Author: secretary

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.

A Mr. R. W. L. wrote to the Editor from Peterborough enclosing this poem, about simplicity which he believed was “not inapplicable to the times”.

~~~~~~~~~~

PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY

'An old Maiden Aunt, whose locks, white as snow, 
Proclaim'd she was young some half cent'ry ago,
With significant nods and remarks very shrewd,
Thus accosted her niece, a gay, volatile nude:
"How degenerate the times - I remember the days
"When ladies wore handkerchiefs, aprons, and stays,
"And nobody dreamt of your muslins and lace;
"The virtue received an indelible speck
"If a female display'd but the top of her neck;
"But, now, you all show what was meant to be hid -
"Pray why can't you dress as your grandmothers did?"
"Dear Aunt, so I do; why don't you perceive
"We follow the fashion of grandmother Eve?
"If your argument's good, we can never be blam'd,
"Like her we go naked -
(Aunt) . . . . . . . . . .  . ."And are not asham'd!"'

Stamford Mercury, 16th August, 1816.

‘The law is an ass.‘ Well, if these strange examples are to be believed, then Mr Bumble was correct! Let us hope that such inconsistencies have since been rectified.

“INCONSISTENCY OF THE LAW – If a man has a leg broken by a carriage, the law allows a deodand to his wife and children; but if he be killed, they have no compensation. – If a man grows cabbages or potatoes, the horses employed in cultivation his fields are taxed; but if he grows wheat or barley, his horses are not liable to the highest taxation: because, says the law, cultivating a field for the growth of cabbages or potatoes is not agriculture. – If a journeyman butcher happen to be employed on any occasion in serving in his master’s shop, the master is liable to pay tax for a shopman; but if a journeyman baker be so employed, his master is not so liable, because, says the law, the baker is a manufacturer, and the butcher is not.

At Union-hall, on Friday, one of the toll-collectors in the Kent-road was summoned for demanding toll for a post chaise, which was used in the conveyance of convicts to Woolwich. The toll-collector said he was aware that waggons and carts used for the conveyance of prisoners were exempt from toll, but he considered that a post-chaise was liable. The magistrate said, that all descriptions of vehicles used for the purpose above-mentioned were exempt from the payment of turnpike tolls. The defendant, therefore, refunded the toll and was fined in the mitigated penalty of 5s.”

The Stamford Mercury, 23rd November, 1827.

Henry Clay was a U.S. attorney and politician who represented Kentucky in congress and served as secretary of state under President John Quincy Adams.  His opponents in the press used a ‘picture’ to draw attention to his failings.

The Americans are indeed a funny sort of people. The following is one of the many specimens of the numerous plans adopted by the newspapers opposed to the election of Henry Clay to the Presidential chair, and intended to ridicule him. There is a cut in the paper from which we copy it, representing Mr Clay’s coat of arms, with the words “shoot lower” across it, and “war, pestilence, and famine;” at one corner four or five playing cards, and at the opposite end a pistol cocked. At the head he is represented firing at his opponent, and a bottle in the centre of the assailant marked “brandy”.                       

(From The Lorain Republican.)

THE “EMBODYMENT.”

“Henry Clay, the living personification and embodiment of Whig principles.”  Whig address.  IN 1777 born:  In 1805, quarrelled With Col. Davis of Kentucky, which led to his first duel:  In 1808, he challenged Humphrey Marshall and fired three times at his heart:  In 1825, he CHALLENGED the great John Randolph, and fired once at his heart, but without effect:  In 1838, he planned the CHILLEY DUEL, by which A MURDER was perpetrated, AND a Wife made a MANIAC.  In the year 1811, when 65 years old, and grey Headed, is under 5000 dollars BONDS to KEEP THE P EACE!!  At the age of 29 he PERJURED HIMSELF to secure a Seat in the United States senate; and again, in 1824, he made an INFAMOUS BARGAIN with John Quincy Adams, by which HE SOLD OUT For a £1200 a year Office.  He is also generally well known as a GAMBLER AND  SABBATH BREAKER.  His POLITICS are precisely and exactly those of the Hartford convention federalist: OPPOSED to EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL LAWS; and in favour of MONOPOLISING LAWS and chartered privileges.  Also he sustains the ferocious Algerines in their deeds of  BLOOD AND MURDER.

Stamford Mercury, 8th November, 1844.

Some more from the occasional series of beauty tips, all of which are quite innocuous compared with the previous tips.  Tincture of myrrh is still in use today.

“TINCTURE OF MYRRH makes a delightful mouth wash, and has a beneficial effect in tightening up the gums if the teeth become loose through age or ill-health.

UPPER ARMS which are disfigured with unsightly ‘gooseflesh’ may be restored to beauty by bandaging with pads soaked in warm almond oil after scrubbing with hot water and a loofah.  Repeat nightly until an improvement is effected.

VINEGAR is often useful to remove stains from the nails.  A tablespoon added to the last rinsing water after a shampoo makes the hair soft and glossy.

WHITE OF EGG is a useful expedient for removing ‘that tired look’, for it tightens up wrinkles and ‘crow’s feet’.  Paint it lightly over the face with a pad of cotton wool, and allow it to dry.  After about 15 minutes remove it with luke-warm water and rinse with cold water.

YELLOW patches often appear around the mouth if the liver is out of order.  The juice of a lemon in a glass of hot water every morning instead of that early morning cup of tea will soon restore the complexion to its natural pink and white beauty.”

Stamford Mercury, 26th February, 1932.

 

Alexander Cumming patented his design for a water-closet in 1775.  However, it was found that the water could freeze in cold weather.  Joseph Bramah, an installer of these flush toilets, improved the design.  It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that they became widely used.  Here is an early advertisement.

“PRICE FIVE GUINEAS.

New Invented Water-Closet.

THO. SCOTT, Plumber, ENGINE and WATER-CLOSET maker, MARKET-HARBORO’, Leicestershire,

Begs leave to inform the Nobility, Gentry, and the Public in general, that he makes and sells WATER-CLOSETS, upon a very simple Construction, which act without Valve, Plug, Slide, or Cock, and hold a certain Quantity of Water in the Basons; warranted to keep sweet and clean; not liable to be frozen, or out of order from Paper, which is so common in Water-closets.

N.B. Very good Allowance to Plumbers, Surveyors, Builders, &c. – All Letters duly answered.”

Stamford Mercury, 8th August, 1800.