The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-09-27 00:00:00

"DOWN THI STOUR."

o verlooking_it from Blandford Bridge this nunmer's
morning, the Stour la atoms, shallow, harmless strewn
enough, pally fulfilling its come* towards the ocean
beyood Christchurch. liartnime, however, as it
appears, it is sow and then almost to be execrated as
an insatiable monitor, yawning for and swallowing
down its victims. When heavy rain' .well its flood
sod transforms it into a, raging, frothing torrent,
woe to him who then vector.. orte stop too far, or
takes with it ono little liberty. Oaly last year it
capsized his ban, sad did to death a cow herd, who in
li. flooded OW" unwieldy tared to moss nom one beak
t the other only just below this bridge; and our the
raiway arch in lisit-etreet • little boy, who fall from
the hank wee swirled away all &Lag the narrow and
often dry ditch at the beck of the Fast-street gardens
nto the foaming waters of the river beyond, and his
body not recovered for days.
From our standing point, too, more than one poor
girl, stung to despair by her sense of forsaken lone-
H bee cast Into it herself and her sorrows, and died
wLh • "God forgive me I" on her llpe—words which
the charitable hasten. to 'oho. _

Bat for our excursion "Down the Stout;" all bids
fair t lay. sad, leaving behind is the for bidden track
" Up the Stour," with its lovely cliff of leafy beauties,
reminding one of primeval &len, and its deeper and
viri`er %%den, we hasten to our starting poh.t, just
below the "ford," through which, before the old coach-
ing systan. travellers entered the town. Turning our
bade on the old Biaadford town with its Town Hall ;
Its 11day-renovated and handsome church; its pump
cud porch, erected ae • memorial of the great fire
which once devastated the town and left standing only
"The Old House" and "The Crown Hostelry "
(fuller reference to which must be left to • later
paper); we ship ourselves on board OW fiat-bottomed
,
loat, capable only ot holding Rut four,. passengers and
hired of our genial host of " The Star. Poling dowa
the ditch from our landing plasm, we are hurried
rapi Ily towards the railway bridge, fcr the bay Loopiest
an I its volitm• of water tearing to get ahead of us. At
this point the bed of the river is filling up; the sides of
the banks are trashing away, and there is a shallow Dian difilcolt to navigate. Foundering bank is just
I, I ie. sod in its deeper waters the boys of the town
fish from the banks and baths during this season—
whilst summer and winter, in mason and out of season,
one &vote' has dilly bathed for years past, and
der' we he is, as he looks to be, all the better for it.
There is here, looking towards Langton, • lovely
view, much admired and frequented by artists. On
each bank are overhanging trees; those on the loft
shore, t overing loftily over the thick foliage of the
high ground, between which the silvery sirs .m forms a
pl mitt foreground, and seemingly wholly surrounded by
the bashes, trees, and foliage of Laurens island beyond.
We have just the small behind on which thole
tn sis• sr of the passed the
s'
Grammer School and his pupils
spent so many recreative hours. No little outlay of
pan. and money went to make it a desirable summer
haunt; and on the meadows beyond many • cricket
match has been played and woo by the scholars, who
are solely missed now ft m the Blandford streets, and
years an when formed into a mkt corps they used to
wake the early echoes with then trumpet calls and
marchings to and frO.
For a 'OW years this school hae been close shut, and
the Charity Commissioners have done as yet nothing
to answer the somewhat Important question, whether
the old days will ever c we bank again? The Head.
maetatr's preferment gained for him • well-earned and
well-deserved retreat, but as to the future of the
school, " somebody," notwithstanding iequisitioos
nunierous'y aimed, .eecus to be a long while in making
up his mind.
But we are now clear of the shallow rapids, and
nearing Langton island and sheep-wash, where more
rapids swirl us on, and then missing the proper channel,
pull us up suddenly in mid-stream again. On our
right is Eh. Mary's Church, and Littleton Roma and
on the left Lawton Church and Rectory. To the
many tributes paid the memory of its late ocoup sat
let me whi my nate of testimony to his kindness and
worth. Gentle and beseeching in his pessimist*, his
words were ever welcome to the little congregation
(generally swelled by • contingent from the town) to
which be ministered. He can hardly have left be and him
&single enemy, and the substantial subscript on list for
• meinori•l tiatialla to his many friends. He, too, was
a lover of Isaac Walton's, "the gentle art," and at this
very spot we are now„ has often cast • fly and bottom
fished for roach and perch. Peace to his memory I
lie is doubtless enjoying the rest be seemed by his
discourses' so ardestly to desire above all earthly good,
and which it was his delight to descant on and to invite
others to secure. May his mantle fall with • double
portion of his spirit on his young successor.
Yonder is the " big house," as it is commonly called
by Blandford people, with its lovely lawn and flower
gardens in front and its park reaching to the wasr's
edge. "The Old Squire to too well remembered by
the townsmen for them to need mach reminding of his
venerable presents and once sturdy form. In the
library of the 02102W011 hangs his testimonial portrait,
where hobs represented In oil nol arson his favourite
barge, with his whips and bounds and his hunts-
man, Treadweil, presented by those who with him had
joined In many& gallop over the county, the whole of
which he basted for 50 years at own expense. Not far
off on our right is the withy bed Grataley Berkeley,
In his memoirs, refers to as the one spit the Old Squire
could not be got to give up when the partition of the
county into districts took place. A sure find, and
Heynard'e favourite haunt. Mr. Drag saute/ it,
clamed it, but had hard work for long to get it,
although, undeniably, within him boundary, bang on
his side of the river. The old squire was • staunch
supporter of the rifle movement when it first sprung
into existence and when over 20 years ago the since
famous Bth 'Dorset Rifles were formed under the
captaincy of Colonel Hansel, he gave them • title
range on Ram Course, and invites' them Ii luncheon
at Langton HOMO. Hare the preen-at c,louel of the
battalion, with the now captain f his aorpe (than
) and Lieutenant Farquharson, the squire's
:on.PlEL,putthe corps through their first drill in their new
uniforms; and here, in the great dining-room, officers
and men feasted and made merry on the occasion,
and afterwards marched homeward, oist the new rifle
range and Pimperee village.
Twenty years have worked seal havoc in the ranks,
although the gape have been kept well filled up, and
lea head* the gallant captain of those who partook of
his tv-sd cheer on that occasion are now members of
She own.. There are, however, many still living who
cherish • eivoi recollection of the bountiful spread,
of the gold and dive, trophies storming the sideboards
of the ball, and of the hearty welcome all received.
In many other way. "the old squire" fostered • moves
anent which, in all the cawee by time,
It ha a satisfaction to know still fi oseiels. ; and. ~,,
as oar corps is concerned, maint dos well its character
for drill and skill as marksmen, a id compares favour-
ably both as regards physique end soldierly appearance
with other corps when •t Aldershot and Windsor.
One Incident at those early days may not be out of
place be.. A few members of the corps were pro-
eesnaing to the firing range, and when near Down Wood
a I are was sighted at some distance. The command-
lag officer of the party (whi has long sines retired
from the corps) had no his rifle in a moment, and,
quick as heisting, loaded it. ju Iced the range, and
knocked over poor pussy. The ballet wee found to
have broken her spine, and, the prise being
ascarod, the Mamma was swum& and found to be
300 yards. The trophy was taken to the mansfen, the
incident related to the I ,rd of the soil, and the lucky
meskeman complimented highly on his still and pre.
anted with the spoil, which be had stuffed, and to •
gime case it is preserved to this day.
"The Old Squire," as his friends loyal to term him,
✓ebuilt Langton Church--a neat little edifice within
almost a stone'. throw of our hoist. It is ado-ned with
wad. MO monuments and braise and with several
beaotdally pelted windows. One is in the Corn.
mispi•tn, and immediately opposite is smother on which
wu emblazoned the man of atMS of the (aside of Mr.
Farquharson. to whom the skirl twig deditaved. There
I. also • painted window t the memory of the Rev.
Thome. snow, of Littleton. who lilt doe I the good old
age of 81. representing Christ's injunction to St.
Pew, and also to iii. unhaieving St. Thorns& In the
vaults beneath lie all that is mortal if the good old
eqnire, sail just without the p .rch Is laid the body of
We son, the late rector, and bard by the remains of the
Ray. W. Harts, once rector f Blandford. Visible
from our boat end just above the mansion. is Langton
Copse, a well-preserved little bit of cover, which
seldom fails to afford Roo I sport for either gun Of
bounds. One of the heat galrps the gait Dorset had
daring the memo° of 1878-9 was bad in this
ave:yars rupee.ff
Being disturbed in his lair, Mr. Reinsrdthee
inwards "Two Gates," and making f
embed away over the meadows towards.l ShhOlteOlxirj-
he,e sal Stourpalne hashes for Flo 1-ht W e "Joe"
ease too many for him. But such running it was,
weeds at such • pacts and over fences so stiff awl such
varied grossed that, although the distance was not d very
greet, few of the scattered Ovid were " in it." !1.11.n Only
those ts • good start bad *Ay autos) stall In this
"Bede of quick." as ihs knowing owe awed it.

A little beyond Langton Copes is the raseocursei the
some of the old Blandfced races but them bin long
been discontinued, and only now and then is there •
trial of strength and speed between rival owners of
horseflesh. But in those oil days the downs were a
sight to see, and the town adjoining a busy and excited
place. The Duke of Wellington used to patronise
these rams, and lords and ladies in numerous company
witnessed the goings on, and afterwards danced at the
Assembly-iv ima at the mutual ball. To this day the
oldest inhabitant speaks with unbounded satisfaction
of those time', and with regret that they hays passed
away. On these splendid downs • few years ago were
15,000 troops encamped, and after • fortnight of
paratory drill the army of the south was rev by
the Prince of Wales and staff in the presence of
thousands ef spectators. How many people whitened
those autumn maomuvres and visited the camp during
that fortnight it would be hard to say. On badness
or on pleasure bent, any excuse served that led that
way, end the bare track even now testifies to the
extent of the traffic, and the numberless vehicle. going
'to and fro. The myriads of rabbits with whicti the
place swarms had • hard time of it too. The soldier'
gave than no peace, and, till vigorous meanies ware
enforced, over the do and feasted on the
prey. Twarstodomain
os that than have these downs been
honoured with the premiums of royalty. In lank when
the Prince visited Oritchel, and the whole county
gathered 'en chevalier" in front of the mansion, wad
afrerwards bled away to these downs, whore they
killed what some whispered waa their bag fox, tied
only hut year when the Duke and Duchess from the
same hospitabbe centre hunted with the Bast Dorset to
the delight of the thousands who went only too glad
of an opportunity of showing their loyalty in that way.
Very little sport was shown on either omission, and no
I wonder, for on the Criuthel event a hard frost left
little chance of scent, and later on the ice, whose
I loyalty was not called in question, and who was only
too anxious to get away, warn completely enveloded
and headed back on all side', to the no small we
of sundry riders, who gave vent to their (debugs
in something harder than words. But " reveeoris
a NOS sautions," —in other word., let us get
back to our boat—"our muttons," if they are not
In our craft, are on the bailie close by, and if we
expect any sport with our rod and line to-day it is high
I time we put together our tackle and tried our luck.
And hereabouts, nearing Chariton, and opposite the
new mansion just raised by the successor to the baron-
etcy of good old 81r John D'Oyiy, whose crest—" Do
no ylle, quoth no ylle "—well expressed his kind-
heartedness and character as "one of the good old
sort." Here is some promising water and some stubby
bushes, under which may lurk • likely perch. fib with
a good red warm oarefully we bait our hook and drop
it beneath the bush near the bank, letting the wrig-
gling unfortunate trail along the bottom. Being a
lively fellow he soon &Urania attention, and the
water is clear enough for us just to catch eight of a
something with glaring eyes and extended losck-fin
darting with open mouth greedily at the bait. And
the float gives warning, but it I. WA not to be in too
great • hurry, lest our beet fish be those we felled to
catch. But • ravenous being like this is not to be
denied that hiecious worm, be the consequences what
they may. And now the float disappears, and it is
time to strike. Ah, what a splashing he makes, and
what a beauty be is you may see, although be flashes
back moinultarily into his native element, till, eel'
played by skilful hands and exhausted in the struggle,
In a intents or so he succumbs and you land him palely
and pronotmos him a good pound and • quarter fish.
But sport is proverbially unosrutin, and angling with-
out adequate results is intolerable to a party ot more
than one psalm That there are " tons of 'em," as
..ne friend said, is pretty certain; that eels, perch,
roach, dace, and jack are very shy of visitors is more
than certain still, and that the day is drawing to a
Moog and that it is time for the return journey is most
certain of all, for the shade. of night are feet falling,
sad rising rapidly is • misty exhalation, which, if we
tarry, will speedily envelops us in its murky shroud.
The difficulty of returning is the greatest drawback
to the pleasure of • trip "down the otour," and where
you have • full complement of passengers it is any-
thing but easy work, for the stream is against you,
and in many places mamas of sedgy weeds almost
choke the panage, and rob the evening of its dace for
niatie character.

If be waists to get quickly home again the "youth
at the balm" must lustily grasp his pole and help the
plitesure-seeker "at the prow" at he pulls vigorously
with the oars. fie mast beware of those tiresome
shallow. It the sheepweah, and of those still worse
rapids, sari that torthsus channel below the railway
bridge. But these safely poised he will have reached
port, and after a bath, with appetite well sharpened
oy the day's outing, may join his fellow-voyagars
,ound the sapper table, Ulu his battles o'er now,"
brag of that spleadi fish he hooked, but winch
somehow broke away, hook and all, just as be was
being healed in, and possibly arrive at the conclusion
that wind sod weather permitting one might have
dons worn than, with cigars and cool drinks ad
fibinsiet, Ma • few pleasant frl.nds in a trip down the
Stour.