OLD TIME FRIENDS
BILL SPINK, THE COBBLER
During the past few weeks I have received from friends acquired in the
days of my boyhood and early manhood letters which have awakened within
me a train of memories--both joyful and sorrowful--respecting my friends
and acquaintances in the auld lang syne. That must be my apology for
devoting this week's chapter of my "Recollections" to a brief notice of
several of these local worthies. Of Bill Spink, the statesman-cobbler, I
have previously made mention. Spink was born in the house in West-lane
(now occupied as a club) wherein Mr James Lund, of Malsis Hall, first saw
the light. He was a queer chap in his way was Spink. He belonged to what
I may call the Peculiar political party which also claimed as members
"Little" Barnes, James Leach, Theophilus Hayes, Joseph Fieldhouse, and
your humble servant; and it was in his little cobbler's shop that the
deliberations of our party were carried on. Spink took the Tory side in
national politics, and frequently attended political meetings up and down
the district. On one occasion, I well remember, Spink was sent by the
Tory party to a Liberal meeting at Silsden. Sir Mathew Wilson was one of
the speakers, and he was "tackled" on certain points during his speech by
Spink, until the Radical garrison made a raid upon this undesirable
invader of their citadel, and ejected him into the street. Spink was
severely handled in the process, and it occupied him all his
strength--_i.e._ all that remained--to walk back to Keighley. Spink was a
man who must speak his mind, and could not bear to hear the views and
principles which he upheld ruthlessly set at nought. He was, at bottom, a
good-natured man; indeed, I think I scarcely ever came across a man with
a more sympathetic disposition. In any deserving public object, or case
of private distress in the town, he was the first to the rescue.
Unfortunately, he suffered much from a diseased leg, which was the cause
of his death. There was an unpleasant hitch at the funeral. When the
party arrived at the Keighley Cemetery, it was found that the grave was
too small, and it was some time before the necessary extension could be
made. The circumstance of the mourners having to wait was aggravated by a
heavy down fall of rain. At last, however, the remains of my old friend
were duly consigned to Mother Earth. In his life time I promised Spink
that I would write his epitaph, which I now produce:--
Here lie the remains of the friend of the poor,
Inside of his palace without any door.
By man's inhumanity he was oft made to flit,
But now he's at home, where he'll bide for a bit.
He had a large heart that beat in his breast;
Without some sensation he never could rest;
If he saw a mean action he'd cry like a calf;
If he saw a kind deed he'd cry more bi't half.
A THEATRICAL CHUM
I must now revert to my old theatrical friend, John Spencer, who had
returned from America. He was greatly changed in appearance, so that I
scarcely knew him by sight; he put me in mind of a Spanish brigand.
Spencer, while in the States, had gone through the Civil War, having
served, he told me, on the sides of both North and South. He was first
pressed into service while travelling with a circus. The request was put
to the whole company, who 'listed as one man, and joined the Confederate
Army. Spencer was put in as express rider, his duty being to act as
mounted postman from one camp to another. It was while on one of these
journeys that he was made a prisoner. He had a large amount of money in
notes upon him, but this he managed to hand unnoticed to a civilian
friend. As a prisoner he was taken to Washington. Being a first-class
misdemeanant, he was allowed to patrol the streets, which, however, were
closely watched, and it seemed an impossibility for him to pass the
sentinels. But John had knocked about the world a good deal, and had had
his wits sharpened, and by a "theatrical stratagem" he managed to evade
the outposts and to make his escape. He stopped at a dye-house some
distance out of Washington, and was fortunate enough there to meet with a
friend from his native district--Sam Brook, a theatrical amateur, from
Crossflatts, near Bingley. Sam furnished his erstwhile companion of the
stage with a dyer's wearing apparel, and, thus disguised, Spencer managed
to get back to the place where he had been captured, and to recover the
notes which he had deposited with the person mentioned. With this money
Spencer seems to have got back to England. Arrived at Keighley, he sent
for me, and nothing would satisfy him but that I should break off work at
once and help him, so to speak, to "mak t' brass fly." Together we
travelled nearly all over Great Britain, and also paid a visit to Paris.
It was in the French capital that Spencer found the money getting
"beautifully less," and he concluded that it would be better for all
concerned if we returned to Keighley. This we did. Soon after, Spencer
took up a position as traveller for the Bradford Old Brewery Company. But
the English climate did not seem to suit him--far from it; there were
certain peculiarities about his constitution which said as much. It was
with much pain that one morning I heard of his death, which had taken
place very suddenly at the house of his father, who was landlord of the
Bay Horse Inn. The Rev Mr Goodman, then the Baptist minister, officiated
at the funeral of the deceased, and, I recollect, spoke of the awful
suddenness of death. His remarks, I felt, were directed to myself, and I
was very uncomfortable the while. Among the many persons present at the
funeral was "Doctor" John Walton, who was at one time in partnership with
Mr Anthony Spencer and Mr Henry Newton as herbalists, &c.
WITH THE LATE MR EDWIN WAUGH
On one particular evening which has left its imprint indelibly on my
mind, I spent a few pleasant hours with a handful of local celebrities in
the Commercial Inn. The chief of the party was the celebrated Lancashire
poet, the late Mr Edwin Waugh, who had come to Keighley to give readings
in the old Mechanic's Hall, and was invited to join us. Another member of
our party was Mr John Hopkinson, brother to Mr Barber Hopkinson. A right
merry fellow he was, full of yarns and comic ditties. With him was his
nephew, Mr Benjamin Hopkinson, who about the time was causing some stir
in the district with several letters which he published in the Press.
This trio are now gone over to the great majority. Mr Emmott, veterinary
surgeon, and Mr Lacy, another local worthy, were also in the company.
Very pleasant and entertaining was the time we spent together that night.
Next morning I accompanied Mr Waugh to Kildwick, whither we walked on the
canal bank. On the way, the Lancashire poet proved himself an intensely
interesting and instructive companion. He had a large stock of funny
stories, and possessed quite a knack of imparting his sensible advice to
one in an inoffensive and almost unnoticeable manner. During the journey
I said little, but thought much. At Kildwick we inspected the "Lang
Kirk," and other places of note in the locality, and then parted. It was
soon after this visit that I wrote the following verses:--
Old Kildwick Grange and Kildwick Hall,
I see them now once more;
They 'mind me of my boyish days,
Those happy days of yore.
The old White Lion in the corner stands,
Most fitting for the poets,
Where Turner from a foreign land
Would give his great exploits.
'Twas in the Indian jungle
The tiger first he saw,
With fiery eye, and open mouth,
Sharp talons on his paw.
They met, and with a desperate spring
The tiger on his prey;
While Turner's two companions--
Both cowards ran away.
But Turner fought a desperate fight,
His courage ne'er forsook,
He javelled at the tiger
Until his bayonet broke.
One part was in the savage breast,
And Turner understood
If he could grovel out the steel
'Twould draw the savage blood.
'Twas done--the blood gushed out amain,
The lion-hearted brave
Beheld his foe go to a stream,
To drink and meet his grave.
. . . . .
I see the house where Turner lived;
But Turner is not here.
In the Lang Kirkyard he now may rest
Without a tiger's fear.
"SAMMY" MOORE, AND OTHERS
Since I began these Reminiscences I have received a letter from an old
friend of mine, whom I said I thought was dead. I allude to "Sammy"
Moore, and I am glad to hear that he is alive and doing well. I had not
heard of him for a score of years. Many are the happy hours we have spent
together on the stage. His letter says he is in California, where he is
occupying a good situation as registrar of a town of about 10,000
inhabitants. He says he has left off acting and wishes to know if I have
done the same; and he also inquires after many of his old Keighley
friends. This sentence leads me to refer to a few more of my own friends
in the days of yore. There is the Rev William Thawbrey, a Wesleyan
Methodist minister at Keighley, who subsequently took up work in the
mission field in South Africa. Then there are the late Mr Thomas
Carrodus, the manager of the Yorkshire Penny Bank at Keighley, the
Brothers Kay, Mr Joshua Robinson, and Mr James Lister,--all of whom were
fellow stage amateurs of mine. The hand of death has passed heavily over
my old friends--particularly those with whom I moved on the amateur
theatrical stage--and I can number on my fingers those who have been
left.