The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-04-02
ANN HICKS, APPLE WOMAN.

Unique Character Who Pestered Parlia-
ment for a Long Time.
Up to the year 1S43 there stood an old
conduit at the east end of the Serpentine
in Hyde Park, London, which had once
been connected with a miniature Water-
fall. Here an apple woman, Ann Hicks
by name, drove a thriving business IN the
sale of apples, gingerbread, nuts aid
other comestibles dear to the heart Of the
British schoolboy, until her shelter vas
demolished and her establishment re-
tluced to mere open stall with canvas
covering.
But adversely only served to develop
AIMS great qualities, and she lmmsdi-
ately became letter-writer of the high
est order. She first addressed herself to
Lord Lincoln, then chief commissioner of
woods and forests, stating her hardship,
and asking permission to construct Il
locker for the safe disposal of her wares
at night-a request which was deemed
reasonable and was at once granted.
Encouraged by her success, she next
made application to be allowed to build
brick Enclosure, as the wooden locker
was insecure. This, after some tesita-
ton, was unwillingly conceded, and Ann,
whose ideas were evidently of the most
advanced liberal type, put wide inter
probation on the permission, and convert
which had not only door, but window
as Well.
\ third communication stated that her
locker was not large enough. Might she
make it higher, to give space for the safe
storage of her ginger-beer bottles? ?
Again the application was successful,
though the height was limited to i've
feet.
Once more she wrote, this time to ask
permission to repair the roof, and when
the request was granted. it was found
that the REPAIRS included the projec-
ton of little chimney and the construc-
ton of fireplace, on which Ann per-
formed culinary operations.
But now she was troubled by the ublQ-
uitious school boy, who had the imperti-
nence to look in at the windows, SO a
leave to put up few hurdles to keep
him at respectful distance. Then the
hurdles We're gradually moved outward
and small garden was incloSed and 80
by degrees the white Cottage" as it
came to be called, assumed all the di-
mansions and Importance of little es-
tate.
Ann was now in the zenith of her
power, but her career, like that of many
another conqueror, was to be cut short
just as her empire was extending. its
bounds and she was beginning to hold
undisputed sway. Evil times were at
hand.
In 1850 preparations were being made
for the great exhibition of the following
year, and an order was issued for the re-
moyal of all distractions from the park,
the White Cottage being included in the
list.
But AIMS was not a nature made to
yield without struggle. She resOlutely
refused to move, doubtless on the prin-
ciple that an Englishwoman's house is
her castle, and her indiscretion even car
ried her the length of departing from
the strict limits of the truth. Her grand
father-so her story ran-had, 100 years
before, saved George II. from watery
quently, been allowed to raise a perma-
nent erection in the park-besides which
her cottage had cost her not less than
f13O.
Lord Seymour, then chief commission
err, laid the case before the Duke of Wei
lingtOn, and that conqueror of conquer
ors after investigation, ordered AIMS
tage, the result of seven years conces-
sions and appropriations.
To soOthe her wounded feelings, an
allowance was granted her for twelve
months, but although our heroine accept
ed the solatium, she was by no means
satisfied, and placarded the trees and
fences of the park with notices of her
wrongs. For months she pestered men,
bers of Parliament with her story, and
at last Bernal Osborne yielded to her
solicitations, and on certain day in
July, 1851, the House of Commons had
the unique privilege of listening to the
recital Of the imaginary wrongs of an
apple woman.
Full explanations were given, and Ann,
after her brief but brilliant career, van
ished from public view, and passed the
remainder of her days in obscurity.