WILL CROOK’S SORE ARM

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3467, 20 October 1913, Page 3

WILL CROOK’S SORE ARM

A FAMILY SECRET OUT. "When the story of the vaccination adventures of the British inAustralia were related in England there was divulged an interesting Ijtr tie family secret relating to Mr W id Crooks. Mr Crooks was one of the three members of the party who objected to vaccination, but understanding that without undergoing the operation they could not land in Sydney overcame their scruples. The news that her husband had submitted to vaccination was duly conveyed to Mrs Crooks at her home m Poplar. “Oh, lam so glad,” she said . “Now Will will be able to land instead of coming straight back, as one of the papers said he would have to if he did not consent.” Explaining why her husband resisted vaccination, Mrs Crooks discloses! a domestic secret. “Will, she remarked, “is just a little impatient, perhaps a little afraid, as his flesh heals badly. He did not object to the children and myseli beino- vaccinated during the smallpox scare 12 years ago. lie said, “P ease yourself; if you like to have it done, have it done, but I won’t be vaccinated.’ As at that time my husband was a member of the County Council and the Metropolitan Asylums Board. I was able to see the returns, and J noticed that vaccinated people did not seem so liable to attack as t,ose who were unvaccinatcd, so I bad the six children and myself done.” . This incident caused Mrs Crooks to recall an example of Poplar humor. “At that time.” she said, “everyone who was vaccinated wore a piece ot ribbon on the bad arm to warn TH'op.e not to knock against it. We had to tie the ribbon on the wrong arm, loi people about hero used, to make a point of banging into us,”