The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-17

they were; namely, close 10 the Town.
hall, and Immediately under his own
and his brcthren's hoses. In short, he
had regularly, consistently, aud nobIy
done his best to Illustrate every scheme
that was proposed for the comfort and
advantage Of his fellow creatures.
For this conduct he was highly esteem.
ed and respected, and, indeed, his hos.
tilily to any interference with disease
had procured him the honor of a public
testimonial; shortly after The prcscnta.
.iion Of which, with several nea, speech.
es, the cholera broke out in Beetle bury.
The truth is, that Mr.. Blenkinsop's s
views on the subject Of public health
and popular institutions were supposed
TO be economical (,hough they were, in
truth, desperately costly and SO pleased
some of the rate prayers. Besides, he
,wilhslood ameliorations, and defended
nuisanccs and abuses with all the heart.
mess Of an actual philunlhropist.
Moreover, he was jovial fellow-a
boon companion, and his love Of anti.
guilty lcani particularly toward old ale
and old Por, wine. or both of these
beverages he had been par,aking rath.
er largely at visitation.dinner, here,
after the retirement Of the bishop and
his clergy, festivities were kept up ill
late, under the presidency Of the deputy
registrar. One of the last 10 quit the
Crown and Mitre was Mr.. Mr.. Blenk-
.insop.
lie lived in remote part Of the town,
whiihcr as he did not walk exactly in q
right line, j; may be allowable perhaps
10 say that he bent his course. Many
Of the dwellsrs in Bectlebury High
street, awakened al halfpas, twelve on.
that night, by somebody passing below
singing, not very distinctly.
aWitlia a Jolly frll bottle let each man be arned,"
we're Indebted, lil,iesas they may have
suspected ii, 10 Alderman Blenkinsop,
for their sefcnade. ~
M Ia his hameward way sio5d iho Mark
ct gtoss; Il Eiiin sfetliesai 81 ructuro, sups'
ported on RES ol, ,circuiaFsteps bya
ground ntcIl, Wi,iel, served as q canopy
Il isa tlFss pt All ancient burgess
oRea, q
great 6emeSS esgs
he had founded alnhouses and gram
mar-school, a. d. i44O. The pos
was formerly 81, 8lG,lf@.soicd by ST, Wulr.
from The Town Hail in CromwelFs
time. and promoted TO The vacant pelcs.
tai, uicc WultstaD, demolished. Mr..
Blcnkinsop highly rcvcred This work of
art, and he now stopped 10 take view
Of il by moonlight. In tha, doubtful
glimmcr, il seemed almost lifc-likc.
Mr.. B!cnkinsop had not much ina gina.
ton, yet he could nigh fancy he was
looking upon The vcri,ablc Wvnkyn,
with his honno,, beard, furrcd gown,
and staff and his great book under his
arm. SO vivid was this impression,
lha, it impc'Icd him 10 apos,rophisc the
statue.
Fine old Ccllow!" said Mr.. Blcnkin.
sop. Rare old buck, We shall never
look upon your like again. All! The
good old limcs-,hc Jolly good old tines
No times like the good old times, my
ancient worthy. No such times rs the
good old limcs!"
"hnd pray, sir, what times do YOU
call the good old timcs?" in distinct, and
deliberate accents, answered d-uccor,l-
ing 10 lhc positive affirmation Of Mr.
Blenkinsop, subsequently made before
divers wi,ncsscs-ihc statue.
Mr.. Blcnkinsop is sure that he was
in the perfect possession Of his senses.
He is certain that he was no, tie dupo
Of vcnlriloquism, or any other illusion.
The value Of these convictions must hc
q question between him and the world
TO whose pcruSal the facts Of his tale
simply Us stated By himself, are here
submitted.
Wien frs, lie heard the statue speak,
Mr.. BlcnkinSop says, he certainly cx.
pcricnccd kind Of sudden shock-u
momcntary feeling Of CONSERVATION.
But this soon abatcd in wonderful
manner. The statues voice was quite
mild and gcntle--not in the leas, grim
had no funeral ,wnng in it, and was
quite different from the tone Statue
might be expected to take, by any body
who had derived his notions on lhn, sub
lee, from having heard the representa-
tive Of the class in "Don Giovanni"
"Well. wha, times do you mean by
the 600 / old lmcs?' repeated the statue
quite familiorl;. The churchwardel
was able 10 reply with some composurc
that such question coming from sucl
quarter had taken him little by sur
prise.
Come, come, Mr.. Blcnkinsop," sair
the statue, "don't be aslonished. 'Ti
half-past twelve, and moonlight, night
rs your hvoritc police-thc sleepy ant
iniirm old walchmnn--snys, don't yo,
know that we statues are apt to spcal
when spoken to, at these hoursl Col
lcct yourself. will help you TO an,
swcr my own question. lie, us 20 bacl
step by step; and allow me to lead you
TO begin. By the good old times d,
you mean tho days of George the rhirtl1
sVTbn inet &c tbcp, or ) .o,Ii,,I nj :,