The Portland daily press., 1886-11-10

my MS slueS WIFI Jun as ne SelIeu paMpnlct
and asked us if we had seen the Arch bish
ops apology for his attack upon Gladstone.
He was perfectly irrepressible at the thought
of an arch bishop, in the purity and sanctity
of his white robes and bands, humbly bend
ing the knee to a representative of general
discomfort over and disruption of the old Is
tablished powers. He went on to tell how
this reverend, an old college maze of Glad
stones, got excited in a public meeting and
went little too far, uttering most unbecom-
ing language of the Premier, and had to take
it all back. Here it is" he said, ''at the be-
ginning of this address," And so it was, a
most humble apology; but that ended, the
writer, rising from his knees. puts on his
robes again and INDUCES in the most scath-
ing criticisms af Gadstonc's motives and
policy. As we glanced hurriedly through his
address, we were amazed that a representa-
tive of Christ's church to-day could promul-
gate the narrow views which were expressed
1t is to be hoped that the same hasty utter
ance that led him beyond the bounds of
courtesy and Christian charity towards Glad
stone, gave to his written sentiments a more
bigotted tone than is entertained in his
heart or manifested in his life; but certainly
a reader was forced to infer from his words
that he would exclude all from the Kingdom
of Heaven, who were not Jealous supporters
of the established church. Such expressions,
from high authority indicate the lack of hear
ty fellowship in the church generally toward
the non-conformists, which is only kept out
of sight, because here today the power is so
evenly divided, and the world applies the
Gospel text, by their works We shall know
them"
After chatting pleasantly, the lad re-
tired as his papa entered, whose cordiality
and evident earnestness in life, only con-
frmed the feeling that most of these thinking
and benevolent men would be glad to see
more liberality in church and state, but are
perplexed and wanting sometimes in faith
when discussing methods how best to bring
about reformation without endangering the
very yitals of the Kingdom by too sudden
revolutions. After saying goodbye to the
vicar we passed the Taunton Almshouses,
connected with which is the most ancient
Old Ladies Home, of which we have any
knowledge.
we read the following
LAUs DEC.
This charitable work is founded by Robert
Graye OF the elite OF London eSQuier, born in this
towne, in the house ADJOINING hereunto who In
his lifetime doth erect il for tenn poore aged SYN
gle women: and for their competent livelihood
and daylie prayers in the same provided sufficient
maintenance for the same. 1885
By further statements it appears he be-
queathed part of the alnshouse for six
poore men and a reader, and tenn poore
women with house, orchard and garden,
and two thousand pounds to be laid out in
land in fee simple, the profits thereof to be
paid to the poor persons at the rate of eight
shillings to each the first Monday monthly,
and new gown every three years." and he
also enjoined the said reader who in the de-
cree of Chancery is styled a chaplain OF
schoolmaster, "to teach tenn poore children
to read and write.
Having regarded all such institutions as
the fruit of our much boosted practical be-
nevolence in our glorious nineteenth century
we were curious to investigate the premises
and see what improvements had been made
upon the plan of this early philanthropist
We introduced ourselves to two Of the fortu-
nate old women, who stood in the door
watching the busy throngs in the street
Their faces beamed with delight, as they in
vited us to enter. AT present each "alms-
person" receives three shillings weekly
with which he or she is supposed to pur-
chase all the essentials of life. Each inmate
has room, which is the home, comprising
kitchen, sitting-room ana sleeping apart
ment The old women had finished their
tea; but one old man, who did not take to
cooking quite as naturally as his feminine
neighbors, was stumbling about his little
mob to fix his tea in such pitiably stupid
manner that we felt it would be charity to
make life easier for the more helpless half to
pair them off in matrimony. One ola auntie,
fearing that being found in an almshouse,
we might consider them paupers, took occa-
sion to inform us that only those who had
never received help from the parish, and to
whom restitution had come from misfortunes
in later life, could find refuge in this home.
One OF the inmates led our way into the orch
ard and garden, which has been kept up lit
orally according to the specifications of the
donors will. 1t was raised several feet
above the walk, and one must climb stile
over the messy brick wall to pluck a nose
gay among the flowers, which looked as old
fashioned as the wrinkled danes themselves
indeed the whole place, with its air laden
with lavender and mint, the low ceilings,
heavy beams and checkerboard windows, to
which you must jump up if you wished to
take peep outside, was bit of the buried
past of which we know nothing except in
story and the embroidered mourning piecss
and samplers of our great grandmothers
These venerable and trembling pilgrims had
not the luxurious surroundings that are
providep for their counterparts in America.
but each is sovereign in her own prinei-
pality, and can sweeten her tea and salt her
porridge to her own tooth, and rock and
sleep in the chimney corner half the night if
she wants to.
In st. Mary's churchyard one sees the fol
lowing laconic and quaint epitaph, which
gives an epitome of the life of this public
benefactor:
Sacred to the blessed memory OF Robert Grave
Taunton bore him London bred him,
Plety trained him. Virtue led him.
Earth enriched him, Heaven carest him
Taunton blest him. London blest him
This thankful town, That mindful elite
Share his plety, And his pity.
what ne gave and How he gave it,
ASK the poor and You shall have it.
Gentle reader. Heaven may strike
my tender heart TO do the like
And now thy eyes Have read the story.
Give him the praise and Heaven the glory
KlatiS suae 60.
Ammo Domini, 1886.
Stogumber.
Acting upon the advice of the friendly vic
ar we took the early morning train for Stog-
lumber. An hours ride Though rich farm
ing country landed us in the midst of rural
landscape. where was not house to be seen,
except on the distant hills, whose slopes
were mapped out into potato patches and
clover fields by blooming hedges, which
faded away into the blue distance. A hus-
bandman by the wayside directed us to fol-
low the telegram for a pnnd milo 10 tho M IL