The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-14

sented itself.
"Kenninton gate! Kenninton Park cate!"
called the driver, dropping his g's with the
same facility with which he bestrewed the
ground with his his; and, behold! there were
trees and stretch of greensward, and an ivy
covered lodge, and long lines of bright
flowers. Here was rest, IL only momentary,
for smoke filled eyes, and few minutes
walk disclosed something so nearly like re-
pose that the thought of leaving it was
heart breaking A little street showed itself,
facing the upper and most secluded end OF the
park each house with its one private bit or
green in front. Better still, it proved mo
thoroughfare," that magic word which Is the
only exclusion of cabs and carts. A garden
ended it, gray old house just visible among
the trees, and further investigation showed
other gardens at the back and breath OF
purity and freshness in the air. Entrance
must be had by any means short OF murder,
and not even the British householder can
stand against determined woman. The
place, or its most attractive point, was car
ried by immediate assault, and in twenty
four hours life was as settled as il under way
In the same circumstances good ten years.
1t would he easy and pleasant to fill 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
no repetition, though never in any tale that
is told did prettier maid, with eyes rs soft
and brown, and voice no less soft and lnger
ing, answer to the 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 he 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 as open ground for skittle
playing and such other diversions rs the in
habitantS about it might choose, it ended,
| like many another playground of merry
England, as spot for gallows and stake. 1t
burned a martyr or two, and saw sundry
whippings and exposures in the 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 later genera
ton to deserve as truly the name Of patriots
Few stories are sadder than that Of one Of
them, the youngest Of the number, whose
fate Shenstone has commemorated in a pop
ular ballad
"Jemmy Dawson" was a young Lancashire
gentleman Of fortune, just engaged to be
married. He and his fellow Jacobites, 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 butchers block had been placed. l
spare the reader the horrible details of the
old chronicle, every one of which was
watched with fearful fascination by the un-
happy girl soon to have been a bride, who
followed the procession in a coach. She
bore it in silence till told her lover was no
more, then drew her head back into the
coach, and crying out, my DEAR follow
theel follow thee! Sweet Jesus receive our
souls together" fell on the neck of a COM
panion and expired.
The record goes on: Mr. Dawson was a
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
was as strenuous for their vile cause as any
one in the rebel army. When he was con-
demned and double fettered, he said he did
not care if they put ton weight of iron on
him; it would not in the least daunt his reso
luton"
The common had seen its throngs for faI
different purpose. Congregations, sometimes
Of 40, 900 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. 3, 1879:
Having spent the day in completing my
affairs and taking leave of dear friends,
preached in the evening to near 20, 900 people
at Remington common chose to discourse
on st. Pauls parting speech to the elders OF
Ephesus, at which the people were exceed
ingly affected, and almost prevented my
making any application. Many tears were
shed when talked of leaving them. con
cluded with suitable hymn, but coulc
scarce get to the coach for the people throng
ing me to take me by the hand and give mi
parting blessing"
A century later in lS4S, the old common
then transformed to park, though the ole
inhabitants still cling to the former title, be
came world known through the great revolu
tionary meeting Of Chartists under Feargu
O'Connor, determined attempt to secur
that free speech the right to which is atail
in question today. Remington park, will
its high ratings, its uniformed officials ant
it's gates closed before sunset, is speakin;
ground no longer, and not even Whitfield
himself could set aside the mandate OF police
man and beadle But who shall say that it
ghosts do not still move among us, and tina
the shadowy faces Of martyr for faith ant
} of political martyr may not look upon tn
councils of club and secret meeting he'll
again to ask where free speech and its right
} have vanished, and walk side by side wit
men who, even in this faithless present. be
lieve there are causes worth dying fors
mistaken faith it may be. That question re
mains for the future to settle, but now, as Il
, that earlier day, the question is asked, an
: one answer at least is plain for now as then
Count me DER earth's chosen heroes-they wer
, souls that stood alone,
While the men they aeonized for, hurled the col
tumelious stone;
Stood serene, and down the future, saw the golde
beam incline
To the side of perfect justice, mastered by thel
faith divine.
J By one mans plain truth to manhood and I
; Gods supreme design
! HELEN CAMPBELL
Tha rbeap WAITING Gard.