The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-05
WESTMINSTER rosAcco-sox
St. James Gazette.

St. James Gazette.
 Not many are conscious of the exis- tence of that worthy society, "HThe Past Overseers of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster" who have been in the habit of dining together at one of the taverns in the district for over l50 years. This body, not otherwise remarkable, are eustodians of a singu- lar ''curio,s which from small begin nings, has like the deputy shepherd, ," been ''a swellin' wisibly" from year to year. This is "the Westminster Tobacco Box," which is also an his- torical calendar of London during the long period of its existence.
 It seems that in the year l7lS one of the "past" overseers was in the habit of bringing to the tavern dinners his own private tobacco box, which he good -naturedly placed at the service of his friends. In so cordial spirit was this little attention received that he presented the company with tobacco box for its own use when he should have passed away. As a reciprocal attention, the society had & silver rim placed on the box, whereon were re- corded the donors name and merits. This imparted a certain value to the box, and it was intrusted to the charge of the overseer for the time being. The next overseer-not 10 be outdone in hberality-embellished the box with a silver plate, on which his name and achievements were set out. The overseer succeeding followed suit; and thus grew up the rule or custom that every overseer should add silver plate or decoration suitably inscribed. After a few years the box became overlaid with plates. Space failed, and it was now fitted into an enclosing box, upon which the same process was repeated. Figures and pictures were engraved on the plates; the notable event of the year, whether battle, royal marriage, procession, or celebration, was duly em- blazoned: and still the box, or boxes, kept growing. As result, the box has now the aspect of massive hexa- gonal silver covered chest, which re- solves itself into some half dozen boxes, one enclosed in the other, and all glittering with the accumulated silver plates of l50 years. The outer chest or casket Is made from an old oaken beam that belonged to the sb- bey. The general aspect of the box is rather bewildering, with its pictures, sdsAlls, odd costumes, dates, and in- scription. At the annual dinner there Is & ceremonial for handing over the box to the new overseer, who Is sol emnly enjoined by the senior church. warden to take all care of the article. He is to have and to hold it on condi- tion that it be produced at all paroch- ial entertainments he shall be invited to or have right to attend, when it must he furnished with tobacco suffi- cient to fill three pipes, at least, under forfeiture, in case of failure, of six bot ties of c.aret. Moreover, security in the sum of2oo guineas has to be found.
 The box has been in some critical situations: once in l7S5, when some thievea carried off from the dinner ta- ble all the portable silver, but the over- seer had the precious box or boxes in safe custody. In 1793 an unworthy overseer named Read, having claim on the parish, actually detained the box till he was satisfied-nay, threat ened to destroy the box fine were not satisfied. Thereupon a chancery suit was commenced, and the case was heard before Lord Chancellor Lough- borough, who decreed that the box be restored and the costs paid by the degenerate "past overseer," the Read aforesaid. There was general joy the solicitor who conducted the suit was made free of the society, that Che may often' (so it runs in the books) "have an opportunity of contemplating the box and its recovery"
 In 1925 some odd regulations were introduced. Dinner was to be served by five o'clock, on the actual striking of St. Margaret's clock; the landlord, on failure, to be fined two bottles of wine. He was to produce his bill at half past eight under penalty of an- other bottle.
 When the Westminster tobacco boxes are opened out there is a glitter ing show indeed. Hours might be spent deciphering their scrolls and re- cords. There we may see and read of the duke of Cumberland and of MT. Wilkes, the gallant Nelson, Pitt and Fox, and Wellington, together with pictures of "scratchy" kind of the new prison, the trial of Queen Caroline and other interesting scenes. What is to become of the hox when it dungeons beyond manageable proportions? By and by it will have the dimension of a plate-chest. Before long, however, some too practical past ovsrseer will move "that this society do hereby for the future suspend their practice of adding silver plates to the tobacco box; and that in lieu thereof ten guin- eas be subscribed annually to the funds