Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
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Many good stories are told of Jack, some true, and others untrue. he installed a telephone in the public-house he kept at the Holmes. The first message to come over the line was from his friend, Mr. Walter Hirst, who called out, 'Are you there Jack, is that you?' , only to receive the answer, 'Why the -- do you ask such silly questions; can’t you see I’m here? ' One of the duties he performed necessitated rising every morning at five o’clock to serve the men who worked at the Holmes blast. Before waiting on the men it was his custom to prepare himself an early breakfast. On one occasion an old friend called and was told to go into the kitchen and help himself fo breakfast. After serving the men Jack proceeded to attend to his friend, whom he found in a bad way, which he attributed to some toast and dripping he had partaken of. Alarmed at his symptoms Jack called to his wife to know what was wrong with the dripping, and learnt to his astonishment he had make a mistake and had put the basin containing the ointment for his leg on the table instead of the one filled with the beef dripping.
Space will not permit me to relate the many stories told of Jack’s eccentricities. I can but repeat that rough and uncultured as he was he did some useful work for the ward he represented, and lived to gain the respect of his colleagues and the ratepayers, as was evidenced by the huge concourse who in all reverence attended his funeral, those present including the Mayor and Corporation, leading citizens, and a host of poor people to whom Jack had been a generous friend.
MY FIRST VOTE
Great disappointment was expressed on all hands when it became known that the Mayor, Councillor C. J. Stoddart, was not to be asked to accept office for another year. The craving for office had affected some members to such a degree that their desire to reach the coveted position entirely obliterated their ordinary modesty, and caused them to struggle openly one with another. Soon after my election I was caught in the vortex, and before I knew of or understood the cross currents at play, I had pledged myself to vote for Mr. Geo. Wragg (who had rendered valuable assistance in secoring my return), for the position of Mayor. That Mr. Stoddart should have been requested again to take the position there can be no two opinions, for no Mayor, before or since, has quite equalled the splendid manner in which he carried out the duties of his office. As a host he was unparalled; in fact, there are hundreds living to-day who will remember the children’s fancy dress ball which he gave at the Drill Hall, many of them taking part in these festivities. What a stir the ball for adults which preceded it created amongst the elderly folk. Sedate married couples, who had already celebrated their silver wedding and were fast approaching their golden one, hunted up their knowledge of dancing, and those who did not seek the aid of the expert at the dancing saloon, were known to be practising at home, long before the great event took place. No ball before or since has caused such interest and excitement. It was a year full of surprises, such as the celebration of the jubilee of a queen’s reign should be.
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