NINETY YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 223, 20 June 1925, Page 20

NINETY YEARS AGO

MEMORIES OF MRS. HALDANE

The death of Mrs. Haldane (the mother of Lord Haldane), who was born a hundred years ago, was recently announced by cable. The “Spectator” publishes Mrs. Haldane’s reminiscences

—a remarkable and most interesting article, considering the age of the writer. The lucidity and vivacity of her recollections must win universal admiration tor Mrs. Haldane:— “I was boru at Rotherfield, in Sussex, on April 9, 1825, but the death of my grandiather, Sir Thomas Burcion, caused the family to move to Northumberland whilst 1 was still very young, lhe only mode of travelling was by driving, and my sister and I were sent under the charge of my mother’s maid and our nurse in a curricle, drawn by a pair of thoroughbred horses, after resting for a day or two in London. A curricle is a carriage in shape like a phaeton, but a bar rests on tbc backs of the horses instead of having a splinter bar. When we arrived at mv late grandfather’s house there was a chain across the approach, which both horses leapt, managing to bring the carriage behind them. The journey took ten days; in the present day it takes six and a half hours. “The education of young children was, in those days, very strict. I was sometimes shut up in a garret, where were kept a pink hunting coat belonging to my father, and also a white satin flag embroidered witli the words, 'Liddell for ever,’ which was carried at the back of my grandfather’s carriage during the election of 1826. Mr. Liddell, of Ravensworth, contested the county in the Conservative interest. Children were, in those days, threatened with ‘Boney’ (Bonaparte; in tlie nuisery if they misbehaved, and there was still a strong feeling against the French. My father was major in the I'yne Hussars, volunteers, wiio provided their own horses and equipment. My gramilatner was lieuten-ant-colonel. Lord Darlington raised the regiment for the defence of the country at the tinn. when French invasion was feared. The Duke of Wellington reviewed the regiment, and expressed himself as highly pleased with its appearance. “We children were taken from ou, cribs about 7 a.ni., aud plunged overhead by two nurses in a bath ol cold water. Lessons were carried on vigorously with a governess, and I learned to read at three years of age. Thu multiplication table and French verbs were repeated whilst holding a backboaid, and with uUi feet m the stocks, which stocks were specially made by ihe joiner. One wonders what would be said to such things now 1 We little girls soon realised the preference given to sons, since when on. tathei laid the loundation stone of his new house only the brother’s name was inscribed, and not ours. The garden was the great source of interest, especially as the gardener was an exceptionally intelligent man. When tulips were introduced he cultivated them most successfully, as well as many other flowers, such 'as dSuble stocks—then rare. “When just eight or ten years of age I read through Voltaire’s histories of 'Louis XIV,’ aud T’eter the Great,’ and looked up all the French words I did not know and wrote them out. A little later there was read aloud to us Hume’s and Smollett’s History, as well as Buchanan’s, Rollin’s and others, likewise Mitford’s ‘Greece,’ wliile in the evening my father read aloud Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost.’ Cowper’s ‘Task,’ Macaulay’s 'History of England’ and Dryden’s works. With an Italian master we read the works of Tasso and Mctastasio. Our education was good, inasmuch as we read classical works and not text books. What we read then has remained in my mind till this day. “Boys’ schools were very different

frotn those of the present day. . I have known a cousin return ' from school black and blue from bruises inflicted by the cane, and a companion of his lived for three days up a chimney in hiding A girl cousin was punished by being locked in a barn and fed on bread aiid water.

We can hardly be grateful enough to Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte

for exposing these evils. But what touched our hearts most as children was to hear of the boys who were sent up chimneys to sweep them, and who often stuck fast with disastrous results, and of those who were laid hold of and made to serve aboard ship. In tlie colliery villages conditions were good, the houses well built, and usuallv well furnished and clean. Education was appreciated, and the Methodist movement took a great hold of the people. “In the year 1832 cholera visited the British Isles. It was an unknown disease, and perplexed the medical faculty. There was a case in an adjoining farm house, which my mother visited, and we children were given port wine and ale to strengthen our systems against attack—remedies to which we did not object. In those days children were always given a mug of ale at dinner time.

“1832 was memorable for the passing of the Reform Bill, and I distinctly remember the burst of feeling aroused by the news. It came bv the Chevy Chase coach, which ran between Newcastle and Edinburgh, and the coach stopped at my father’s gate to let the assembled people hear the wonderful tidings. A great part of the year was spent in the north of the country, as my father was fond of sport. My mother had a large household to provide for, as well as manv horses and dogs, and being fluite out’of the range of markets, there were six oxen .and twenty sheep slaughtered during the year to supply the wants of the establishment. Ari ox was killed at Christmas, and divided into joints for distribution among the people of the village. Three days twice a year were spent by the butler in brewing ale, and the housekeeper made currant and elderflower wine. Once the old butler fell out of out favour, and we children pulled the bung out of the barrel. For this we were all made to beg his pardon. Of course, all baking was done at home. We rode a great deal with the coachman, who occasionally went into a public house called The Leg of Mutton to get a glass of beer. 'Our pleasure was to elude him and get out of his sight. "The first locomotive was a curious grass-hopper-looking machine that made a tremendous noise, and If our onies came nnywher. - near it thev at •■•co made off m terror. We drove vitli our mother to see the first balloon •scend, and were greatly excited over the event. T was much impressed also bv seeing the treadmill of the Newcastle orison, a barbarous form of punishment. “When about six years old we wore white cambric frocks in the morning with low necks and short sleeves, and broad blue o» pink sashes tied behind. Out of doors we wore spencers of cambric muslin with frills round the waist and long, sleeves and collars and cuffs. Drawn silk bonnets were worn with net caps covering the head and bordered 'Till! tiny roses or babv ribbon, which was very becoming. ’ It would not have been considered proper to have worn hats without caps. In winter pelisses and beaver bonnets were worn.

"I remember the pride we had in our black. and white gingham frocks

which we wore as mourning Wn». George IV. died in 1830. Like all gentlemen, my father wore stays in hunting. Sty mother wore a large white or blue satin hat in the evening, with long bird of paradise feathers hanging from it.

“It was the custom then for young people never to enter a room where there were strangers or visitors without dropping a curtsey, and they also addressed their elders respectfully as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am.’ Nor were we allowed to speak till we were spoken to. “The winter of 1838 was exceptionally severe, and the Thames was frozen over and tents erected on it. The illness and subsequent death of Lord Eldon, my father’s uncle, with whom he had been much associated, took my parents to Lo;idou, and we children hail a very dull time at home with our governess, seeing no one from outside but a writing master, who also taught us arithmetic. 'lhe only occasion on which I saw Lord El lon was when he was visiting his property in Yorkshire, and we were making our annual visit to Harrogate. I can remember in liuii vear unving fifteen miles to Cambo in an open dog-cart to meet a dentist from Newcastle at an inn. We had to drive over tlie bleak moors during a snow storm, and not far from tlie roadside on a gibbet was hanging the' effigy of a tramp named Winter, who had murdered an old woman in a cottage in sight of the place. I can remember the clanking of the chains to this day. “In 1839 I was seriously ill, and the countrv doctor (the only one in a large district) was sent for. He was dressed in a bright green frock coat with brass buttons, and wore cordurov riding breeches and boots. His medical treatment was limited to bleeding, and when he came in he said to me, ‘Would ye like to be bluided?’ which operation he immediatelv performed, after which ‘list’ (the selvedge of flannel) was applied to stop the bleeding, which was excessive. At first he said he could not find the vein because I was too fat, but he succeeded too well in the end! The treatment left me weak, and a change to Edinburgh was recommended.

“The journey was performed in a travelling chariot with post horses, and on arriving at the hotel in St. Andrew’s Square we found it to be full, and lodgings were taken. Un- ! fortunately it was a fast day, and no food was to be had for weary travellers, i but by begging and borrowing. At i another lodging in Princes Street (supposed to be very good), the maid servant went barefoot, and when sent I next door to the baker’s shop for rolls i she came back witli the message: j ‘Maister Mackie wunna gie them withloot the siller!” In those days ladies ■ still went out in the evening in Edinburgh in Sedan chairs. “In the north of Northumberland the farm houses were usually thatched, and a large duck pond was often situated at the door contiguous to a heap of manure, which did not seem to affect tlie health of the inmates. As there were frequently no roads, but merely i cart tracks, it was customary for the I farmer and his wife to ride together on ! horseback in pillion fashion, she holding tightly by her arms round her | husband’s 'waist. In this manner they went to church. One good wife was so | annoyed by her husband’s drunkenness ; and ill-treatment of her that she sent ; for a neighbouring gentleman of a very i powerful build, and he promptly took | tlie man' in his arras and immersed ‘ him in tlie duck pond! Drunkards i were at that time regularly put into stocks, and I have seen them so lying on the village green at Elsdon. “Ov looking back I realise how wonderful tlie changes have been since my birth, when it was almost impossible for a poor man to make his way in the { world, and even for one of moderate means to occupy anv position of importance. There were barriers every, where, and the influence of the great was required to place children in any good position. Ypung as I was, I was impressed by tlie overbearing manners of the higher classes, so called, and the unnecessary display of wealth and power. 'The flood gates were open for j tlie first time in 1832, and never since j has the current stopped. Only three professions were considered fit for a gentleman—tlie church, bar, and army or naw. As regards the army, excluding infantry officers, it cost about £5OO to get a son into a good legiment. The condition of the working classes in the centre and south of England was deplorable. Au agricultural labourer had - to support a family on 9s. a week, and I pav for a cottage, probably a very inj sanitary one. ‘Those ini] risoiied for debt were in a terrible plight, had they no friends to help them. Aly mother as a' child visited Newgate with Elizabeth Frv, a friend of her mother’s, saw the prisoners lying in chains or. the straw, and never forgot the sight. Lunatics and even ordinary sick people had but scant attention compared to the present day. We ewe much to the work of the Society of Friends for ameliorating the condition of the poor and helping in time of famine, and we mav be thankful that our lot has been cast in happier days as far as the masses of the people are concerned, end feel grateful to those whose work brought these changes to pass “Nintev vears ago even good people did not realise what was due to those less fortunately circumstanced than themselves, and serious abuses existed and little protest was made Poaching was a crime, and though the mantrap with its crocodile teeth was supposed to be abolished in 1527, I can remember seeing one in use in Aorkshire. Stephenson’s first locomotive, which I recollect well, was made in the year of my birth, and was used to carry coal from the pit’s mouth. “The industrial revolution was transforming England, and causing much misery in tlie process in manufacturing districts. The Established Church was dead, but there was a great movement arising outside it just as there was an educative movement through the mechanics’ institutes. There were few schools, end my mother established one of her own for girls in the neighbourhood. I was to see a complete change in affairs educational, political, social and religious during my long life, and I am glad to know and testify that on the whole the changes have been for the better.”