The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15


viii permit me to possess any, gamer
around three types OF our modern English
humanity; the schoolboy, the soldier, and
The convict This is largely to be account
ed for. no doubt, by the fact that during
the past twelve years / have held success
sively three chaplaincies; one in boys
school. one in a military barracks. and one
in a convict prison. How they compare
with each other In duties generally it is
not within the boundaries of this story to
show. seeing that it has 10 do with. or
rather grew out OF. the last chapiaincy
OF the three. Still, l perhaps may be al
lowed TO say that. in the matter of sup
plying fascinating opportunity for the
study of mental and moral vagaries. there
is little to choose between a sehoolroom. a
parade ground. and a cell: though. of
course. in point Of tragic interest. Dart
moor comes easily first. Such is my per-
sonal experience.
As might be expected, association with
these three institutions has brough; me
already a small hundred of somewhat ro-
gnantic and out-of- the-way experiences.
which will doubtless. in due time, bring
much welcome grist to the mill of my fu-
ture biographer But lest there should
be In my case any miscarriage of justice
IN this respect have known many in
Dartmoor. which make me apprehensive-
and no biographer be appointed, am now
about to make public, il not the most
thrilling or important, certainly the most
Irritating, and also comic, adventure and
coincidence which my Dartmoor chaplain
cy has yet brought to me.
For the complete understanding OF the
Incident which am about to relate, and
In order to appreciate its ironie humor-
though not till 1t was past did l discover
that il was ironically humorous-it Will be
necessary for me to go back some eight
cen months. to the Gate of my relinquish-
tng my post of chaplain in her Majesty 8
penal establishment at Dartmoor, and TO
the occasion of my farewell service within
its granite gateway. i keenly felt leaving
the men. many Of whom l knew so inti-
mstely. and some OF whom had learned
to respect and even admire; and. as they
stood before me for the last time in the
little adjudication room, where I held my
services, clad in their rough yellow jackets
many of them decorated with that terrible
black letter L, which denotes a life SEN
tence. / felt a twinge Of heart as / began
to tell them that my ministry had come tc
an end. and that was bound for church
In that desired haven OF every convict
London. OF course / was not guilty Of
tsntalizingly reminding them that Londor
was the haven where they would be; but
adopting a CHEEKY demeanor with them
as was my habit. said at the close Of my
address, never inflicted sermons" upon
them, deeming their punishment already
sufficiently great-'I am sorry to say that
this is my last service with you. as / am
shortly removing to London, having been
appointed to a church there" etc This
announcement was received by my fellow
Jackets with many symptoms of sorrow and
regret. il may be pardoned saying So
Then enc Of them spoke. and spoke / still
feel convinced. without intending more
than he said, and quite innocent OF any
subtlety OF suggestion: We're sorry you r.
going. chaplain; but we won, say good
by as IL we shouldn't see you again; as
maybe. when our papers come down dds
miseal or discharge papers,, We shall fnd
you out. and give you a call some fine day. :
AT this some of his companions smiled
hopefully. and think innocently too: but
some looked less inclined to smile than
the schedules call them.
Then the spirit of unwonted Righteousness
took a momentary possession of me, and
answered with what 1 have since thought
was q look Of insinuation. which the Home
Office might have considered almost a
breach Of discipline: That would give me
very great pleasure indeed; that is, II you
mean what you say literally. that you will
give me a cali some fine day. for / have
n IN midnight
callers" II WIS match to the touchwood
Of their still smouldering propensities; the
convicts grinned ali over their an-crop-
ped faces. even the non smiling ones. and
nudged each other in evident token that
they .twigged" the retiring chaplain's lit
tie jest.
As went down the line shaking hand:
with each man. as / always did, noticed
quite 6 creditable beard on the face of the
spokesman OF a moment earlier.
$50 rou will be out in three months OF
less, Gostick, see," said, for the mer
are allowed to abandon the razor Ia species
Of clipper q few months before being dis.
charged. II they wish.
Yes. Sir" he replied. affectionately rub
bling his chin: and I'm going to the big
city same as you. I've got place ready
for me. and I'm going to have a shot al
what you're always telling US to-begin
afresh."
That's right. Gostick. my man. / am
glad to think at least one thing I have
said in this room is going to be remem-
bered and acted upon;" and in FIVE min
utes the guard had presented arms to me
for the last time at the gates Of Dartmoor
Prison.
The trivial matter Just referred to-so
trivial that an hour after its occurrence.
even five minutes after. 1t was wholly for
gotten by me-is only now mentioned be-
cause few months later il was destined
70 return to my memory under most Gu
rious and annoying circumstances: and I
say this at the risk OF spelling my story.
because ! am anxious to assure the reader
that IL is not my habit to put everything
that happens TO me under magnifying
glass. as possibly my garrulousness has
already tempted him to think Even had
II been an incident worthy to be embalm-
ed. ii would have stood no chance OF be-
sng SO; for during the following two
months every moment and every thought
Of nay lie were being monopolized by the
taking OF Iife's most momentous step. /
married.
II ever man is entitled to live in the
actual present. unmindful Of the past, and
indifferent to the future. II is surely when
he is away upon his honeymoon; and, as
that Tlysian holiday was spent amid the
absorbing gayeties Of the French capital,
It viii readily be believed that all thoughts
OF tie convict prison away amid IFS pre-
historic tors was entirely engulfed. Nor
when we returned TO our new home In
Denbigh Street southwest had they much
better chance OF lifting their heads above
water; for there was our house TO arrange,
our pictures to hang, our "at home" days
to becomingly engineer, and above al
oh. far above aili-our wedding presents
TO examine. admire. and locate. Among
these-though comparison of wedding
presents is doubly odious-was solid sill