The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-22 00:00:00

DANCING WITHOUT MUSIC

Have you ever stopped your ears, I`,,m, and looked at
a room-full of people dancing ? The effect is very curious.
What was so graceful but a moment back is now only
grotesque. The plastic elegance of gesture becomes
downright absurdity. She who tripped with such fairy_
like lightness, or that other who floated with swan-like
dignity, now seem to move without purpose, and, stranger
still, without grace. It was the measure which gave the
soul to the performance—it was that mystic accord, like
what binds mind to matter, that gave the wondrous
charm to the whole : divested of this it was like motion
without vitality—abrupt, mechanical, convulsive. Exactly
the same kind of effect is produced by witnessing fashion-
able amusements, with a spirit untuned to pleasure. You
know nothing of their motives, nor incentives to enjoy-
ment; you are not admitted to any participation in their
plan or their object, and to your eyes it is all " Dancing
without Music."

LIFE AND THE GAME OF CHESS

I have often thought, Tom, that life is like the game of
chess. It's a fine thing to have the " move," if you
play well, but if you don't, take my word for it it's
better to stay quiet, and not budge. This will give you
the key to my system ; and if I ever get into public life,
this, I assure you, shall be " Dodd's Parliamentary
Guide."

SE RIA LS.-- The Home Companion (London : John
Bennett) contains some excellent articles, and the
proper measure of variety to ensure the patronage
of a desultory public. The proprietor promises
improvements in future numbers.—The Cheerful
Visitor dispenses wisdom and cheerfulness at the
hearths of both rich and poor. Some of the articles
display ability, and they are all pervaded by good
and currect feeling. William Hurton contributes a
paper on the prizes obtained in the lottery of
authorship, from which we learn that Lady Morgan
received 2,000 guineas for her "France in 1839 ;"
Bulwer, £1,600 for his "Rienzi," written in two
months; Captain Marryatt, £2,000 for " Peter
Simple ;" Ainsworth, £lOOO for "Jack Sheppard ;"
Dickens, £5,000 for his " Nicholas Nickleby," and
£3,000 for " The Battle of Life," which the dis-
tinguished and lucky Boz is said to have written in
a fortnight. Facts like these eloquently disprove
the complaints of Jerdan, that literature (by which
he has benefited so much) is an ill-rewarded and
thankless profession.

IRISH BALLS.-1 got a scrape o' the pen from Larry
O'Kane, enclosin a sort of a card he found outside the
coort-house door at Ennis, after a grand ball given by
the bachelors o' the town. There was a long list o'
thunes for dances printed on one side, and the lady that
owned it bad pincelled down on the other the name of
the jintleman she was ingaged to for the next set ! keep-
ing an account, as it were, of her " hop" tbransactions
thro' the night. And, dear me, but that was the variegated
list. " Mr. James A—," " Mr. Chas.
" An officer 1" and so on, thro' all the fluctuatin' gra-
dashins of counthry-town society ! That wasn't the way
we managed such things in our day—only walked up to
the girl, and made her a bow that a Frinch dancin'-
masther might be proud of, givin' the flure a scrape o'
the right foot, at the same time, that id rise dust enough
to set the company coughin' ; and then, instead of sendin'
insthructions to the band to play the " Douro Polka," or
" Florence Quadrille," the damsel herself would call for
" Haste to the weddin'," " Cash in both pockets," or
"The wind that shakes the barley ;" and down you went,
yer twenty or thirty couple, till every bead o' parspara-
shin on yer forrid was as big as a pea, and the piper id
have to refresh himself so often, thro' the means o' the
heat, the drooth, and the fair fatigue, that he'd begin to
play hornpipes before the coaunthary-dance
.was over; aye,the
and maybe grow personal n
clergy happened to be preseut.d—Terryvebrli„noVe o,

CORRESPONDENCE.

Letters addressed to the Editor should be accompanied by the
real name and address of the writer, not for publication, but
as a guarantee of. good faith; this is indispensably requisite
in any statement-of facts.
The Editor wishes it to be understood that lie does not hold
himself responsible for the opinions or statements of bis
correspondents.

LONG SERMONS.-VENTILATION.

LETTER 11.

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SlR,—Respectilg the ventilation of churches—to continue—l
repeat that the amount of injury done to the constitution of
thousands, especially to those of the young and delicate, by
long confinement in badly-ventilated churches, is incalculable.
The fundamental principle of ventilation is this : that each
individual be supplied with one gallon of pure unbreathed air
each minute. This is absolutely necessary to sustain health ;
and where in our churches is this supply given ? Were a man
to confine himself in a chamber filled with diluted carbonic
acid gas for five hours •each week, and afterwards be heard to
complain of being in a bad state of health, would any well-
informed person be surprised? Yet this is what most of us
are really subjected to, for the atmosphere of our churches is
quite as poisonous and injurious. Yesterday I attended a
church in the suburbs, where were probably a thousand per-
sons, yet there was no ventilator nor window open. At first
the air was endurable, but as the service progressed evidences
could be seen all round of its increasing impurity. Some were
drowsy, others pale, in others a hectic flush indicated that
something was not right, while the children present seemed to
suffer materially. In one who sat near to me I noticed the
roseate hue of health gradually change into an unhealthy pale-
ness—in some yawning showed that nature craved the oxygen
which the ignorance of those responsible had failed to supply ;
and yet in this neighbourhood we hear of epidemics con-
tinually, and people "cannot account for it." Can we expect
health or vigour, if we neglect the .laws upon which God has
made them depend? BeCause no serious result immediately
follows the cause of injury—because the neglect of this law is
slow in manifesting its full effects—the sufferers fail to trace
Whence their ailments (differing perhaps in each according to
their different predispositions) flow. Why is spring generally
considered an unhealthy season? It is not really so ; but, at
this time of the year, the accumulated influences of the close
churches and other places of resort during the n Intel begin to
tell upon the system. An eminent physician in this town has

said that his practice was more than doubles when evening
services and long sermons were introduced into Liverpool, and
he attributed this to the neglect of ventilation—the ailments
being those most likely to be produced by such a cause.
It is very easy to allow the noxious gases to escape through
ventilators in the roofs of churches, especially when the gas is
lighted, and the churchwardens of our churches should really
see that this is attended to; and if many of our clergy will
continue their "long sermons," at any rate let them do so in
a pure atmosphere, where, if our minds are wearied, our bodies
are not sustaining absolute injury.—I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

AN EARNEST CHURCHMAN,

Liverpool, 14th March, 1853

LONG AND SHORT SERMONS,

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Six,—l have read two or three effusions respecting long
sermons, in your columns, and draw the following conclusion
from them—that the writer sits under a minister who under-
stands the theory of the gospel, but who is as yet a stranger to
the practical part of it; for, did he feel inwardly the new
creation, he would cease to wonder how ministers feel when
they go into the pulpit to preach, and see immortal souls
gathered together to hear words which may prove a savour of

life to them, and that peradventure the imperishable seed may
drop upon some heart there, which will be his crown of re-
joicing in that day when time shall be no more. I am sure he
would then feel that the time he specifies is too short to enlarge
upon a subject so infinite in importance, and so full of blessing
(if rightly received). He should also recollect that it is through
the foolishness of preaching those are saved who believe.
Hoping that those of our ministers who are so generous with
their talents and time, will still adhere to the full measure,
and not curtail their sermons of any part of their fair propor-
tions, and that your correspondent may find out the secret
h will make all sermons, however long, too short,

I subscribe myself your obedient servant,
OLD SUBSCRIBER.

TIIE HIGH LEVEL RAILWAY SCHEME

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Six,—The subject of a High Level Railway along the Docks,
as it has been proposed by Mr. Grantham, is too important to
rest with a mere surface discussion in the Polytechnic Society,
as it certainly had nothing more at the meeting on Monday
last. The Mayor, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Grantham,
entered into the question to some extent ; but, apart from that
very excellent speech, the evening was wasted in mere personal
conversation ; and when I rose to second the motion, with a
view of following the arguments advanced by the Mayor,
strange to say, I was considered out of order, and was obliged
reluctantly to submit to the desire of closing the discussion.
I trust, however, the question will be kept before the public
until its merits are fully known and properly appreciated.
The object we have in view, I presume, is to consult each
other as to whether a high level railway along the docks of this
port would be a public benefit or not; and if a benefit, whether
practicable, and on what plan to be carried out.

We are not to consider how the interests of the London and

Western Railway would be effected, nor the convenience
or inconvenience of any particular party, whether any party
may be damaged or improved—for it will be admitted the
impossibility to carry out an undertaking of such magnitude
without doing both good and harm among the interests con-
cerned—but if, in the course of its canvass, the good should
appear greater than the evil—taking the case as you will admit
it should be taken, on the broad aspect of public good—then
we shall be bound to come to the conclusion that a high level
railway should be recommended, without endorsing the plans
proposed by Grantham, who deserves our best thanks for
bringing the case in detail before us so elaborately and so
comprehensively, that no one can fail to understand what he
means. But I dare say he will admit that improvements may
be introduced, and that his estimates are intended only as a
mere approximation to the cost.

Now, having had the model before us, and three nights'
debate on its merits, I have on my part come to the conclusion,
and by no means a hasty one, that the high level railway along
the Docks of Liverpool ought to be recommended by the Poly-
technic Society; and I shall proceed to state my reasons for the
conclusion to which I have arrived. I am influenced by no
interest or motive but the general welfare of the town. I have
no pre-conceived notion involved in disputes about the timber
trade being carried on at the north or south end of the town,
nor whether docks should be extended north or south, nor
whether the Wapping Docks are the wisest investment of the
dock funds, or the margin of the river occupied by party walls,
to the exclusion of ship-building yards, nor as to whether
there should be warehouses round the docks or not; on all
these important subjects we may considerably differ in opinion;
but some gentlemen have not only one opinion, but are com-
promised to their party by public declarations, and in some
cases by interests, direct or indirect, with which a high level
railway may interfere. I have no such influences to bear upon
my mind ; and you will, I trust, admit my views as impartial.
It was hinted by more than one speaker at the meetings, that
Mr. B. Poole had the interest of the London and North Western
Railway in view in advocating the high level railway. I am
not bound to apply motives to any statements; but the posi-
tion of the London and North Western would, doubtless, be
a great support of the high level,andmay be fairly taken as one
of its main contributors of revenue; which would not be the
case if, instead of two goods' stations by the dock side, there
was only one central station, and that situate some distance
from the docks. Most of us know how often it now happens
that goods at the north station have to be shipped at the south
end of the town, and goods at the Wapping station have to be
shipped in the north docks, two, three, or even four miles dis-
tant. It is not claimed that all the goods that come to Liver-

We portion of them will; and who will deny that such con-
would encourage the manufacturers and merchants

venienc

generally to ship their goods through Liverpool. This, I pre-
sume, is one of the most desirable objects in view, because it
will increase and improve the port.
Now, with reference to revenue from passengers, it will
be stated that the cost of an omnibus from one end of the
docks to the other is only twopence, and that a dozen of these
vehicles are enough to perform all the requirements of that
kind ; this argument, if it be worthy of the name, applied with
equal force to the old turnpike roads as compared with the
railroads that followed. By means of the proposed railroad it
must be remembered that the north and south ends of the town
would be brought virtually nearer together; the same low
charge of twopence may be the fare, but a train starting every
ten minutes from each end would induce thousands to travel
by this read who never go into an omnibus, especially if the
means of propelling the train be employed which I shall pre-
sently describe; the safety of which will be one of the induce-
ments for all parties to travel by it; and as to a considerable
revenue from this source I think there can be no reasonable
apprehension, to say nothing of the rapidly increasing extent
of the town, both north and south.
Much doubt seems to be entertained about having necessary
space for working effectually the goods trains on the road. I
apprehend each dock will have its side rails ; and if such
accommodation be insufficient, you have always the convenience
of putting the goods on the quay below the railway; and if
inconvenience arises by rail, you are not barred from usingcarts
at any time, the same quay room being there for any purpose;
in fact, you have double quay room produced by this high
level invention, which, taken in any aspect you will, must be
considered a vast convenience and improvement of the port,
which could not be attained by any other means. There
are various mechanical arrangements for economising the
space and crossing the dock gates, which are mere shadows for
engineers of the present day to grapple with, and which form
no part of the present discussion. The subject of rails cross-
ing the street pavement from the lower shed to any warehouse,
for which it would be a convenience, is a mere mechanical
matter that could be arranged with great ease and convenience
to all parties; in fact, the high level road would practically
bring all the waterside warehouse property convenient to either
end of the town, and secure a great saving of carriage as well
as security of the goods from exposure to weather and pilferage.

Mr. Braithwaite Poole has given us a statistical account of
the progress of the port in its commerce, and Mr. Grantham
has given a faint outline and fair estimate, so far as it goes, of
what the revenue, from such undertaking, is likely to be, and
also the probable cost, all of which will of course be subject to