New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
DORSET HUMOR.
STORIES. RACY OF THE SOIL. FROM THE
WESSEX OF THOMAS HARDY
From The CornhiH Magazine.

From The Cornhl Magazine.
An unusual surname, but one well known in
Is 1 hamlet in @ the re county fS called TIT TToytown and
other respected member of the Homer family
few years since contested one of the county
divisions. and Punch struck by the classic
name. made humorous reference to the HOmeric
battle battle A local story goes that 9 this same Mr.;
suddenly to leave when local humorist re
Not long ago a gentleman of the name of AL
mouth. Some new public buildings had been com
bad to ms and d a the
It mony OF ore ,orenng them town councillor ndig;
by having his initials A. D. carved in large letters
before Gorsot the date It of, Of the & year o.
e % bond ama b GuTs bra Td sdI il 6aa
wittiy said that he begins life with twelve horses
and one child and ends it with twelve children and
on to spST told Of Pres he ne wp Ge c eXo 6e
Blackmore Vale. One day he asked the Nj. F. II.
for day OFF. and inquiry being made to why
to get married. The NJ F. H very very naturally SSae sug,
gested that Press should take two or three days
when he was asked how he proposed to spend the
%eddn the wa that 10 b sGt TO for a MS
the missus out for a drive with the sick hounds"
rector of Shillingstone. published in early life a
metrical and scholarly translation of the Inferno"
part of the diocese in the blissfui realm of CON
ber his telling Story T o Te one as of bs
whom he found cold. wet and windy night
standing sta shivering under the archway which spans
st snt ngh P road over which the Somerset and Dor
what tHdb"ay tb s runs runs at Shillingstone Wondering
H Wet night in the most draughty place imaginable
reply was, Please sir be going to sing bass next
sunday in the anthem, and 1 be trying to catch a
Times were rougher in those days than now
pIdasant brea were then looked forward to
D0Tset DOTS, s9epherd' pointing to where the gbbet
ing was a pretty sight when l were a boy, for the
ShsIH ana Jayelin men came a-horseback. and
by, as they'd come a long way and we ali had a
hanged have 5f fns man %dG sa & gong to be
strong beer he liked, and we all drank his
by" bS he gb6et abb t@en they hanged he and buried him
"A A wdoMer in somewhat prominent position in
life had inscribed upon his late Wife's tomb. "The
light Of mine eyes is gone from me-" Taking unto
tude, a Dorset yokel scrawled as his comment
upon the text set forth upon the tablet, But he
Dorset cheese locally known blue vinny"'
enjoys Joy "a doubtful % reputation When first made it
chalk which underlies the Dorset downs. After
(vfnney' ID appearance and becomes, though always
hard more Palatable. William Barnes after read
gathering of the Dorset militia Rr0pounded riddle
said he why the, Dorset militia is like blue
ytnnyy?e e Because" he added they'll both 10Th
HnmeltinF moods Of Dorset cheese oE was a. thor
onghiy appreciated Another story anent blue
ing as to the merits Of blue yinny, the detractor
OF It's qualities OHered TO bet the other sovereign
that he could not get two Dorset cheeseS stolen.
The bet being taken, it was arranged that at bed
time cheese should be left the doorstep when
the house was locked up. TO see if any one would
take it away by the morning Next morning the
cheese gone, to the great delight of the hacker
of blue vinny. and the following night the c)nd
cheese was duly locked out on the doorstep. Next
day, to his chagrin both cheeses lay side by side
the doorstep
great character among the shepherds of Dorset
was one Nat" Scale. solitary shepherd lpon
the downs of Dorset, through his long life of
fOurscore years and ten. he brimful OF native
wit Religious topics were not to his mind The
curae of FOrdington, where the old shepherd spent
the last few years OF his life, tried on many occa-
sons to get NAT" to talk religious subjects,
one day the curate got him so far as to speak to
him of Christ when the old man, turning upon
him. said: We'll, He were the Good Shepherd
weren't He?" The curate asserting, the old shep-
herd added. with strong emphasis, We'll, tell
zee what l believe l don't believe as one shepherd
will ever round upon another shepherd" savoring
something of the philosophy of Omar. the tent
maker. Hes good fellow, and twill all be well.
So ended this portion of their onversaton. and
not another word would the old shepherd say
upon the subject.