The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-19 00:00:00

Our Ft nbait gotrartbent.

(We them It right to etate th tt we di !tot at all tiMell
identity our:elves with our Cot re,pondent'a opinions.]

It is always unsafe to prophecy, but of all
things which in this country it is impossible to
foretell, the weather stands pre-eminent. And,
therefore, although one may be writing at a
—Moment when the thermometer is at zero, and
the merry clang of the skate is to be heard on
every available sheet of water, the weather by
the time, his words appear in print may be wet
and uncomfortably warm. Old people, and those
who have to get their living by out-of-door
• emple:ments will not be disappointed if this
change should take place; but during the early
part of the monththe young and those who love
• hard.exercise, have certainly had the best of it.
Poets and story-writers have always assumed
that Christmas weather should be frost and
snow, and, if picturesqueness were the only
consideration, a good many of us would like to
see the tradition always made a truth. Even
proverbial lore has been called to the aid of the
traditional idea, and "A green yule makes a fat
churchyard" is sometimes quoted to show how
heartily we all ought to welcome a cold Christ-
mas. But statistical science plays havoc
with meny of our proverbs, and the opinion of
• the Registrar-General would scarcely bear out the
one just mentioned. It is not the mild winter
that slays the most victims, and if folks would
only think a little, they would see why. Frost
and snow are not only exceedingly trying to the
old and infirm, but they cause great privation to
• the poor; and, however much they may be
enjoyed by the young and the easily-circum-
stanced, this side of winter should not be over-
looked.
Fortunately for the credit of the age, the point
just raised is leQs likely to be overlooked in
ttrese days than ever. Those who are deter-
mined; whatever may hap, to think hardly of
their fellow-men, must experience a shock of
pained surprise, when they • note the liberal
manner in which response is made to the many
appeals to the benevolent which mark the Christ-
mas -season. We may not be better thwi our
forefathers, but our charity is much more highly
organised, and those • who are benefited by it
are greatly increased in consequence. No one
perhaps can calculate h.:)-cv much the sum of
human happiness is added to by such agencies
as the philanthropic societies, of which there are

now so many. The twin institutions, Hospital
Saturday and Hospital Sunday, remind folks in
the summer of the vast amount of work which
voluntary effort effects, and in the winter the
appeals for funds which are so frequent in the
newspapers, convey the same intimation. The
State can and does do a great deal in the allevia-
tion of various forms of misery, but it cannot—
or, at least, as yet, does not—relieve all, and in
those directions in which it requires to be sup-
plemented, active help can be given by all. A
visitor to this country, who afterwards described
our manners and customs, observed that one
legend which appeared stamped in stone above
so many of our public institutions sus to him
the most striking testimony to the virtues of
the English 'people, and that was the motto,
"Supported by Voluntary Contributions." The
testimony was well deserved, and there is no
sign at present of its being less merited in the
future than in the past.
When a new Parliament assembles, it is
always of interest to note the difference between
its composition and that of the House which it
succeeded. Such a comparison can be made
altogether apart from politics, for it concerns the
person more than the party of the members. The
House of Commons just chosen contains more
than half its number of old members, for out of
the 670 (which is now the statutory limit) 345
sat in previous Parliaments, and 320 of these
were members at the date of the last dissolu-
tion. Several well-known veterans disappear
from the list both by retirement and rejection;
but there are many left to preserve the tradi-
tions which have helped to make England the,
"mother of Parliaments." It is a striking testi-
mony to the continuity of our political life that
there should be in the new House representa-
tives of every general election which has taken
place since the Reform Act of 1832, and that
there should even be one who has been a member
ever since 1830. Mr. Gladstone is the sole re-
maining member who was first returned in 1832;
Mr. Villiers came in at the dissolution of 1835,
and Sir Thomas Acland at that of 1837; while
Lord John Manners and Mr. Beresford-Hope
made their earliest Parliamentary appearance at
ae, 0et,,,..„, 2 leas, eat-ea zet
Robert Peel his last Premiership. It is a subject
of speculation among those who philosophise on
politics as to whether the new conditions will
ensure as much continuity as the old; but that
is a point which time alone can decide. The
main consideration is that among so many new
members there is such a large proportion of those
who have sat a great number of years, and to
whom the preservation of the rights and privi-
leges of Parliament is amore important considera-
tion than any party victory or personal ad-
vantage.
A comic paper has expressed the popular idea
of the tribulation of those old members who
have been redected at the polls by representing the
most prominent of them shivering in the snow out-
side Westminster, and labelled "Out in the cold."
And it may be taken for granted that, however,
philosophically a rejected member may hide his
feelings, his grief is keen. The keenness will be prob-
ably proportioned to thelength of service which the
defeatedone has been able to render in the House.
The old saying that the House of Commons is
the finest club in the world may have lost some
of its point in recent years' but there is a deal of
truth in it still. A member of Parliament not
only holds a position of dignity, but he is endowed
with certain social advantages which are not to
be despised. These gradually grow into a por-
tion of a man's life, and if he has had a place on
the green benches for many years, the loss of his
seat is a wrench not easily alleviated. In such
cases an old member is apt to hover around the
scenes of his former triumphs, and, like the poet's
conception of the Pen i at the gates of Paradise,
stricken with sorrow at the inability to enter.
But a rejected member seldom remains content
with one defeat, and he usually tries again until
he secures a seat once more.
An instance 01 the vigilance -which is displayed
to prevent any picturesque item from being
destroyed was afforded a short time ago in
rather a striking manner. Cheapside is not
exactly the thoroughfare in which one might
expect. to see a tree spreading forth its branches,
but there happens to be a survival of one in that
• street, which forms one of its pleasantest features,
and so marked an object is it that a shop beneath
its shadow advertises itself as "Under the Tree."
Not long since a rumour spread that it was in-
tended to cut down this relic of the past, and a
public protest was raised which grew in strength
until it was announced that the tree would not
be touched. This is one example of the love which
even in smoke-dried London can be developed
for a touch of the picturesque; but it is not to
- be thought that it is a solitary instance not
easily to be matched. As one of Wordsworth's
most famous sonnets will show, there is a view
• from Westminster-bridge which is worthy the art
of a great painter, and some of Mr. Whistler's
cl impressionist" pictures confirm the poet's idea.
The Thames, even "below bridge,' is full of
" bits " of beauty; and though London may not
be as deliberately pretty as Paris, it has ele-
ments which are far more picturesque.
Great consternation has been caused among
London lovers of dogs within the past fortniah
- by the putting us tome 01 an Omer ot 6ir Eciwara
Henderson, the Chief Commissioner of the
Metrocolitan Police, for the muzzling of these
: . 'animals when parading the streets. Of late
there has undoubtedly grown up an unusual
terror of hydrophobia, and cases of death from
• • that dread disease have multiplied in an alarm-
ing ratio. It is not usually in winter that
this terror displays itself, for the very
name of " dog days," applied to the
hottest period of summer, indicates the
popular idea that it is in time of greatest
heat that most danger of hydrophobia is to be
reckoned. Doctors, however, sTaagree on this
point as on so many others, and as cold weather
is by aome regarded as no protection against a
• dog wandering into madness, and as the popular
fear of hydrephobia has grown so largely, Sir
Edward Henderson has thought it necessary to
issue at, order providing that dogs when in the
street shall either be muzzled or directly con-
trolled by their owners by mesens of a strap or
chain. Hence the outcry whi,-;H is now being
raised by those who refuse to believe that these
precautions will have any good effect. Those
who have been accustomed to take their dogs
for an airing without hindrance can be sym-
pathised With in their dislike for strapping or
muzzling their pets; but the general public will
probably be found to agree, that, if any lives are
saved, the action of the police, though apparently
harsh, will be abundantly justified.
, When friends from the country come to London
next summer and pay a visit to the Crystal
Palace, they will find the train service on one of
the lines leading to Sydenham greatly facilitated
by the opening of a new station in Queen
Victoria-street. The additional bridge across

the Thames, carrying six lines of rail, ill enable
a large number of extra trains to be run, and
thus not only will much more traffic be carried,
but greater punctuality be ensured. London is
so well supplied with railway accommodation
that the opening of a new station is an event
worth note; and it concerns country as
well as town, for visitors to town are to be
counted each year by the hundred thousand, and
all theza are interested in anything which adds
to their comfort or speed. Improvements go on
year after year in this direction as in almost
every other, and those who see the metropolis
only occasionally are bound to notice them when
they come. But the dwellers under the vast
cloud of smoke, which has St. Paul's for its
centre, and which stretches for miles to the north
and to the south, and for more miles to the east
and to the west, do not perceive comparatively
slight changes so readily, and it is with surprise
that sometimes they wake up to the difference
which these effect in the aspect of our greatest
city. A. F. R.

THE ASSAULT IN ST. JAMES'S.
PLEASANT FAMILY AFEA.IRS.

At Marlborough-street Police-court, London, on
Saturday, Welles Charlton, of Rawlings' Hotel,
Jerrnyn-street, and Thomas William Charlton and
Nicholas John Charlton, both of Chile-ell Hall, Not-
tingham, appeared to answer summonses charging
them with having assaulted Leis Lovat Ayshford
Wise, of York-street, on the 27th November, in Duke-
street. Mr. Bankes, barrister, appeared in support
of the summonses, and Mr. George Lewis, solicitor,
defended. Mr. Bankes, having briefly opened the
case, called the complainant, who said that he resided
at Dinon, in France, and came over to England on
the 25th November last. He married a :later of two
of the defendants, and a year or two ago saw reason
to take proceedings in the Divorce Court. They
were, however, eventually withdrawn, and negotia-
tions for a separation between himself aad his wif3
having failed, he went to Dillon with his two children.
In June last he received a challenge to fight front
Mr. Welles Charlton, which be answered shortly
afterwards, declining the challenge. On the 27th ult.,
while walking along Duke-street, St. James's with a
friend, he heard someone say, " Here he is," and
recognised Nicholas Charlton. At that moment
his stick was taken from him, his hat was knocked off
and the three defendants beat him with big sticks.
He was severely cut cu the head, and the blood
flowed so profusely that he was blinded. He told his
assailants that they were cowards, as did also the
bystanders. After a time they left him, and he was
taken into Dr. O'Conuor's surgery. Cross-examined:
I went to the theatre the next night with a lady. The
petition against my wife was withdrawn just before it
was to come on for hearing, I paying the costs. I
don't remember whether I left England with my two
children within two days. I think it was, within a
week. Ido not know that the children have been
made wards in Chancery. The letter produced I
believe to be in my handwriting. Ido not remember
what I meant by saying, "If you leave me for her
sake, I swear to Qod 1 will divorce her and shame
tier; and if I cannot do that, I will lead her such a
dog's life that she would rather die." I don't re-
member writing the latter, or whether the expression
referred to my wife. Ido not remember writing,
"I will do anything for you if you love me; but if
you turn on me you will make me like a wild beast."
If I wrote, "I hate her and love you; Toil:), tout,"
that referred to my ayife. I hated my wife owing to
her numerous acts of adultery. My wife has filed a
petition against me for divorce. Ido not remember
writing the letter. I have never been guilty of
incestuous adultery. My wife charged me with it;
but there is not a word of truth in the statement. The
letter was written to a young lady abroad, in whose
company I have been without the knowledge of my
wife. I deny that I ever committed adultery with
the lady, though I have kissed her several times. It
was partly in consequence of the charge that I with-
drew the petition. In further cross-examination tho
complainant said that he had received a letter from
Nicholas Charlton since the assault, commencing,
"You accursed scoundrel," and stating that his course
was nearly run. Heasever seduced a girl in his life,
though he might have called the young lady referred
to a . An actress did bring an action against
him for slander, and he paid £5OO and £2OO costs to
settle the matter. He did so by the advice of his
counsel. The allegation against him was that he had
said the lady was enciente by him. The statement
was made by his brother-in-law, but it was utterly
untrue. Mr. Nicholas did not first of all seize him,
and call him an infernal blackguard. He believed
that Mr. Nicholas Charlton was bleeding after the
assault, but from what cause he did not know. He
did write a letter beginning, "Tom Charlton, you are
a mean, miserable little blackguard, and a liar to boot.
Such a mean lie can be treated only in one way, and
that I shall have the pleasure of showing you when
we meet, and that will be before long." That certainly
did imply violence, which Charlton deserved. He had
not contributed to his wife's support, because she had
declined to accept the £5OO a year he offered her,
ur Ler not ppifl
children. It was not in consequence of his
own misconduct that he withdrew the petition, but to
avoid the scandal which must have ensued, and the
evil heritage which would be left to his children. He
had been accused of committing adultery with his
wife's sister, and though he was perfectly innocent,
he thought, under all the circumstances, it was better
to withdraw from the proceedings. Three other wit-
nesses gave evidence in support of the charge, one of
them (Dr. O'Connor) etating that the injury sustained
by the complainant was a scalp wound from which
blood flowed freely. Mr. Lewis, in addressing the
magistrate for the defence, said that Nicholas
Charlton denied striking Mr. Wise; but so far as the
defendants generally were concerned, they did not
wish to deny that they had committed a breach of
the law. If, however, there ever was a case in which
a breach of the law was justifiable, this case was the
one. Suffering under the indignity which had been
inflicted upon them by the complainant, these gentle-
men committed the assault in questicn ; but, under
the circumstances, he submitted that justice would be
met by their being bound over to keep the peace.
Mr. Mansfield, in giving his decision, observed that
he had nothing to do with the character of either
party, but he must tell the defendants that no provo-
cation could justify the assault of which they had
been guilty. The complainant had apparently sus-
tained but slight injury, although the assault was an
unmanly one. The defendants must enter into their
recognisances in £5OO to keep the peace for six
months.