The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1888-02-11 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WALLASEY JOTTINGS.  The one topic of conversation throughout the whole parish of WR.llasey during the week has been the awful tragedy at Salford. The sad event, which is not one of the most pleasant to reflect upon, might actually have happened in our midst, seeing the excitement it has occasioned in our parish, which has been the scene of many attempts at selfmurder by jumping into the river. One cannot help asking the question—Why are these things so P A wretched sufferer in some dirty court or alley, half-starved, enduring constant bodily illness, and perhaps in some cases with no hope ultimately but the death of a pauper will yet bang on to life with the tenacity of an eel. Here was a young man endowed with many blessings. He had a respectable and comfortable home, and respectable friends and our. roundings. He had bright prospects, and his health, although not all that could be desired, was still far from being insupportable. .  And yet in the most melancholy way he put an end to the existence of not only himself, but his wife and innocent offspring. The paltry pecuniary embarrassment which has been assigned as a reason for the rash act is too trifling for serious consideration. There must have been a sickening sense of wearisome existence, a longing desire to flee from care, and seek the quiet of the grave. It is a well known fact that when once the mind becomes morbid and takes to reasoning on matters of this kind, it becomes familiar with them, and that familiarity strips them of half their horrors, until finally reason loses her throne and saneness sinks in the gulf of suicide. If there is anyone in our parish of Wallasey contemplating suicide—and who knows but there may be—let them take a lesson from this case. How long the man Derby premeditated the act who can tell? through what stormy gulfs of unrest be had passed none may ever know. Doubtless he sought peace from care. Even so— peace let it be to all of them.  The news of the death of Mr. A. C. Kent, clerk to the Wirral Justices, was received with profound regret by the residents in Wallasey, where he was so well known and highly respected. His genial countenance will be missed by the many frequenters to the Wallasey Police Court, and more especially by the magistrates and the officials of the court with whom he was brought in contact, and his death has caused a gap not easily to be filled. The body of the deceased gentleman, who has been ailing for some time, will be interred in the Chester Cemetery on its arrival from Algiers, where he had been staying to recruit his health. The funeral is not expected to take place until the latter end of next week, owing to the time taken on the voyage. Mr. Jacob referred in tones of sympathy to the sad event at the police court, on Wednesday last, and his feelings will be shared by all who knew Mr. Kent. **•,:  Is it or is it nal fair that people should be allowed to pass throught our ferries from Liverpool with baskets of groceries, ikc., without paying for bringing them across? This is the question asked by our tradesmen who are made to pay for the least parcel they may be carrying to Liverpool. It must be very annoying to the shopkeepers, who have to pay heavy ratio, to see the large number of people who go to Liverpool and make their weekly purchases, on Saturdays, come through the turnstiles heavily•laden—even with potatoes— without paying a toll. It is bad enough for the poor struggling tradesmen to lose their custom, without being handicapped in this manner. Why the people go to Liverpool for their goods is a question difficult to answer, seeing that they can be as well supplied—if not better—with anything they may require in the parish as they can in the big city. Now then ye residents of Wallasey, kindly give our own shopkeepers a look up I  This is not the only grievance our shopkeers have—they have to contend with the opposition of the many hawkers who frequent the parish, who pay no rates or shop rent, and, consequently, are in a position to undersell the tradesman. Then again, the omnibusses and trains do them a lot of harm by carrying the people past their shops, whereas if they walked the shops would attract their attention, and they would, probably, make a purchase. No wonder so many tradesmen are summoned before the Wallasey magistrates to explain why they have not paid their rates, which they will have the pleasure—l mean the displeasure—of seeing increased before long. The residents, if they have any consideration for those who help to pay and decrease the rates, will do well to take these matters into consideration.  By the way, speaking of the 'busses, how is it the 'bus company are allowed to almost smother people by overcrowding the interior 1 their vehicles. I have always been under the impression that 'busses were only licensed to carry a limited number in or out. On Monday evening last, every seat was taken inside the 'bus which left the Seacombe Ferry at 10.30, but the conductor still kept shouting" This way for New Brighton; Plenty of room inside I" The result was that several people had to stand, to the groat discomfort of those who were fortunate enough to obtain a seat. PeuPle don't care to be packed in the 'busses like cattle, and if the company are anxious to receive the continuous support of the public, they ought to put an extra 'bus on the route, and warn their conductors to be more careful. They have no opposition now I  *** " The quickness of the hand deceives the eye." The truth of this saying was apparent to a lady resident in Liscardroad, on examining at home a purchase she had made in Seacombe the other "ening. The lady in question being anxious to secure a rabbit for supper, wended her way to a shop, and after looking at the stock she selected one Which Baited her taste, and being a housekeeper of long standing she was not easily to be deceived in her purchase. rhe skopkeeper took the rabbit inside, and brought it out--as the lady thought , 7-wrapped in paper, and was very polite In placing the rabbit in the lady's basket. However, when she got home she fohnd, not the rabbit she had purchased, but a puny thing not worth half the money she bad paid. It 15 such  tricka as these—which have been twice played on the same lady—that may in some way account for the people going to Liverpool for their goods; but it is hard that all the shopkeepers should suffer through the folly of one.  * *. I have received the following communication from a gentleman who signs himself " Nemo" :