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Whitehaven Gazette - Thursday, April 22, 1897
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STRAY NOTES continued....................................

It is a most singular thing that it falls to my lot to find fault so often,
and in this instance the fault that I have to find is in the position of the
offeratory box at the door of Christ Church.  It is so high and awkward to
get at that the congregation is delaying in coming out through its anxiety
to get the penny in the slot.

On Easter Sunday the attendance at Church in town and country was good, but
whether this was due to extra sanctity or a desire to sport one's new
clothes I can't say, but it is a fact that Easter Sunday attracts folks to
church.

Down Drigg way I am told that they had no less than four services on that
day, and each was heralded by the ringing of a brace of bells which made
such a noise that a farmer residing close by said he was glad his potatoes
had not come up, else it might have had an injurious effect upon them.

Easter Sunday was most appropriately selected for opening the
recently-erected organ at Seascale, and MR. HELDER, M. P., responded to an
invitation to be present and further contribute to the fund.  I understand
that MR. DUNCOMBE would have been present also had he been in the district.

MR. HELDER, who generally has considerable demand for his services when his
parliamentary duties allow him to be with his constituents, is escaping
pretty well this time what would be to most men an infliction, but which is
with him an easy task that of opening bazaars and presiding at public
meetings and entertainments.

However, I see that his name is attached to the programme of the concert to
be held on the 27th inst. at the Oddfellows' Hall in connection with the
lawn tennis club, and  of course he will be at the dramatic entertainment
that comes off to-night under the auspices of the Primrose dames, who are
always sure of his support, presence, and approval.

I met one of the churchwardens of Gosforth the other day, and in the course
of a conversation he told me that as a general rule when a "church-maister"
ceased to occupy that position, he ceased to attend church.  This is rather
unaccountable, but he gave me several instances in his own parish.

Perhaps the prominence and honour attached to the taking up of collections
may have something to do with it, as I have observed that such church
officials when they are out of office are not so frequent and regular in
attendance at service, but at Gosforth it seems that when a churchwarden
goes out of office, he shakes off the dust of the church at its door.

In some parts of the country, farmers don't work on Good Friday, and treat
it as a day of rest for man and beast, but up in this district they don't
seem to make any difference between this and any other day, and a fair
amount of ploughing was done on Friday last.

Writing about ploughing reminds me of something I once heard in Canada to
the effect that Englishmen did not know how to plough, and latterly I have
arrived at the same conclusion myself, for most of the ploughing I have seen
this season has been wretchedly slow work.

In Canada the men and horses step out briskly and don't waste so much time
at the headriggs.  Why you might just as well plough with oxen as with
horses here, for they would get on quite as quickly with as good results and
in addition save the feed and time given to the horses which cost ten times
the expense of oxen to keep in condition.

In the breeding of draught horses, attention should be paid to quick
stepping, for horses with a slouching gait are a proper nuisance to ride,
drive, or, more particularly, to lead.  To have to drag a horse along the
road, as I saw a farmer do the other day down Bootle way, must be very
trying.

Far too many West Cumberland farmers encourage their horses to creep along
when ploughing, and resent their moving at the same pace when housing hay or
hauling manure.  This creeping ploughing is bad for the horses and for the
men, and causes the loss of a lot of most valuable time.

The Unionist meeting at Millom on Tuesday evening was a great success.  MR.
DUNCOMBE's convincing statements being received without a single dissentient
voice.  In fact, it seemed that all present, whether Radical or
Conservative, felt the truth of what was said, and were perfectly satisfied.

Judging from the faces of the listeners, MR. DUNCOMBE had a most intelligent
audience, and though the enthusiasm was not so pronounced as at Radical
meetings, it was evident that a lasting impression was made that the
opinions expressed were approved and appreciated.
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