Author: secretary

Would the war impact the availability of spruce trees? Such fears were allayed by this small article. Note that ‘buying early for Christmas’ in 1940 meant mid December – not early November as it seems to today!

‘Here’s good news for the children. There will be ample supplies of Christmas trees available this year. As a matter of fact, substantial consignments have been in the hands of the retailers for some days. A wholesale fruiterer and florist told me at the week-end that the trees, which in pre-war days were largely imported from Germany will be quite as plentiful as they were last Christmas. Prices, too, should be fairly reasonable.

“It’s a fact,” he added, “that people will spend money at Christmas, particularly where there are children. So far as Christmas trees are concerned, transport will not prove much of a problem, but intending purchasers should buy them as soon as they can.

“Shop early for Christmas applies as much to Christmas trees as to anything else this year.”‘

The Stamford Mercury, 13th December, 1940.

An exhortation to people shopping and preparing for Christmas to consider employing others during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“A fortnight tomorrow will be Christmas-eve.

It is always difficult to keep pace with the silent march of time, and it becomes necessary to ask ourselves whether we are preparing for the inevitable Christmas rush.

In particular, let every householder and every potential employer who may be able to give out any sort of odd job think about it now. Let institutions and authorities who can organise these highly desirable attempts to make Christmas happier ask themselves what is being done and what degree of energy they are contributing to the special effort.

It is quite possible to bring a measure of brightness into many homes by a combined movement to give our temporary work which benefits also the persons for whom it is performed. A Christmas dinner earned will be doubly satisfying.

But the days are slipping by. Now is the time to make preparations.

There is a special interest this year in providing extra jobs. This is a particular appeal.

We may also help our neighbours by getting ahead with the Christmas shopping.

If we begin this week, we shall be encouraging the retailers and the wholesalers to realise that there is a brisk seasonal sale for goods and a reasonb for putting on extra hands. This means additional employment.

It is necessary to create the Christmas Shopping atmosphere as early as possible.

Crowding out the shops two or three days before the 25th does not help employment. It is too late then. Customers simply jostle each other and shop assistants get very little chance of exercising the art of real salesmanship.

Begin shopping today.

Don’t say “Christmas is coming.”

Try to think that Christmas is practically here!”

The Stamford Mercury, 9th December, 1932.

Two small paragraphs here published, but a whole wealth of history lies behind them! The Irish labourers who caused the run on sickles had come over to find work and send money back to their families in Ireland. They were suffering the terrible famine, caused by potato blight. The field fires were created by that exciting new mode of transport – the railway.

So unexpectedly great was the influx of Irish labourers at Stamford on Monday, that the stock of sickles was exhausted in all the ironmongers’ shops, and actually an implement of that sort could not be bought in the town. Next day a large fresh supply was received.

Fields or corn were set fire to at Uffington and Helpstone yesterday by railway trains running between Stamford and Peterboro’. Fortunately the damage was not great, as the fires were soon discovered.

The Stamford Mercury, 6th August, 1847

“Pepper and Salt” was a regular feature of “Gossip Grave & Gay”- a column which appeared in The Stamford Mercury during the 1930s and 40s. It was compiled by ‘Tatler’, the pseudonym of John Clare Billing, a local organist and composer.

‘ “Cold weather,” says a physician, “does the body good if you take it with the right spirit.” That’s rum.

Complaint is made of the shortage of coppers. Maybe it is due to so many beeing called up for service in the Forces.

A woman writer says that a doctor is entitled to respect. Yet lots of people put out their tongues at him.

The Minister of Agricultrue has informed farmers that he will report progress from time to time. A cereal story.

A report on a fire at the offices of a county authority states that “All Acts of Parliament were destroyed.” Unfortunately, copies have been kept.

“Just now,” said a civic transport manager the other day, “all out men are putting their shoulders to the wheel.” Not all, surely? Were not some throwing sand under it?

People in a large Midland town were said one day this week to be getting out of hand over being able to buy only a bit of meat. By this time they have taken the bit between their teeth.’

The Stamford Mercury, 9th February, 1940.

In a letter complaining about Stamford clocks and time keeping, a grazier (not Mr. A. Grazier!) points the finger at political influence. He is probably referring to the 2nd Marquis of Exeter. He was to become a controversial figure in the town later on, by interfering in the route of the railway through Stamford and charging tolls to cross the new town bridge.

Mr. Editor, – Attending the fair here to-day (Wednesday), it would have been useful to me to know how time got on, and I tried at all the public clocks which I had occasion to pass to make this important discovery: judge of my surprise when I found that St. Mary’s had stopped for three weeks, – that St. Michael’s clock, according to the dial, was an hour too slow, – that the Bedehouse clock (like St Mary’s) had stopped, – and that All Saints’ clock was, at it long had been, quite unintelligible from want of a fresh painting of the face. – These, I presume, be the signs of the Tory influence in your borough: some folk think there is nothing like keeping people in ignorance, – and that the only information given should be with the view of enabling the rich and arrogant to intimidate the poor and independent. – Things are managed better at Deeping, as I found after quitting Stamford for that place: a desire is there shown to afford conveniences to the public, and it may always be seen what time of day it is. The sages of Stamford who drove away the fairs, seem to be keeping up their title for wisdom.

Nov 9, 1836 A GRAZIER.

The Stamford Mercury, 11th November, 1836.

The “Black-out” was imposed on 1st September, 1939, but by February the following year, people were still not complying with it properly. This warning from the Mercury explains what people could do to avoid prosecution.

‘The “Black-out” is to be strictly enforced from now on and it is authoritatively stated that warnings will not be given in the future.

Housekeepers, motorists, shopkeepers and torch-flashers will be well advised to see that they comply with the law, otherwise there is bound to be a crop of prosecutions – a state of affairs which is not desired.

It should be borne in mind that a proper “black-out” for a private dwelling-house means that from the outside there should be no evidence whatever of the existence of windows when the lights are on inside. In a good many cases ill-fitting curtains or screens, or the use of material which is not a hundred per cent. light proof, are causes of complaint, and in this direction stricter enforcement of the regulations is imminent. Cracks at the side of windows, slits in curtains and other defects will have to be remedied.

There are still some motorists who have not fitted the regulation mask to their vehicles. This equipment is compulsory, and it is no longer legal to drive with the cut-out paper mask.

Chief complaint, however, is with regard to the indiscriminate use of improperly-shielded flash-lamps. Recent inspection from the air has disclosed the danger of this form of illuminant. Flash-lamps must be held so that the beam shines only on the ground and they must be screened with two sheets of paper.

All these points should be carefully watched, for by co-operation with the authorities the civilian population can contribute their quota to safe-guarding their own and other people’s lives in the case of air attack.’

The Stamford Mercury, 9th February, 1940.

An eclipse of the Sun was the subject of this very detailed report, outlining times, positions and duration of the event. It seems to predict an eclispe on Wednesday 20th December, 1826, but this has not been confirmed.

‘FOR THE MERCURY

It is three years since there was an eclipse of the Sun visible in England. One of these phenomena will happen on Wednesday the 20th inst., and will be visible to us. The eclipse will first touch the earth at the time of the sun’s rising in latitude 50 ͦ 50′ N., longitude 28 ͦ 52′ W., at 45 m. past 9 in the morning, Greenwich time. The middle will happen while the sun is in the horizon, latitude 68 ͦ 16′ N., longitude 8 ͦ 45′ East.: and at 1h. 8m. P.M., in latitude 46 ͦ N., longitude 48 ͦ 58′ E., it will quit the earth, at the time of the setting sun to traverse the boundless regions of space. This eclipse will not be central or total to any part of our globe, on account of the moon’s great north latitude (1 ͦ 2′ 34″); hence the nearest approach of the central track to the surface of the earth will be 792 miles, and which will be at 25m. past 11 in the morning. At Greenwich the eclipse will commence at 10h. 6m. A.M., the middle will be at 11h. 9m., the visible conjunction at 11h. 11m., and the end at 13m. P.M; duration 2h. 7m., and the digits obscured at the middle 6 ͦ 30′ on the sun’s northern limb, and which will incline 35 ͦ to the east of the vertical point of the solar circumference. – It will be almost six years before there will be another solar deliquium visible in this country.1

The Stamford Mercury, 24th November, 1826.

It seems this lady had become so ‘attached’ to her horned appendage (and vice versa!), that she was determined to keep it.

‘Copy of a letter addressed to Dr. B. Rush, an eminent American physician, by Mr. Geo. R. Morton, a medical practitioner at Marlborough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, dated July 18th, 1826, and published in the American Medical Review for October. – “I take the liberty to forward for you the following case of a horned woman, hoping that, from its very rare occurrence, it may not prove unacceptable. The account may be relied on, as many others besides myself have seen her, and as she resides but five miles distant from this place – Mrs. B—- aged about 76 years, the wife of a farmer of Bucks County, of a robust constitution, was affected, four years ago with a troublesome itching over the centre of the parietal bone of the left side. In a short time she perceived a hard tumour of a horny structure occupying the place thus affected, which continued to increase, so that, by the end of 12 months, it was one inch in length. Without any great pain, it has progressed in growth an inch every year, and is at present four inches in length, and as thick as one’s little finger. It is not attached to the bone, but is evidently an affection of the cuticle, commencing with a granular hour glass- shaped tumour of three eighths of an inch in length, from which the horn abruptly rises.

After growing straight for one inch and three-quarters, it takes a sprial direction, and has completed nearly a circular turn and a half horizontally about the diameter of a quarter dollar piece. In appearance it so closely resembles the horn of a buck sheep, that was it placed near a real sheep’s horn, it would be difficult to distinguish between them. It is of the same colour, a dingy yellow; is as perfectly hard; and has all the rings natural to a horn of that animal, tapering also, as it does, to the end. As is occasions no pain,excpet when a blow compresses its heavy base between the horn and the bone – as it is perfectly concealed by her head-dress, and on account of what is of far more moment with her, a superstitious belief that it is a judgement from above for some of her manifold sins, she persists all persuasion to have it removed.”‘

The Stamford Mercury, 24th November, 1826.

Local school events to celebrate Christmas are reported here. All the children behaved very well, but then buns and plum cake were good bribes!

STAMFORD AND ST. MARTIN’S INFANT SCHOOL –

An examination of the children of this school took place in the presence of their parents, of the Mayor (who is president of the institution), of the committee and visitors, on Monday last,and a more interesting exhibition it was impossible to witness. The most perfect silence having been obtained at the sound of the teacher’s bell,the children commenced by singing a simple hymn, which was followed by the form of daily prayer used at the school, in which they all joined. Another hymn was then sung, and was succeeded by what is called “actions”, a rapid movement of the hands and feet, the object of which was to keep up the attention. After this, the alphabet and easy combinations of the letters were sung,- a practice found to be very effectual in impressing on the memory the right spelling of the words,on the principle, we conceive, that no letter can be left out by the child, without being out of time. They were then examined in their multiplication , pence, and farthing tables,and recited various pieces of poetry adapted to their comprehension, and this part of the proceedings was concluded by another hymn. Buns and milk were then given to each child, and presents of handkerchiefs and work bags,made up by themselves, bestowed on those girls who best deserved them. The schoolroom was crowded with the parents and friends of the children, who appeared to take the deepest interest in what was going forward. The holidays are to last a fortnight, at the expiration of which we look forward to a large addition to the number of scholars. There are now 134 names on the boards.

STAMFORD GIRLS NATIONAL SCHOOL.-

On Friday last the girls belonging to this school were regaled with tea and plum cake, as a reward for their general good conduct since the last holidays. The number of children present was 114, four only being absent from ill health. After tea, prayers were said by one of the senior girls,and a considerable portion of the school joined in singing a hymn in a very pleasing manner. The children seemed highly gratified with their treat,and their neat and cleanly appearance reflected great credit upon their parents, as did their orderly behaviour upon the mistress of the school. This excellent institution has derived very material support from an annual ball, and we trust that the one we understand is shortly to take place for this purpose will be as numerously attended as usual.

The Stamford Mercury, 27th December, 1833.

A couple tried to get one over the Lord Mayor and parish officers of Bishopsgate, causing some hilarity at the Mansion House, but the Beadle and Lord Mayor saw through them. The newspaper reports some of the conversation in the vernacular; note the pronunciation of Vs and Ws.

“MODEST REQUEST. – At the Mansion-house on Monday, the overseers of a parish were summoned by Mary Gush, a young woman who has been almost from her infancy a dependant upon parochial bounty. She stated that now she had an opportunity of making herself happy and independent for life, the parish officers of Bishopsgate refused to do their duty, in helping her out of her present degraded state. She had been “off and on” at the workhouse for 15 or 16 years, and at last a gentleman in the carpentering line, named Bill Flockton, axed her to be his wife: as she was tired of a single life, and Mr. Flockton had a matter of 14s. a week, she consented, and she applied to the parish-officers for their consent, but they refused (laughter). – The Lord Mayor – I didn’t know that the parish officers had the power to prevent you. – The Beadle said he never attempted to exercise any any such authority, but as these marriages generally aded to the burdens of the parish, he ought not to encourage them. – Miss Gush – Please you, my Lord, I don’t want to be no burden to the parish. I wants to cut it altogether, and I’m blessed if ever I soil a pump in the workus again. – The Lord Mayor – But if the gentleman you love really loves you, why doesn’t he take you off at once and marry you?- Flockton- Why, my Lord, you see when a man goes for to give himself to a voman wot comes off the parish, they gives a summut jist for to begin the world with: now, these here gentlemen won’t give no sich a thing, and they couldn’t expect I’d take a poor creetur like this ere to be my wife without a summut for a fort’n, for I a’nt a living man if I a’nt able to eat all my own wittles myself (laughter). – The Beadle – Their object is merely to get a pound or two, and to spend it in drunkenness. – Miss Gush – What a thundering lie! (a laugh). My Lord, this here dirty old Beadle wants to prevent people from being modest and wirtuous. It’s a shame to let such willains live – they deserve to be hanged up without judge or jury. Don’t they, Bill? (laughter). – Flockton – And no mistake. Please you, my Lord, it is this sort of consarn as sends so many poor creatures upon the streets what havn’t got no house nor home, nor nothing, barrin the flags for to stretch their bones upon. – The Lord Mayor – I am afraid that if the parish were to give you a fortune, you would not do much good with it. The lady’s voice seems to be rather affected, and it really sounds in my ears as if gin was the cause of it. (The young woman’s voice had that hoarseness which excessive drinking, if it will not give, is sure to perpetuate.) – Flockton – No, my Lord, the creetur got cold by sleeping in the open hair. – The Lord Mayor – I can’t compel the parish officers to give you a fortune. – Miss Gush – What, not a lousy two pound ten! Then I’m blessed if we don’t find a way to burden the parish without marrying at all; won’t us, Bill? – Flockton – Blowed if we don’t (loud laughter). – This promising couple then moved off, the carpentering gentleman having put on his hat before he left the room, while the Lord Mayor assured them that if they were ever brought before him for any offence, he should not forget their conduct that day. – It was stated that they have lived together in Petticoat-lane for the last twelve months.”

Stamford Mercury, 27th December, 1833.