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Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12454, 2 February 1909, Page 4

The Eev W. H. Egerton, rector ol WhiteohurGh, Salop, who. retires at ' the end of the present month, having held the living: for the long period oi : sixty odd years, has been interviewed by : a : representative of the "Daily Chronicle." He says: Sixty years ago whitewash was the chief church decoration, and high pews with moth eaten curtains nearly filled the buildings. These were let or sold to the well to do and the poor had to be content with, a few narrow benches near the door. A deal table with a moth eaten baize covering served for Holy Communion, which was only administered four times a year. In ,; many churches the stone font was the : receptacle for such rubbish as candles and the then indispensible tinder box. The services were long' and dreary ,■ but few and far between, the church doors being closed from Sunday to" Sunday. The air was that of a * charnol house, and tlie surplices became damp and mouldy. There was plenty of music, for the violin, bassoon, and a big black instrument coiled like a serpent were all in use. The dog whipper's seat was below the pulpit, and I remember how that official was tb'* terror of children who j stood it> the aisle to be catechised during Lent. ■ ■.. :

Mr James Douglas says novels are written by the idle for the idle, by the indolent for the indolent, by the pampered : for ' the. pampered; To write a love story you must be over fod and over dressed ,underbred and underworked.' A dose of poverty would' cure every broken heart in fiction. ' .■■■.'■••■