoal.dfe::;tvinobinoonlugrt;she
js
of
whatever you see. Understand I want no nonsense'
The person who I wish to know about is fair, and has
light eyes," This letter, which was vcry well written,
." signed by • female. The witness also produeed •
letter bearing the stamp of the Rouse of Lords, In
answer to an appall! to • nobleman for assistant*, in
which 10s. hat been sent to prisoner.
In defence prisoner BAH she did not know ahe was
doing wrong, and divided whatever she got with her
husband, who was ill. She conducted the business in •
.-qiiiet ant reApectsble manner."
Sergeant !dullard said the system bad been carried on
for 16 year', and on S'unday afternoons and eveaings
there were aninany as thirty females, mostly &mints,
at prisoner's house.
slr. Chinos) said perivms must be protected from
th‘i'r own foolish credulity, and designing persons like
Pri*?BeZ punished. Ho asatonood bar to Woo Imam'
uard labour.