Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1883-06-09 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

HER LAST REQUEST.  "One of the most curious experiences that ever befel me," said the gaol.governor, "was when I had Clayland Gaol in Loamshire. The population were agricultural and uncultivated, and of course the most ignorant as well se the most degiaded came my way. One of them was a woman of sixty, who had committed a most brutal and appalling murder. On the night before the execution ate sent for me. It had been a pouring wet day, as most November days in Loamshire are. ' Gov'nor,' she said, 'is it true that I am to be hung to-morrow" It was not easy to reply to such a question in words, and I only inclined my head gravely. qa it far Irons here—l mean the gallows?' 'About fifty yards • in front of the gaol gates." Ay, ay; I mind yards; place well; I saw John Norris hung there when I was a young gal. Then one will walk to it, won't one?' There was a touch of disappointment in her tone which I could not understand. though I guessed the reason of it afterwards. • Yes, we shall all walk.' 'Very good! I've been thinking of surrinutt as I should like to do. Will you grant me a last favour, Gov'nor ? ' I told her, Id course, that anything that lay in my power, and which my deity permitted me to do, would be dose for her. • Well, to-morrow will be wet, you see, that's certain. Now, never in all my life has it happened to me to walk under a silk umbrella. Will you let me do it, just this once?' I gave her, of course the required assurancs, and her warders reported afterwards that she west to bed in good spirits and passed an . xcellent night. Her first words, on being awakened in the morning, were to inquire if it rained, and, on being informed that it did, she expressed her satisfaction. The rest of the sad ceremony seemed to interest her very little but never shall I forget how her dull hard lace brightened up at the sight of the new silk umbrella that was presented to her. She held it over her head to the gallows foot, with a hand which, if it trembled at all, did so with conscious pride."— James Faun in Longman': Magazine.  A country cousin found himself seated at one of our hotel tables, probably for the first time, and the tahle girl, desirous of ascertaining the extent to which he preferred his steak cooked, propounded the usual question of "How do you like it ?" Of course, there wa-n't any smiling around that board when the answer was returned, with all the simplicity imaginabm " Oh, I like it lust rate." " How many comets did you say there were? "inquired the magistrate of the prisoner, who had been locked up over-night for deranging the symmetry of a neighbour's features during an astronomical controversy " Three, av it plase yer honner." The court smiled incredulously, upon observing which Pat added, " I'm afther telling ye the thruth. Mickey Farrel he saw one; Mrs. Dionis she saw another; an' it was meself that saw the third."  " A pithy political dialogue took place the other day ' in any town yod prefer. Stranger : 'How many men, now, without you, are there in the place who would accept a bribe?" Native: "Without me; what do you mean? How dare you? I—" Stranger: "Well, well, with you then?" A young attorney a day or two since having des iiv,red himself of a speech in the Superior Court, asked the clerk if he could' smoke in theroom. "Yes," was the reply. A pipe was hauled out and the gentleman was busily engaged in building smoke columns in the air, when the judge laid a stlol. fine upon him. "I thought you said I could smoke here?" iq dred he indignantly of the clerk as soon as he vot lie I-month. "I did," was the reply, as that busy proceeded with his minutes. "Didn't you smoke?'