The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-08-21 00:00:00

SYDLING. HABITUAL DRINKING.
Wn are glad to hear that there is now a fair prospect I The recent grsve scandal at Dnlvrich onco again
of obtaining a Goocls Station, at Grimston, which I.._:_
~of„. notice a question with whii the ~,_ ,
c t.... prominent d
would he a great advantage and convenience to this o
namo, of sir Wilf rid Lawson and Sir Henry 'rh,.inPlon
Vale, especially where the trade is increasing. 1..114 h.sen associated. Dulwich, litre mat other
CIIILDRIC•rh Tist.r. —On Wednesday the School children . bay'
of the pariah had their animal treat. The S.-hool Etwird ' l'ubli" *dm- ds. hit squabbles and disputes of its own.
syAtem has not penetrated her. Theresa vo.sl national Its to are divided into two factions, of which one
and day sohool„ milted, aml, if the repots of Iler %id,. with Dr. Carver, the warden, who represents the
' ty s Inspectors go for anything, it ststrds high. old order of things; and the other with the new holy rd.
.. . ..e sh - ' --elorn idess. Foremost

governor's, who represent 111.,
among the "Plarveritesi wait a certain Mr. flume, a
gentleman of considerable pi ieition amiability. and one
id the asnistantsmanters of the paned. Foremost
among the progressive party was a Mr. Marshall, a
gentleman who hail taken high honours. at Clafiwil, and
who, being in orders, naturally regards small mnral
shortcomings sonewhat more strongly than he might
have done had he remained a layman. Mr. Marshall
and Mr. Hume from crows pnriessee Caine to angry
words, andm fm angry words to open hostility. At
M last r. Marshall felt it bin painful duty to accuse his
colleague of habitual intnxicatian. Such a charge is a
very 'serious one to prefer against a master in a public
RehooL Mr. Ilunis, on his part. ha Ino resource hut
to me Mr. Marshall fir defamation. The governor's
on thier part. instituted, at Mr. Marshall's instance, an
inquiry into Mr. flume's conduct. What the remit
of thin inquiry may he is not yet known. The trial,
however, ended in a substantial triumph for Mr. Hume.
Eleven of the jury wanted to award him E5OO damages;
the twelfth was determined on a verdict fnr the de-
fendant Ti avoid the rontretenips of a ilLeagreement,
a compromise was arrived at, and a verdict for 40s.
was given for the plaintiff.
We have no wish to enter into the details of this
miserable squabble. Mr. Home has vindicated his
character, and the matter is at an end. At the name
time, the evidence which was adduced on behalf of the
defendant is interesting, as showing how easily a
charge of intemperate habits can be trumped up. Mr.
Hume, it seems, Is an eminent Freemason, and, after
his day's work at Ihdwieh is over, is in the habit ,if
going no to town to attend the meetings iif hie lodge.
§everal friends of Mr. Marshall hail seen him more
than onee returning to Thilwich by the late train, and
hail formed the conclusion that he was intoxicated.
Not a single overt act (if we may use a lawyer's
phrase) was proved against him. He had never fallen
asleep in his railway carriage, and been taken miles
beyond his ilentination ; be hail never tembled or
fallen on the platform, or at the stations., it in the
street; he hail never Res:suited anybody, or been
aemaultsil by anybody ; he had never been given in
charge in default of any positive pro sf of this kind,
the evidence offered by Mr. Marshall Ws49 of the kind
known to logician. as " cumulative." Mr. liume is
an Irishman, and it appears that he Ism occarionally
been known to drink a glans of whisky or a tumbler id
brandy and 'soda-water at 11 in the morning. Several
witneenee .lepose,l that en several oeerialona he had, in
their jnilgment, "smelt strongly" of spirits. Some
of them went ws far ais to exprem their conviction that
he hail " reeked." Gentleman who had seen him late
at night 'steed that to the beet of their belief he 'had
been drinking Snch was really the whnie of the
evidence, and it is easy to understand the honest
indignation which led the majority of the jury
to find for the plaintiff. A charge of drunken-
fleas is as o limp as ary that can be brought
against a gentleman. It in easily brought; it is with
the greatest difficulty dieprovel ; and no sympathy is
desserveil by the man who brings such an accusation
recklessly, and, when called upon to mbetantiate his
words, has; nettling upon which to fall back but vague
and uncertain rumour.
Nothing is more difficult than to determine the exact
line at which drinking in mederation passes over into
drinking in excess. Sir Henry Thompson, and those
who agree with him, would seem to hold that three or
four glasses of wine at dinner, two good glasses after,
and a glass id spirits and water before going to bed, in
excess of the very g,riessest kind. Other people take a
more liberal and sympathetic view. Some eminent
authorities, assure us that alcohol is a deadly poison ;
that it contain, no nutritive principles whatever; that
it ',zest!, through the holy unehangeil ; anil that its
Kole effect is to permanently injure the vital origami.
Authorities of equal eminence assure us that alcohol is
a distinct article of food; that the body aseiinilates it;
and that it is not more injurious than are potatoes or
beef-steak—either eJ which will kill a man if he takes
too much of them. When we find Sir Henry Thompson
and Dr. Gully on the one side, and rill the other men
like Dr. Burney Yen and the late Dr. Todd, it would
be presumptuous in a layman to venture on an opinion.
All that is certain is that, in some shape or other
alcnhol must be a food. Patients in cases of typhoid
and cholera can be kept alive for slays by brandy. The
thing has been done so often that it is impossible to
question it. On the other hand, although alcohol is no
donbt a useful addition to our ordinary diet, if taken
in limited quantity, the question must inevitably arise
whether we are not likely to take too much of it.
Specialiste, who make the effect of alcohol upon the
nervous and glandular system their particular study,
tell us very alarming stories. A specialist, however, is
always apt to Ise an alarmist. The judgmeut of ihe
average layman, if he brings his common sense to
bear upon the matter, ie more likely to be s.siiuiL We
have only to ask ourselves how many there are
amongst our friend's and aconaintances who hebitnally
drink more than is we'd for them. It in not difficult
to answer the question, for drinking is a vice to which
a man cannot possibly addict himself without detec-
tion. We believe that, as a matter IA fact, the
number of habitual drunkards amongst wh,e sged and
professional men is exceedingly email There are
many reasons why this should be the cane. Drunken-
ness is now regarded as sliagraceful. If is man of any
position were seen manifestly drunk, he would lose lux
place in society; he would be for a day or two the
talk id the town; he would almost certainly be kicked
out of his club. Fifty years ago it was so ordinary an
occurrence for a gentleman to be " overtaken," that
nobody noticed it, except for the purpew ed pointing a
paesing jest. If we wish to understand the indifference
between our own habits and those if our fathers, we
cannot do better than refer to the "Pickwick Papers,"
The "Pickwick Papers," it has been deservedly said,
'reek of brandy and water." From the first chapter
to the last, every character in the book (Mr. Samuel
Weller perhaps alone excepted) is perpetually getting
drunk. Were Mr. Pickwick amongst us to-day, he
would have very materially ti reform his conduct.
On the other hand, although we ihs not get
drunk no openly and regularly as our fathers
did, it may be doubted whether we do
not drink a very great deal more than we ought. A
pernicious practice has come into fashion of taking
what are known an "nip" at all hours of the day ; and
a welbregulated man, who would no more dream of
getting drunk at dinner than he would of flying or of
committing highway robbery, will take half-a-dozen
gleams of sherry and as many more tumblers of
brandy and soda before his day's work is over. Our
forefathers, who led a healthy nut-door life, seldom
drank—unless it were a glass of ale—until dinner-time.
At dinner-time and after it they deliberately did their
beet to intoxicate themselves, and usually succeeded.
Civilisation has ao far advanced that intoxication has
become discreditable; but it is a queethon whether, as a
mere matter of health, the practice nf " nipping" is not
even more injurious, than were the habits of our
ancestors. At the same time it must be remembered
that, according to the best opinions, alcohol is, if we
may use the phriuse, a direct food for the brain ; and
the fact that many id us drink as much ao, if not more,
than our fathers did, can be charitably explained by
the further fact that we work much harder than they
did, and mite continuously. Very few men of
eminence have been teetotallers, and of only too many
it is upon record that they used to drink too much.
Brain work entails a certain mysterious waste in the
system. A man cannot be always taking small
quantities of food • but he can alway take a glass of
wine. It is a significant fact that the most approved
mode of treating dipsomaniacs is by substituting beefs
tea for their customary "nip." The whole subject is
evidently one on which we have very much to learn.
Meantime, whether Sir Henry Thompson be right or
whether Ik. Yeo, it is clear that a charge of drunken-
ness is one which, if lightly preferred, ought to be
regarded as a very serious libel; and from this point of
view we could wish that the jury in the Dulwich case
had marked their sense of Mr. Marshall's conduct more
significantly.

Majesty's
" '
Discipline and instruction are alike hiehly eatisfactory,
was • recent endorsement on the certificate of Mies
Walton. The Rev. 11. P. Heiken, chaplain of the Doreet
County Preen, has been entrusted pro fem. with the care
of souls in the parish, and, taking a lively interest in the
children, he initiated • school festival. Towards tee,
o'clock—the hour fixed for the preliminary church nervier
in connection with the day's event at Splling—the belle
pealed forth merrily es the children wended their way to
the school route to be in readiness for the procession.
Here the rnistre put the young one. —who numbered 101
through a smart practice in music. They were evidently
well disciplined, and their vocal powers were quite op to
the mark. The procession having been (tinned the gaiety
WA, intensified, for there were displayed hannerete of
every hue, while floral devices were likewise conspicuous.
A flag with the inscription "Sydling School" warn carried
in front in the middle was another bearing the words
"God Bless Sidling ;" and the rear was brought up by a
third, having the sentiment "No good effort if wholly
lost." The poles of the latter were held by two of the
biggest lade, but the wind was so strong that the greatest
effort on the part of the youths could not keep the
perpendicular of the flag, which played some fantastic
tricks as the hilarious procmeioninte moved on tinier the
marshalling of Mr. and Mrs. Heiken and the wheel-
metres, Mr. Raikes and the Dorchester Town Bunt.
under Mr. J. Stevens, led the way, the band playing
village the liveliest of tunes in capital style. The
was perambulated, almost every door and window
having their occupants. Church having been reached,
divine service was cornmenced. the Rev. 11. P. Rsikes
reading, the service was limited to about half-an-hours
duration, and the singing of appropriate hvnins formed •
lOnsPiCuoll% pelt. The discourse was founded on I.
Samuel iii. 10— Then Samuel answered speak, for Thy
servant heareth" It was their duty, observed the preacher,
find of all in their proceedings of the day to acknowledge
thelLord : that was the reason he had invited them to come
to the Itemise ~f Hod. Then, passing on t, speak of the
text, he pointed out the child Samuel at the time now
under consideration did not yet know the lord, and he
bancel on this circumstance an m.ohortats,nti the children
before hint to know the Lord—to know Jestis as their
Saviour. Ile urged if in early youth they were led to love
Jesus they would find in Ilim their ceinfort, eta?, and
support throughout the whole course of life. They pro-
bably would represent the pan iah n after years. Ile,
hegeel them then to attend to the instructions given
them, so that they might he teepee.' to tight their Isfes
battle. In the chancel is a handsome inarble tablet
perpetuating the memory of the late Colonel Smith, of
Down Heine, who was formerly in command of the Henget
Militia Regiment. He reliwprished the post into the
bands of Colonel Bingham, awl it was a rather • curious
coinii.lence Colonel awl Me. Bingham sat exactly
oppreite the menurnent. Aft, the service the procession
was reformed, and, the party 'mein paraded the village.
The echadroom was the next resort, and here several
I riends Fathered to witness the distrilnition of lament.,
which were given by Mr. anil Mrs. Retire.: they
emended of books, pocket handkerchiefs, knives,
and pencilcases, each child having one gift. The
schoolmistress assisted in the distribution, which was
prefaced by a few kinds words from Mr. Raikea,
Mrs. Bingham called for three cheers for Mr. !talkie, and
they were heartily given. Amongst those who subscribed
towards the expenses, of the treat were the Wardens of
Winchester College, Mr. and Mei. Guudry, the Misses
Ravi.., Mr. Henry Revise, Mr. T. Bevies, Mr. and Mrs. H.
Dunning, Mr. T. Dunning, Miss It. Dunning, Mr. and
Me. C. Newman, Mr. awl Me. Symonds, CaptaM
MacNaughton, Mr. and Mrs. W. Coves, Mrs. T. Stroud,
Mrs. Wine, Hrs. Seymour, Mr. Vine, Mee Walton, Met
Hann, Mrs. Gifford, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Palineter, Mrs.
Weltering, Mr. G. H. Davie, Mr. H. Denten, Mr.
Hannah, Mr. A. Pope, Major Sykes, Mr. 11. Ling, Mr.
Steele, Mr. Lennon, Mr. Godwin, Mr. T. S. Biggs, Mr.
Dixon. Mr. J. M. Lush,
.Mr. G. Gregory (Dorchester), Mr.
W. Best (Dewllsh). Mr. IlelYer Warne). After the
presentation the juveniles again paraded the village.
They then made their way to Court Farm, Mr. Beres
having kindly offered the line of his fine old term This
etibetantial structure dates an far back as the 10th century.
Here tea was provided, Mr. Parkes euperintendine the
proceedings, while Mrs. Raikes, the Misses Ilevise, Mrs.
awl the Misses Ihinnin.., and other friewls seelously
attended to the nupply id creature eninforts an the meal
1mr0...1.1. Colonel and al rs. Bingham. Mr. Cilm
Symonds, awl many of the principal Inhabitants were
present. The children having had their till were sent
into an ailjeining tiehl, and then tea WAR laid for the
friends. The eportn in the field were thoroughly enjoyed,
the pleasure being heighten.l by a generous distribution
of serambles by Mr. and Mrs. Heiken. The Mianee Bevies
deserve the highest praise for the very great pains they
took in carrying out the progratnme, which, with the
exreption of anise heavy storms, was everything that
could be desired.

TARRING A GROCER'S ASSISTANT.
At the Littledean Police-court,on Monday,Sabrins Cole,
Susan Phelps, and Maria Phelpa, married women, of
Lydbrook„ wore charged with assaulting James B. Conk,
a grocer, and traveller for the Lydbrook Store Company.
Susan Phelps and Maria Phelps were further charged
with maliciously damaging complainant's clothes, in
respect to which Pb. was claimed. The owe was of a
most amusing character. Prosecutor proceeded on one of
his rounds on the morning of the 'gird July, and, having
entered the second cottage, three of the defendants made
their appearsnco, and called upon him to turn out, telling
him that he had better come, or, if he waited there all
day, he was to have something which was in store for
him. The young man, being seized by the women,
caught hold of a betbpost, an invalided old woman, named
Roberts, being then in bed, and upon whom he had
galled in the way of business. As the three women
pulled him, he in turn pulled at the bedstead, and an
extraordinary scene occurred. Eventually the complain-
ant was " uneerthed," and conveyed in triumph to the
roadway, where a number of persons had assembled,
among whom was a boy with a tar kettle. One of the
defendante wined hold of the brush, and dipping it into
the pot gave complainant a coating. Another of the
women then picked up the pot, and poured the contents
upop prosecutor's head and shoulders, one of the parties
haling In the interval dipped a dirty rag into the tar,
which was put round the complainant's neck. Having
I thus attired him, they joined the boys in pelting the
unfortunate man with turf and stones, in which plight he
, beat a hasty retreat to his lodgings, and shortly afterwards
gave information to the police. During the hearing there
were frequent outbursts of laughter, and the case was
disposed of by the Bench convicting Mrs. Cole in &penalty
of 55., and the other two were fined Ins. each with costs,
all the women being ordered in addition to pay the Pb.
claimed for the clothing spoilt by the tar. The two
I women present made a protest against being thus dealt
with, and upon being removed were relieved from their
unfortunate position by their husbands, who were in
' court, and had taken a lively interest in the progress of
I the cage.