A COCKNEY ECCENTRIC

Evening Star, Issue 16351, 17 February 1917, Page 8

A COCKNEY ECCENTRIC

A quaint personality Inis disappeared from East End lite by tbe death at. Ratcliff recently, at tile ago, of 84 years, of William Onions, known ur and wide as ‘'Spring Onions. ’ i3y his own admission he first got drunk when he was 13 yours old, and the rentier at frequent intervals he was brought rp before the magistrate for drunkenness and assaulting tho police—never, he prided himself, for felony. When the tale of hij appearances at the police conn, had reached the 500 th timo be came under the influence ot the Clrm'cb Array and became a teetotaller. He look an intense prido in making Ids reformation as widely known as hie farmer delinquencies, and 'at regular inter, vals publicly reported progress, usually Ui Hr Zdoad, at 'Thames Police Court. Os these occasions he invariably recited versti of his own composition ns corroborative evidence of his continued sobriety. One of these efforts began: “Oh, Mr' Mead, sir, dash it, stow it.” On the death of Kiag Christian IX. of Ttenmark tn 1906 ho sent a poem of sympathy to Queen Alexandra, and his proudest possession was the loiter of thanks he received in reply.

“My mother-in-law must catch that train, driver, so hurry up.” “You can count on me, sir. I shall drive as if she were my own.” 1 ,■ 1 he fact 'is I married boj can c- 1 was lonely as much, as for any i other reason, J married for sympathy. Bowls; “ \\clL you have