THE LOST CHANT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1929, Page 8

THE LOST CHANT

“PEACH BLOSSOM CHARLIE.”

A printer who, signing himself “Your Peach Blossom Charlie,” addressed ecstatic letters to his “Dearest Angel May,” was, by the finding of an unemotional jury at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Court, ordered to pay the young woman £2IG damages for breach of

promise. Tho pair were Charles Edward Chant, of Kimberley Road,, Tottenham, and Miss May Ellen Last, of Chestnut Road, Tottenham. She was 22 and he was 24. They mei; in February, 1926, and by August in the same year. Mr. Chant, according to letters read in court, was chanting to the lady in this fashion: — “Dearest Angel May—Do you know it is very foolish to cry over a boy. You seem to take every little thing 1 say to heart, don’t you? That’s silly, darling, because you know I don’t mean it. ... “Still, darling, roll on next year. Two weeks with angel. Oh, girl, I shall go mad. With fondest love, your loving boy Charley.” That was very wellj but “Charley” improved on it in subsequent epistles. “I am waiting for 6 o’clock so I can get home and read one of angel’s letters. I am simply going off my nappcr pining for you, darling. ... I was right down. Still, they say you never miss the good little angels until they are gone. . . .Still, the time will come ono of these days when Angel May is all mine for keeps. I think I am really the luckiest boy in the world to have you. Cheerio, sweetheart, darling Kiddie.”

In another letter the ardent young man disclosed his dissatisfaction with the limitation in limbs which Providence has imposed on human beings. He oven envies the octopus, for reasons which will appear. A friend had thought he looked “down,” and asked: “Hello, lad. What’s the matter? Has she given you up?” He wrote: “What a shock that would be for me if you did. Oh, darling, I really think I should die. “Never mind —everything will come right in the end, when you are married , just you and I. . . . You saw the octopus. I’d like to have as many arms as the octopus. Just think how I could squeeze you.” That letter was signed “Your loving sweetheart” and “peach blossom Charlie,” as were a number of others in which the lady was alternatively described as “a proper blessing,” a flower of the desert,” of a “beauty far beyond, apprehension,” and “a proper guiding star.” Then came a graver note. Counsel said that during 1928 the parties met practically every day. Before the end of October or at the beginning of November he proposed to her, and gave her an engagement ring. Almost immediately the fire of his love began to die down ,and in January he broke off the engagement. There was an occasion later on when 'he promised to meet her, but never kept the- appointment. In March plaintiff wrote to him, but he never replied to that letter. The plaintiff gave evidence in sup-' port of her counsel’s statement, and said it was arranged that they should marry at Christmas time. Plaintiff said she . bought a number of things foi\the home. The defendant denied that his income was as alleged by the plaintiff (£350 a year), but the jury awarded the girl £216 by way of damages.