The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-03-27 00:00:00

WHAT DOES LORD SHAFTESBURY

MEAN P

It is impossible to read Lord Shaftesbury's observa-
tions at a meeting held by "the Working Men's .
Lord's Day Rest Arraoriation," on Thursday, to protest 1
against the opening of museums on Sunday, without I
feeling very sorry for the 'working men" (remarks
the Pall Mall Ga:ttic). His lordship's me.rning is
rather obscure, so much so, indeed, that it is impos-
sible to find out exactly what he did mean, but he said
, quite enou.ih to make people uncomfortable and
I nervous. It seems that some kind of charter, or
rather several kind of charters, affecting " working
men" are threatened with some unseen danger. His
lordship exhorts the working classes of England to stand
by 'the great charter of their moral, political, and
physical liberties." Ile further warns them that "if
they depart from the charter of their independence,
capital will prevail over their exertions." He offers no
further explanation as to the charters, or the danger,
but asks "who would be the greatest sufferers" by the
opening of the museums. From our experience of
many of these institutions, we are inclined to think
that those who visited them would suffer most ; but,
according to Lord Shaftesbury, the greatest sufferers
will be "the lowest, the poori st, and most destitute
class, who cannot defend themselves." Whether he
alluded to the visitors sir attendants, or what defence
is needed in a museum, is not quite clear. The
public too often require defence against the incivility
of the attendants, who, from their behaviour, appear
to be occasionally themselves selected from rather a
low class, and possilry his lordship meant that these
officers, indignant at being kept from church, would
nuAke the "working man" suffer by being unusually ,
uncivil and disobliging to them on Sunday—in which
case it is more than probable there would be a row;
and this may account for the question with which he
, wound up, viz., "Why should not museums be opened
, on the evenings of week d iys, instead of making Sun-
days occasions for disorder and revelry!" If the
I oueeums are merely scenes of disorder aid revelry.
the sooner they are all closed both on week days arid
t Sundays the better. This should be done very
4radually, beginning, perhaps, with the British and
eliding with the Anatomical Museum.

A LIEUTENANT SHOT AT QUEBEC.
A Toront paper, dated March 3, gives the following par-
ticulars of the shooting of an officer if the Reghnent :
Just at dusk, when a number of our lady and gentle-
men citizeioi were enjoying them-elves in the art at
«kating in the fashionable skating rink in Lewis-street,
a most horrible tragedy was committed in their pre-
Fence—that of shooting one of her Majesty's officers of
the Fifty-third Regiment, named Whittaker, by the
eon of a very respectable and highly-esteemed citizen,
Mr. Chalon«r. Whittaker, in company Rh Dr. Hed ley,
of the same regiment, left the dressing-room, with their
ekates on, to skate on the rink. The distance is about
tree yards. As soon as Whittaker, who first reached
the edge of the rink, was met by Chaloner, &young man,
1 he latter drew a revolver from his pocket in a cool and
determined manner, and shot Whittaker twice in the
he Al. The first ball went clear past the bridge of his
none, but the second entered his skull, causing Whit-

'taker to give way under his feet and fall down: All
was the work of an instant. The ladies and gentlemen
screamed amid the horrible scene. Whittaker was
-, taken into the adj Ailing room, and Dr. Maesden
I called in, who poinounced the wound mortal. No
hope is entertained of his recov, ry. Judge Dcucet
has tried to take his declaration, but be is un-
coriscioas. Chaloner has given himself up to the
authorities.
.. . . . _ . . . . ..

Whittaker is accused of having seduced the
daughter of a highly-respectable citizen, which has, we
believe, been the cause of this rascality. He is also
accused of having brought trouble, affliction, and
sorrow to the door of another respectable family in
London, Ontario by the same means. The afflicted
father in this case came to Quebec but a few weeks
ago to release his daughter from a life of infamy.
Whittaker was to have been arrested by the police
authorities to-day for his scandalous conduct ; but
through some delay the warrant was held over by
order of the court till to-morrow. It is now declared a
fact that the prisoner's sister made a deposition before the
judge of sessions, the day previous to the occurrence,
charging Whittaker with having taken liberties with her.
In August last, it is rumourttl that Whitt Ater promised
marriag.., an I 11101 e an appointment with th.. young
lady to meet at a clergyman's house. The marriage
did not take place then, owing to the absence of Father
Presence. Whitt her t .Id his brother officers that he
intended to marry the girl ; but they advised him not
to di no. Chaloner is a lad of about seventeen years
of sge, not more than four feet sic irches in height,
and has always been considered a manly and lade-
, pendent little fellow.