Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-21
TIE WHISTLER At THE rL0W.
Deaih or Alexander somerviiie, Arter Life
OF vicfssitudes.

|
OF vicissitudes.
a Toronto (0ntario) special of the
Iyth says: Alexander Somerville +" The
Whistler at the PlOw." was buried yes
terday afternoon from an old shed, hav-
ing died two days previous under de-
plorable circumstances. Every comfort
was offered him, but to the last he re-
fused to be removed to any place
where he could have received pro-
per attention. An only son, who
lives in Hamilton, was present at the
funeral, besides many friends from va
nous parts Of the province. Mr.. Som
eryllle was born at Springfield, in the
parish of 0ldhamstocks. East Lothian.
on March Is, 1911, being the last Of
family Of eleven children. lie describes
his parents as careful pair, who were
staunch believers IN the doctrines Of the
United Associate Synod Of the SeceS-
sion Church of Scotland, ana finally
joined with the United Presbyterian
Church. AleXander's earlier years
were spent in the rocky ravine of the
ogle Burn as a cowhcrd. In the fields
surrounded by these woods he first
drove the harrows and held the
pillow after graduating from the
position Of herding cattle. His
iamlly was almost destitute, and
during the hard years Of 1916
and 1917 were obliged to subsist
on potatoes and limited number OF
behring's. When he was eight years
old Alexander had mastered the art of
reading and writing through home
s'2dy. and was for the first time sent to
school. The school-hOuse was at
BirnynOwS, two miles distant. and he
WIS obliged to trudge back and forth
alone daily. During his first year.
while the = Ragged-Radical agitation
was at its height, he was declared to be
a member Of that party by his school
fellows, owing to the condition of his
clothes. lie was roughly handled. and
in resisting thrashed number of his
prosecutors. throwing one of the young
gentry into mud-puddle. At the age Of
fourteen years he ran away to sea, and was
gone for about year, when he was
gladly received back into his fathers
family. lie went to Edinburgh in 1898.
and here first attended theatre. He
read great deal. heard all the ceIe-
brated preachers Of the metropolis, and
listened to learned debates with in
telligent interest. For lack of better
work Somerville, in 1882. enlisted in
the famous Scotch Gray>, and was
with them during the troubles over the
reform bill directly thereafter. About
this time several letters Of protest
were addressed TO the War-Oflicc
and other Official quarters among
them one by Somerylle, in which
he declared that. while the Grays
would assist in quelling riots, they
would not draw their swords on
peaceful gatherings. For this he re-
ceiyed leo laShes with a CATO nine
tails, which subsequently became
matter Of discussion in Parliament and
Of rcprimand for the officers who or
dered it. His discharge was shortly
afterward purchased, and for a time he
worked to promote the reform bill III
London and Glasgow. After failing a
the editor Of a newspaper and the
keeper of shop. lie went to Spain and
distinguished himself in the Spanish
Legion. Returning to Great Britain, he
became connected with the tradcs-unon
agitation, and overthrow a plot for the
capture of the royal family, the
nobility. and the directors of the Bank
of England. He began his active lite
rary career in 1877. publishing an ac-
count of his military experience in
Spain, a paper on the " British Reyo-
luton" ard another on " France and
Her Errors, Republican and Royal. "
1.-The w iStler at the Plow " was pub
, .ished o. Manchester in 1852. His
d" Autobiography Of WOrkingman,
by One Who Has Whistled at the
Piow " came out in London three years
previous. Ills career in this country
was for the most part uneventlul,
although he contributed to the Amerl-
can and the British press until quite
recently. He was powerful advocate
of the rights and privileges of the class
to which he belonged.