OLD DAYS AND OLD WAYS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 May 1938, Page 10

OLD DAYS AND OLD WAYS

VICTORIAN MEMORIES. The great changes that have been wrought in a comparatively short time are well set forth, in the following letter, written by Airs Eleanor Black-11 aw kins. Walt on-ou-Thames, and published in Um "Sunday Time*.” London: — 1 am nearly ninety years of age. and ihi' following summary of “Old Days and Old Ways" max' Im of interest io my contomporarie;; as recalling to them (heir own memories of .->• past. My earliest recollect ion is of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and I have a very large framed coloured engraving of a. portion of the interior, with tiie visitors in their old-fashioned attire. My next recollection is of the death of the Duke of Weilingtmi, in 1852. 1 remember, too. the outbreak' of ihi Crimean War. in 1,851. and the work parties held for the making of supplies of drossings. eic., io Im -.mm to iho scat of war.

Among “Ohl Ways" 1 remember women going about, wearing woodi”: yokes with pail;'. of milk hanging on each. side. I remember sweeps being accompar ied by little boys who wore sent, up the chimneys and the popular street song of the day. “Pop Goes the Weasel."

I remember when husbands and wives walked out. arm-in-arm. and men on reaching their scats in church, stood holding (heir hats in front oi lie.-ir faces for a second or two. Also, when at funerals, the hearses and horses were decked with black, plumes and mon in long cloaks and high hats draped with long crepe scarves in their hand.-'., stood as mutes on the doorsUp of the house from which the funeral was taking place. 1 remember “General" Toni Thumb ami his wife and her sister, and the miniature State coach in which they used to drive about. 1 knew Lady Noel Byron, wife or the poet, also the Rev. 11. Al. Wagner, the vicar of Brighton, who was- formerly tutor to the old Duke of Wellington’s sons. 1 have conversed with members' of mv own family, survivors of the Parties of Trafalgar and Waterloo and of El Bodon, Badajos and Cuidad Rodrigo in 1812.