Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevJACK PEARCE
In November, 1890, a few residents in the Holmes district, conceived the idea of making a huge joke of the municipal elections by nominating a carter named Jack Pearce. Known as a somewhat rough, brusque, and ungainly character. with a scorn for the common courtesies, and possessing a flow of language of an unconventional kind, they expected to get great fun out of him. He carried on a small shaving saloon, which he opened on Sundays; making it a rendezvous for many of the characters of the district, Having the reputation of being a pugilist, Jack could take liberties denied to more modest and meek folk, his enmity being feared and his friendship sought by his neighbours, His nominators having accomplished, as they thought, their object in having pulled Jack’s leg, considered it time the joke ended, and endeavour to bring about his withdrawal, Jack, however, proved obstinate, and said what they started in fun must now go on in earnest. And so it did. Jack Pearce, although parading his peculiarities on almost every platform as if proud of them, found them to be one of the secrets of his strength and the cause of his triumph. Instead of using the ordinary electioneering twaddle, usually thought good enough for these occasions, he made bold statements full of accuracies in his inimitable manner, all of which combined, were capable of putting any intelligent audience on the rack. He prided himself on his bluntness as if it were something heroic. He would burst forth in all sorts of remarks, tell all sorts of tales, considering such bluntness as being free and outspoken. There was this, however, to be said in Pearce’s favour, he did not fly under false colours or shine with borrowed plumes. He was natural and his style secured the votes, As a public man he was brought under more vigilant observation and criticism than new men usually are. He survived the ordeal. To the astonishment of almost everybody, in spite of his lack ef education and against fearful odds, he became a useful member of the Corporation, Under his rough unpolished exterior beat a big heart, which with the common sense view he usually took on questions that came before him, brought him successfully through his difficulties, It can be truly said of this rough diamond that no representative, before or since, has attended more assiduously to the interests of the Kimberworth Ward than he did,
His general appearance and infirmity laid him open to the jokes and ridicule of the thoughtless. Whilst attending the Parish Church with the Mayor and Corporation, two well-known townsmen, supposed to be friends of his, played him a dirty trick. It was his misfortune to have an injured leg, a disadvantage which caused him to limp and to be called 'bad leg' . This and his general appearance made him a prominent figure on any public occasion. To create a scene and to have him stared at and laughed at, a note reached him during the service, saying his wife had been taken seriously ill, and he must return home immediately. Sitting close by, I saw his face as he read this note; it gave me the impression of the look of a startled hare, fear for his wife and consternation at having to face the large congregation and expose his infirmity, being mingled together in that look. Facing the ordeal he arrived at the church door, only to be met by the derisive laughter of two of his so-called friends, who ought to have known better than play such a black guardly trick upon him. next »
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