Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-20
QDblo Statesman,
How n Barb RS Boy Became Lord
Chief u Iuslice of Eng land.

How n Barb RS Boy Became Lord
Chief u usiice of nsland.
! Let readers transport themselves to
Canterbury in 1776, and let them enter
a BARRIERS shop hard by Canterbury
Cathedral. 1t is primitive shop, with
the red and white pole over the door,
and modest display of wigs and puff
boxes in the window. A small shop,
but notwithstanding its smallness, the
best shop of its kind in Canterbury !;
and its lean, stiff. exceedingly respecta-
BILE master is man of good repute in
the cathedral town. His hands have,
ere now, powdered the Archbishop's wig,
and he is specially retained by the chief
clergy of the city and neighborhood to
keep their false hair in order, and trim
the natural tresses of their children
Not only have the dignitaries of the
cathedral taken the worthy barber under
their special protection, but they have
extended their care to his little boy.
Charles, demure, prim lad, who is at
the present time pupil in the Kings
School, to which academy clerical in
terest gained him admission. The lad
is in his fourteenth year; and DIR. Os-
mund Beauvoir, the master of the school,
gives him so good character for indus
try and dutiful demeanor, that some of
the cathedral ecclesiastics have resolved
to make the little fellows fortune, by
placing him in the Office of a choristor.
There is a vacant place in the cathedral
choir; and the hoy who is lucky enough
to receive the appointment will be
provided for munifcently. He will
forthwith have a maintenance, and in
course of time his salary will be 97O
per annum.
During the last fortnight the barber
has bern in great and constant excite
ment hoping that his boy will obtain
this valuable place of preferment per
suading himself that the lads thickness
of voice, concerning which the choir
master spoke with aggrsvating persist
ence, is a matter of no real Importance !;
and fearing that the friends of another
contemporary boy, who is said by the
choir master to have an exceedingly
mellihuous voice, may defeat his pater-
nal aspirations. The momentous ques-
ton agitates many humble homes in
Canterbury and while Mr.. Abbott, the
barber, is encouraged to hope the best
for his son, the relatives and
supporters of the contemporary boy are
urging him not to despair. Party spirit
prevails on either side-Mr. Abbott's
family associates maintaining that the
contemporary boys higher notes resem-
BILE those of penny whistle, while the
contemporary boys father, with much
satire and some justice, murmurs that
"old Abbott. who is the gossip-monger
of the parsons, wants to push his son
into place for which there is a better
candidate"
To-day is the eventful day when the
election will be made. Even now, while
Abbott, the barber, is trimming wig
at his shop window, and listening to the
hopeful talk of an intimate neighbor, his
son Charley is chanting the "Old Hun
dredth" before the whole chapter
When Charley has been put through his
vocal piece, the contemporary boy is
requested to sing. Whereupon that
clear-throated competitor, sustained by
iustifiable self-confdence and new laid
egg which he had sucked scarcely a
minute before, made a bow to their rev.
erences, and sings out with such richness
and compass that all the auditors re-
cognize his great superiority. s4l Z
Ere ten more minutes had passed,
Charley Abbott knows that he has lost
the election, and he hastens from the
cathedral with quick steps. Running
into the shop, he gives his father one
look that tells the whole story of-fail-
ure, and then the little fellow, unable to
command his grief, sits down upon the
| floor and sobs convulsively. ,
Failure is often the first step to emf
nence. -a-3+ Ssl Ee sI1as ae
Had the boy gained the chorister's
place he would have been cathedral
servant all his days.
Having failed to get it, he returned to
the Kings School, went as posr schol.
ar to Oxford, and fought his way to
honor. He became Chief Justice to the
Kings Bench and peer of the realm
Toward the close of his honorable
career Lord Teftenden attended services
in the Cathedral of Canterbury, accom-.
panied by Mr.. Justice Richardson.
| When the ceremonial was at an end the
Chief Justice said to his friend: '.Do
you see that old man there among the
choristers In him, brother Richard
son, behold the only being ever envied
when at school in this town we were
candidates for a chorister's place; he OBJ.
tanned it; and if I had gained my wish
he might have been accompanying you
as Chief Justice, and pointing me Out
as his old school-fellow, the singing