The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-07 00:00:00

AN IMPROMPTU DINNER FOR THE

POOR.

The late William Fox, of Nottingham, a member,
of the Society of Friends, was remarkable for his
sympathy with the poor. It is the custom in many
parishes for. the overseers and the committee whop
attend the weekly payments of the paupers to have)
a good dinner at the close of their day's labour, awl
this is paid for by the poor rates ; but as it is a niani-i
fest abuse, he determined to put an end to the prat-,
tice in his parish. He, therefore, one day hastened
away before the close of the weekly paymentsto the
dining-room, and thus addressed the master of the
workhouse t—" Is the dinner ready ?" " Yes,
sir." " Then bring it in." " Are the gen-
tlemen ready, sir." " Never mind the gentle.
men ; I say bring it in." And this was done.
" Now, call all the poor people, sir, now call the
poor people. Dost thou not hear what I say, sir ?"
" This dinner is for the gentlemen." " For the
gentlemen ; oh ! who pays for it then, do gentle-
men P" The workhouse-master, staring most amaz-
ingly, said, " Why, no, sr, I reckon not ; 'iits paid
for out of the poor rates. " Out of the poor rates ;
to be sure it is, thou art right. The rates are for
the poor men, and not for, the gentlemen. Poor
rates, eh ! I think we have no gentlemen's rates,
so fetch in the poor at once and look quick.' The
workhouse-master went, and William Fox went
too, to see that he did as he was ordered, and not to
give the alarm to the gentlemen, and in a few se-
conds was hurried in a whole host of hungry pau-
pers who had not for years set eyes on such a feast
as that. They did not wait for a second invitation
to place themselves at tabie, and William Fox bade
them help themselves, and at once there was a scene
of activity that for the time it lasted justified the
name of the house. It was a workhouse, indeed,
William Fox all the time stood cutting and carving
and handing good pieces of pudding and meat to
such as could not get seats ; in a few minutes there
was a thorough clearance of the table. Scarcely
had William Fox dismissed his delighted company,
" Why," exclaimed they,." what is this, why is the
when
these anotherwere the
gentlemen, company w presentedhe e tthemselves,azeea
nn
td.
?" " I found
table in this state, where is the dinner
but the poor have a right to dine out of the parish
oodinam
funds, I have served it out to the poor accordingly;
but if any of you are in want of a dinner, he may
a very good dinner ready, and. as I knrw that none
come
home with me and I will give him one." The
gentlemen knew
well the character they hadto deal
with, and never attempted to renew the practice of
dining at the public charge during William Fox's
year of office.

BANQUET TO THE HEROES OF LUCKNOW.--A
grand banquet will be given, by permission of General
Craufurd, on the heights at Dover, on the 13th inst., to the
gallant 32d, the heroes of Lucknow, who have just arrived
at Dover from India. The regiment numbers 228 rank and
file, the whole of whom are to be regaled by the inhabitants
of Dover, who have formed a committee to raise the re•
quired funds, and who intend to extend their invitation to
the men's wives.

MISTAKING BELLADONA FOR BLACKBERRIES.—
Last week some children belonging to the town of Seven-
oaks went out blackberry gathering, and one of them, a
lad about 10 years of age, was induced to eat some berrief
which he found growing in Knole-park, and which proved
to be the belladonna, or deadly nighthhade, one of the mast
dangerous of the "narcotico-irritant" class. The poisonous
effect of the berries soon became visible, and shortly. after
his arrival home he appeared in a state of extreme. iptoxict
tion. This was afterwards followed by great delirium tau
total blindness, although the eyelids were widely e,x_t_en;.ed
as if in earnest gaze. For some time his life. ITB477t;ish
of, but owing to the unremitting attention ottiLtititini
surgeon the lad 3s going on favourably, although
precarious condition.—South Easters (Iliadons) Gazette.