, 1888-01-22

"Kennin'ton gatcl Kennin'ton Park gate!n
called the driver, dropping his gs with the
same facility with which he bestrewed the
ground with his his; and, behold! there were
trees and n stretch of GreenswaTd, and IN ivy
covered lodge, md long lines of bright
flowers. Here was rest, if only mOmentary,
for smoke filled eyes, and n few minutes
walk disclosed something so nearly like re-
pose that tho thought of leaving it was
heart breaking. \ little street showed itself,
facing the upper and most secluded end of the
park, each house with its one private bit of
green in front. Better still, it proved mo
t~horoughfare,n that magic word, which is the
only exclusion Of cabs md carts. A garden
ended il, a gray old house just visible among
the trees, and further investigation showed
other gardens at the back and a breath of
purity and freshncs in the dir. Entrance
must be had by any means short of murder,
and not oven tho British householder can
stand against n determined woman. The
place, or its most attractive point, was car
ried by immediate assault, and in twenty
four hours life was rs settled as If under way
in the same circumstances n good ten years.
1t would be easy and pleasant to FIJI this
column with one more descriptions of life in
lodgings, in this case of the most ideal order.
But it is an old story for all of us, and needs
ne repetition, though never in any tale TINT
is told did prettter maid, with eyes as soft
and brown, and voice no less soft and linger-
ing, answer to tho name of Polly, or serve
toast and tea in as perfect accord with the
highest demands of both. But neither Polly
nor the ideal house, nay, nor the street itself,
can be regarded as the corner which we are
approaching, by means which may perhaps
be considered circuitous, but which are Ger
tain. 1t is the park itself that today stands
for our first odd corner, and, as Remington
common has seen sights as sad and strange,
though in less degree, rs Tower hill itself.
For, beginning rs open ground for skittle
playing and such other diversions as the in
habitants about it might choose, it ended,
like many another playground of merry
England, as spot for gallows and stake. 1t
burned q martyr or two, and saw sundry
~whippings and exposures in tho pillory. 1t
had its stocks also for the punishment of
common offenders, and in 1746 came the gal
lows, and the execution of nine men, known
then as traitors, but held by a later genera
ton to deserve as truly the name of patriots.
Few stories arc saddcr than that of one of
them, the youngest of the number, whose
fate Shenstone has COMMUNICATED in q pop
ular ballad.
Jenny Dawson" was n young Lancashire
gentleman of fortune, just engaged TO be
married. He and his fellow J~acobites, CON
demned to be hanged, drawn and quartered,
were chained TO the floor of Southwark Jail,
and drawn from there on sledges to the com
mon, and then cast under the fatal tree, near
which a butchers block had been placed. /
spare the reader tho horrible details of the
old chronicle, every one of which was
watched with fearful fascination by the I'M
happy girl soon to have been q bride, who
followed the procession in u coach. She
hpre n in gilpnpa Till fold bnr 1n,ra- ,,.,, 80,
moro, then drew her head back into the
coach, and crying out, my dear, 1 follow
theei l follow theel Sweet Jesus receive our
souls togetherl" fell on the neck of q COM
panion and expired.
The record goes on: "Mr. Dawson was n
mighty gay gentleman, who frequented
much the company of the ladies, and was
well respected by all his acquaintance of
either sex for his genteel department. He
WINS as strenuous for their vile cause as any
one in the rebel army. When HI was con-
demncd and double fcttered, he said he did
not care If they put a ton weight of iron on
him; 1t would not in the least dnunt his rcso-
lution.n
The common had seen its throngs for n far
different purpose. Congregations, sometimes
of 10000 people, gathered to listen to George
Whitfield, who gave here his farewell
sermon before leaving for America, writing
thus in his diary for Friday, Aug. 8, 1879:
Having spent the day in completing my
affairs and taking leave of dear friends, l
preached III the evening to near 10000 people
ut Remington common. | chose to discourse
on st. Paul's parting speech to the elders of
Ephnsus, at which tho people were exceed
ingly affected, and almost prevented my
making any application. Many tears were
she'd when l talked of leaving them. l con
,In1nl Nth - .,,,tnI1a l.-.a - I'll
scarce get to the coach for the people throng-
ing me to take me by the hnnd and give me
n parting blessing"
A century later, in 1915, the old common,
then transformed to park, though the old
inhabitants still cling to the former title, be
came world known through the great revolu-
tionary meeting of Chartists under Feargus
O'Connor, a determined attempt to secure
that free speech the right to which is again
in question today. Remington park, with
its high ratings, its uniformed officials II
its gates closed before sunset, is speaking
ground no longer, and not even Whitfield
himself could set aside the mandate of police
man and beadle. But who shall say hat its
ghosts do not still move among us, and that
the shadowy faces of martyr for faith and
of political martyr may not look upon the
councils Of club and secret meeting held
again to ask where free speech and its rights
have vanished, and walk side by side with
men who, even in this faithless present, be-
leve there are causes worth dying fort A
mistaken faith it may be. hat question re-
mains for the future to settle, but now, as in
that earlier day, the question is asked, and
one answer at least is plain for now Us then:
Count me DER earth's chosen heroes-they were
souls that stood alone,
While the men they agonizcd for, hurled the con,
tumclious stone;
Stood serene, and down the future, saw the golden
beam incline
To the side of perfect justice, mastered by their
faith divine.
By one mans plain truth to manhood md to
Gods supreme design.
HELEN CANr8ELL
The Cheap Visiting Card.
Nothing so easily lowers the social status
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