The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-02 00:00:00

POOR LONDON-CH=l/i' PETIM:\
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The Inner Temple Gardens, in which, by the kind
permission of the Benchers, many little folks living
in the neighbourhood have a beautiful 'playground
during the summer months, were on Tuesday the
scene of one of,those children's treats which are among
the most satisfactory results of the Jubilee celebra-
tion. The wives of the Benchers, emulating the
example set at Hyde-park and elsewhere, entertaining
some 1800 poor children of the neighbourhood. Tea
was given to them by the kind hands of the ladies
themselves, and Jubilee mugs distributed among them
as a memorial of the occasion, while Royalty gave its
sanction and sympathy to the fete in the person of
Princess Christian, who is ever ready to take part in
philanthropy of such a practical kind as this. There
are few more beautiful spots in the metropolis than the
Temple Gardens, albeit the quiet air of dignity which
they wear as becoming their age and past associa-
tions was somewhat rudely disturbed, though not
unpleasantly, by childish voices and merry romping.
on the smooth, mossy green turf. The gardens are
hallowed by many pleasant n,emories—far back from
the fateful day when the red and white roses were
plucked from its bushes, and which ever since, the
legend bath it, have ceased to bloom—from the time
when young knights camped within its precincts, and
cut down the stately old trees to make room for their
tournaments and jousting., down to the last century,
when "Poor Noll" closely watched the colour of rooks
which used to inhabit the elms in the gardens, and
learnedly and wittily wrote about their habits and the
virtues he saw in them. Almost every tree which is
not a sapling has its history, and if the blades of grass
could speak they would have strange tales to tell of
those whose feet has Fessed them—of the ponderous
tread of the greatest of all lexicographers, of the hur-
ried footsteps of famous lawyers agitated by some
nice point of law, or of the laggard steps of lovers
whom Thackeray no doubt saw there and immortalised
in his " Pendennis." It is not likely that any of the
children who partook of the bounty of the Benchers'
better halves thought of these things, but they in-
sensibly recur to one's mind when one walks in the
gardens, although the din may be as great as it was
on Tuesday. The fête commenced about half-
past four, when the children—the majority of
whom were not open to the charge that was urged
against the children that took part in the Hyde-nark
treat—that they did not belong to the lower classes—
were ranged round numbered posts in circles contain-
ing about a score a piece, and under the superintend-
ence of a lady, with one or two gentlemen attendants,
7ega.led with all kinds of solid fare and with tea in
Jubilee mugs, which were made specially for the occa-
sion in the potteries, and were of a handsome design,
consisting of a white china cup bearing an excellent
portrait of the Queen and the two dates-1837-1887
-R hile on the other side there was a record of the
fête. The mugs possessed the great advantage of
being ornamented with a handle, by which they were
suspended round the necks of the young people
by a blue ribbon. Plain bread and butter
did not seem to find much favour among the
youthful epicureans, to judge from the amount
which was scattered over the surface of the
ground—but the same remark does not apply to
cake—the air was literally loaded with the scent
of rich plum-cake, and the youngsters could eat
their cake and have a fresh supply as often as
they liked, and not only that, but most of them car-
ried a large portion of the spoil away to feast less
fortunate sisters and brothers in the courts and alleys
where cake is almost unknown. The Princess Christian,
accompanied by Miss Lock and Colonel George Grant
Gordon, arrived on the grounds shortly before five
o'clock, and was received by Mr. Staveley Hill and
most of the following, who were present: Lady Sals-
bury, Mr. Justice and Lady Grantham, Baron and
Lady Pollock, Sir JamesFitzjam es and Lady Stephens,
Mrs. Inderwick, Mr. Charles, Q.C., and Mrs. Charles,
Sir James Parker Heal, Mr. George Grant, Dean and
Mrs. Vaughan, Mr. S. D. Middy, Q.C., Mr. Patchett,
Q.C,, and Lady Peacock. The Princess stayed some
time, and appeared to take great interest in the pro-
ceeding. The ladies and gentlemen mentioned
made themselves generally useful in a variety of
ways. It was a sight for lads and men to
see learned judges and her Majesty's counsel
with the greatest gravity ministering to the liquid
wants of ragged urchins, and bearing cans of tea
hither and thither, or bending under a load of cake,
and it was amusing to see the ingenuous manner in
which the children addressed them. Tea was over at
last, however, and then each child was given a new
Jubilee penny and sweets, and allowed to roam over
the lawns at his or her sweet will. There was a firsts
class band playing popular music, three Punch and
Judy shows, which drew large houses, and a troupe of
performing monkeys, which naturally attracted. the
largest audience, which was marshalled into position
by the gentlemen who had before shown themselves
BO efficient in the commissariat. The treat may be said
to have been thoroughly successful, and the children,
though mostly of a lower class than those gathered at
Hyde-park the other week, were orderly, and dispersed
quite quietly when dusk came on. The wives of the
Benchers of the Inner Temple are to be congratulated
on having organised and carried out with success a
fête of this kind.