The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-25 00:00:00

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 25. 187 R

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Mr. John Grey, a gentleman of 69, living in
the outskirts of London, and who, in addition
to his trad3 as a shoe-maker, carries on that of
a dog stealer, to an extent that his entitled him
to be known as "the king of the dog stealers,"
has had his career abruptly curtailed by SeNt.
Cox, judge at the Middlesex Sessions. Mr.
Grey's little exploit on this last occasion earned
for hint five years' penal servitude, and it was
that of stealing a ham. His dogged resolution
to take what "isn't is'n " has brought him to
grief.
Before us lies the 14th special number of the
; we shall not advertise the paper
by mentioning the name; but if this is a speci-
men of the literature retailed by advocates for
the repeal of certain acts, we can only, in com-
mon with a recent speaker in the House, urge
the members of the Association to take pre-
cautions of the severest nature to prevent its
indiscriininate circulation. Our first glance
alights upon a letter written by a woman, more
atrociously disgusting than the dirty pamphlets
which quacks in large towns thrust at every
step into the hand of youth. How persons,
claiming to be ladies, can indulge in a contro-
versy which cannot but be debasing, we fail to
conceive. We know their great argument is,
you would have vice legalised; we retort, you
would have vice unrestrained stalk through
the land. Surely such a matter as this may
well be left to the other sex, and let us, if possi-
ble, retain our belief in feminine delicacy.
It is to be hoped the Parochial Board of
Dundee is an institution of itself, and that its
poor-law officer is the only living specimen
extant of the Beadle of the Oliver Twist school.
On Saturday, at the Dundee Police Court, a
boy, seven years of age was placed in the flock
on a charge of being destitute. Ho had scarcely
any clothing upon him, and according to the
evidence of the police it appeared that his
putative mother had left the town for Edin-
burgh, and having no home whither to go, he
had proceeded to the police station to ask for
shelter. He was sent to the parochial office, but
the officer there refused to admit him and he
retraced his steps to the station. He was sent
again only to be again refused, and then the
police were compelled to lock him up. The pre-
siding Bailie was so exasperated at this exercise
of power by a parish officer that he sent for Mr.
Brown, inspector of poor for Lift', and informed
him that the conduct of the officers in turning
the boy back into the streets on a cold winter
night was a disgrace in a Christian land. To
this Mr. Brown replied theirs was not a chari-
table instituf ; they ought to have had seven
hours notice, and " we must not lead our Board
inte expenses not properly devolving upon it."
Probably neither Mr. Browu nor the "parochial
Board " properly appreciate a promise made
nearly 2,000 years ago relative to the giving of a
cup of odml water to a little one.
We are threatened with a terrible visitation.
Most of us have read of the women's whisky
war in America. How a band of strong-minded
females gather outside a drain shop and sing and
pray until the unfortunate landlord looses all
his customers or his wicked conscience is so
touched that he knocks in the heads of his casks
and cousigns the liquor to the gutter. " Mother"
Stewart, a lady who has especially distinguished
herself in these performances, bas just arrived
in London, and, at a mbeting of her admirers,
announced her intention of starting a series of
meetings in England. Mrs. Stewart admits she
niet with a good deal of opposition, and we
expect she will scarcely find her crusade noire
easy in this country. The ladies claim a great
many privileges, but they must not expect
conceeded to thorn that of becoming public
nuisances pursuit of an object, however
laudable.

Whether public anaiyata gre such unmiti-
gated blessings as some would have us
believe we very much question. Undoubtedly,
that the nose of science should be brought to
boar upon a good many things which are re-
tailed for the food of trusting humanity is
advisable ; but, at the saute time, the liability
exists to convert an act of precaution into one
of persecution. Traders are, we see, every day
subjected to pains and penalties for broaches of
the Adulteration Act, which it was quite with-
out the range of possibility they could prevent.
Again, as doctors will, analysts differ consider-
ably in their ideas. A cheeseinonger, living in
the Borough, London, has been charged with
selling as butter a compound which it was
alleged did not contain a particle of butter. An
analysis war duly handed in by Dr. Muter
which set forth it WIN a composition of foreign
fat, but not injurious to health. To this the
defendant demurred, and a sainnle Ives sent to
Mr. Bell, the public analyst, of soinerset Efouse,
and that gentleman was positive in his asscrtioa
it was pure butter! Two other analysta sup-
ported Dr. Muter, while a third agreed with
Mr. Bell. The magistrate dismissed the case,
and ordered the vestry to pay the expenses.
It is said a change will be made during the
present year in the editorship of Goyim; Society.
Mrs. Ross-Church retires in favour of—it is not
yet known whom. It is Mrs. Ross-Church's
intention to take to the stage as au entertainer.
She will be accompanied by Mr. George Gres-
smith the younger, a musician and mimic of
considerable power. If he possessed la more
powerful voice, he could easily take a leading
position amongst entertainers. Mrs. Ross-
Church is a powerful vocalist and an actress of
more than promise. Fair baled her!
Mr. Bright has been asked by the Birmingham
Board of Guardians to present a memorial in
support of the flogging of wife-boaters. Mr.
Bright agreed to present the memorial, but
declined to supports ita prayer, giving the
following explanation :—" I doubt if more
violent punishment will be ot service ; and
certainly it may be argued that if a brutal
husband suffers dogging, in addition to im-
prisonment and hard labour, he will be not less,
but probably more, disposed to be brutal when
he returns to his wife, or he may desert his
wife ltlld family, and leave them permanently to
the parish."
Gay young Rinkers are it seems liable to such
mishaps that the most appropriate present one
could make a devotee of the new science would
be a leek.), in "The Accidental." According to
the .3tettical E.roininer, "many young ladies
given to the wheels have been disfigured for
life, and from a state of joyous health have been
reduced to one of lamentable infirmity." One
I lady has broken the bones of her nose and face,
and her features will be marred without
recovery. Another, engaged to be married,
injures her spine, becomes paralysed, and is
condemned to a Lcpeless invalid's couch for life.
Front teeth are lost; jaws are fractured. Arms
are broken; " compound fractures of the femur
have ended in death." A fall on the ha.:k of
the head has led to insanity. "At one water-
ing-place one bad accident is expected at a rink
every day." All this is very exciting; and
we may expect to see the rinks crowded next
111011611011.

Has any oue a wish to become a martyr
The Telegraph is sadly in want of one to fill up
a vacancy until the next despatch is received of
Stanley's Christian-like little tour, narrating the
shooting of another handful or two of natives for
throwing stones at the pioneer of civilization.
" Brummey " positively refuses to turn up; and
old Mrs. Lane is quite incapable of making
another beautiful oration concerning the wicked-
noes of the world. The Telegraph, however,
very nearly caught one the other day, and
doubtlessly would have opened its heti; to a
sympathetic, but slightly gullible, public by this
time,if,some obtrusive people had not put them.

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