THE BUGLE BAND, BRIDESCOMBE, 1892

In 1892 The Bugle Band of  Exeter's (primarily)  First Rifle Volunteers,  (of which the City should be  inordinately proud and to which stands a Harry Hems memorial in Northernhay Gardens) was in camp, together with the rest of the Devonshire Brigade, at Bridestowe.  As so often with the Volunteers there seems to have been a holiday atmosphere, although reportedly their military exercises went well enough on the slopes of Dartmoor.  The reporter of The Western Times of 9th August 1892, tells how:  

"The principal amusement of the men in Camp seemed to be what I will call "Infantry Tent Pegging" and to the initiated I may say that the modus operandi is as follows.A tent peg is driven into the ground, and the operator, armed with a mallet, having been blindfolded, takes six paces to his front turns about and takes five paces forward, he then lets out with the mallet, his efforts being greeted with merriment according to his nearness or otherwise of the mark."

What larks!, but to return to the Bugle Band:

"Whilst on the humourous side of the camp I may say that Bugle-Major Bourke, the genial conductor of the 1sr R.V. Bugle Band has again this year been the recipient of a present from his "boys".  It has taken the form of a drum-major's staff, and is a splendid specimen of the mountain ash,  It was elaborately and tastefully decorated with heather &c.and forcibly reminded one of the gorgeous pole which used to be carried by "Forward-on" when "Possession-day" was in its glory."

Possession-day was Ascension-day when the Bluecoat Boys famously beat the bounds of the City of Exeter.  It was by now, in 1892, just a memory.  "Forward-on, I assume, was the name  that had traditionally been given to the 'captain' who led the beaters and who famously carried a gorgeous pole decked with flowers.  Perhaps "Forward-on!" was also what was was shouted as they made their progress.

SILLY BISHOP BICKERSTETH, EXETER, 1885

The new Bishop of Exeter, Bishop Edward Bickersteth, was distribruting Bishop Phillpott's Prayer-book prizes to  the lucky pupil-teachers who had won them in a religious-knowledge examination. He made a speech in which, according to the report of The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 5th June 1885, he said"

"It was very gratifying to him that the first public meeting in which he was permitted to take part in the city was for religious education. (Applause)  Education without religion, what was it?  He remembered once attending a meeting where an advocate was very strongly supporting secular education, and he said, "Educate, educate, and you will win the day."  His lordship's father, who was sitting by his side, whispered into his ear, "Educate them as much as you will you will never make them so clever as the devil." His lordship thought there was profound truth in that rematk, for religion and education should go hand in hand." (Applause)

"....His lordship went to America once and, with his friend Mr. Hoare, went into a school one day and asked the childen how they came over.  "Steamer, sir," was the reply.  "Yes" they said and his friend then asked if they did not know of One who came over the sea wthout boat or steamer?  The mistress walked up to him and said, "I am very sorry, but I cannot allow that question to be put in this school; nothing must be mentioned in this school which bears upon religion, and that bears upon Christ walking upon the water."  Thus they saw that if once they banished religion from education to what lengths it might go."

God bless America! 

(It is an intriguing image: Christ, or anyone, crossing the Atlantic on foot.)

THE GRACE OF RESIGNATION, EXETER, 1875.

 The Western Times of  29th May 1875 reported that year's exhibition of the Devon and Exeter Botanical and Horticultural Society: 

"The hundred and thirty-eighth exhibition of the above Society was held yesterday afternoon on Northernhay.  Its usual fortune attended it - that is if what everybody said is to be taken as true - it rained in the forenoon, but happily it did not continue to the end.  Abour four the wet covering was a little rent, and the sun took a turn with the showers to make the scene a little more cheerful.

"The grace of resignation was greatly needed.  "It's always so" - "It's a great pity"  - were the expressions frequently heard - no voice of thanksgiving mingled with it for the refreshing drops upon leaf and flower. The Hay itself was a grand example of flower and landscape gardening - the fine avenue up from the Queen-street entrance was solemn as a Cathedral aisle, with flags and banners suspended from nature's lofty columns, the green-shaven turf, the trees in their richest foliage at all points of vantage, gorgeous May blossoms, the scarp under the Castle wall with its rhododendron fringe, and in the midst of all the beauty the Dinham and Acland statues teaching their lessons of faith, hope and charity - formed as bright a picture without as any within the tents."

Is it not curious that the myth that it always rains for the Devon Show has been with us for so many years?

The first 'show' must have been in 1737, ( when The States were still British Colonies.)  There's tradition for you! 

Nowadays the Gardens and the Castle-wall badly need attention.  Mr. Dinham and Sir Thomas Dyke Acland  (might they not still have lessons to teach?)  both  need to be cleaned and, to our shame, Sir Thomas has long since lost his right hand and nothing has been done about it.  Both men gave much to the city, much that we still enjoy.   

THRASHING LADS, EXETER, 1897

 The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 3rd April 1897 reported that:

"at the Exeter Police-court yesterday....lads, of ages ranging from 12 to 14, were summoned on the information of P.C. Lewis for playing football on the Iron Bridge on March 30.  The Chief Constable said that all the defendants were seen by P.C. Lewis playing football on the Iron Bridge.  He had received a large number of complaints, and he felt bound to summon the lads.  They all pleaded guilty.  

"The parents of four of the lads came forward and said that the boys had been thrashed.  The mother of one of the lads said her husband had promised to thrash the boy again if he were fined.  The Chairman said the Bench were of the opinion that the parents were largely responsible and they should exercise greater control.  In consideration of the boys having been punished by their parents they would be let off with a fine of 1s each, to include costs."

There were five of them, living in Exe Lane and Lower North-street.  I think it must have been the Chief Constable to whom the many complaints were addressed.  It is not made clear.  It seems somewhat unfair not to have warned the 'lads' of the likely outcome of their fun and games on the Iron Bridge but I suspect it was thought necessary to make of them an example to others.

The parents were to blame, said the Bench,  but it was accepted that the lads must be thrashed as a matter of course and at least one of the boys was in for a second thrashing.  A razor-strop was the favourite tickler.

 

CRAZY DANCING, EXETER, 1808.

"Mr. Mason's ball, on Friday last, at the Hotel assembly-room, was attended by a very large assemblage of the beauty and fashion of this city and neighbourhood, all of whom were highly gratified by the elegance and grace displayed by his fair pupils, in the various evolutions of the mazy dance.  Great credit is certainly due to Mr. Mason, for his attention to the improvement of his pupils, the judgement he evinced in the arrangement of the dances, as well as in the selection of the music." 

The  Castle-street dancing master,'s, Mr. Joseph Edward Mason's, 'Pupils' Ball' was, for decades,  an annual treat for the beauty and fashion of Exeter.  Only the Nobility and the Gentry were invited but I dare say some lesser citizens winkled in!  The ball started at seven o' clock but Mr Mason was obligingly at the Hotel at lunchtime to give any information that may be required relative to the Figures.  Later one drank tea.  There was usually also a General Quadrille Ball so that everybody had the chance to hop about, not just Mr. Mason's girls.   The latter, however, were the exponents of the mazy dance, with its various evolutions, which was the highlight of the evening.

Mazed in the South West, as every Exonian knows, means crazy, but I don't know where the mazy dance originated.  It's popularity was widespread. 

Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 7th April 1808.

A MELANCHOLY TALE, EXETER, 1818.

Below is a report from the Exeter Flying Post of December 17th 1818: 

"On Friday last, as Miss Mary Jackson, who resided in the parish of Bishop's Clist, near this city, was walking on the Terrace, in front of Summerland Place, on her return home, she was suddenly alarmed at the approach of a cow towards her, and in her haste to avoid the animal, she fell from the footpath. - She was instantly taken, in a most terrified state, to the house of a gentleman, close by, where she experienced every attention that humanity could suggest.  Medical assistance was procured, she was bled, and appeared to have recovered, in some degree, from the effects of her fright.  She was then, at her particular request, taken to the house of an acquaintance, in Paris-street, where we are sorry to add, she died shortly after her arrival. - A Coroner's Inquest was held on the body, at the Old London Inn, on Saturday, when the Jury returned a verdict - Died by excessive fright, occasioned by a cow."

This inconsequential tale reads, to me, like a 'Jane Austen' gone wrong.  (Jane Austen had died the year before at the too-green age of 41.)  Mary Jackson should, of course, have recovered and married, after some entertaining inconveniences, the attentive, humane gentleman who had delivered her from the cow.  Alas she died! 

Mary was on her way home to Bishop's Clist, a distance of some three miles.  It was December.  It was probably cold.  Most countryfolk must, at this time, have been consummate pedestrians.  She was prepared for the brisk walk but not for the Summerlands cow.

Mind you, I am suspicious of the findings of the Inquest.  The bleeding doctor is my prime suspect not the poor cow.

THE WAGES OF PROFANITY, EXETER, 1833.

The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette for 16th November 1833 reported that:

"Mr. Humphrey Lee, of St. Sidwell's, was charged by the Rev, Prebendary Dennis, with profanely swearing on Saturday se'nnight.

The Rev. Gentleman deposed as to the words made use of by the defendant which were scarcely fit, he said, to be repeated, namely - "Go to h---,  d--------n seize you."  

The Court said that the Legislature had wisely enacted that if any poor man should be convicted of profanely cursing or swearing, he should be fined one shilling; a person of better circumstances, such as the defendant, but below the degree of a gentleman, two shillings; and a gentleman, five shillings. The defendant was fined according to the Act, two shillings, and one shilling the expense of the summons."

I don't hear too much of "Go to hell, damnation seize you!" on the streets of Exeter these days but I hear an amazing amount of "F---- off you c----! &c. which I suppose to be the functional equivalent.  I imagine these would not have come under the Act, not being profane, merely vulgar, but certainly plenty of ear-splitting OMG!s, J---s C----t!s and the like are still to be heard, enough to shock all the canons, major and minor, precentors and prebendaries &c. of Exeter Cathedral as well as shocking the few 'respectable' citizens and visitors who choose to come into our city centre.

I rejoice that the theocratic element has largely left the law books but every day and night there is an amazing amount of roaring-loud and aggressive swearing on the High Street.  Such offensive swearing is still a crime but there seem never to be any policemen on the street to confront the swearers and profaners and nobody, not even a reverend prebendary, feels that he has the authority to do anything about it. 

Se'nnight is a beautiful contraction.  I have said so before.  Bring back se'nnight!