BLACKWELL FAMILY KITTY BARRY ELY, N.[*N Ely*] 4, High Wickham, Hastings. Jan 4th 1934 Dear Miss Barry Many many thank yous for sweet Christmas card, & also for letter just received saying you are well, you ask me what I have heard about Rock House nothing that is [?] it has only grieved me to see it so neglected when I think how you loved the house, & how beautiful it was alwaysIn me, & had cards of remembrances yes the Gammons are still living, they have both been working next door to us this last week or two Emily Dugan still keeps fairly well considering her age. I didn't know Dickens lived at our old home No 10 it is nice to feel we lived there for some time. I do wish you & yours a very Happy New Year kept Yes the Dannsenthes still occupy (Windy Cooly) Mrs Isolda Dannsenthes came to Hastings for the day the early part of last year (I think it was) & call to see me said she felt she must call to see her old friends I thought it so very kind of her, I can appreciate all the kind thoughts of those that used to live here I feel I can never forget all your kindness in wishingDid I tell you, in my Xmas letter Mr & Mrs William Slade are both seriously ill I shall miss them very much as kind neighbours. I do trust your foot is better & glad you spent such a Happy Christmas. Dear Miss Alice Stone Blackwell I do hope you are quite recovered form your cold, with very many thanks for dictating letter & all kindnesses Yours very sincerely N ElyN Ely 4 High Wickham Hastings Dec 3rd 1933 Dear Miss Barry I do hope this will find you much better, I am so sorry not to have written before, but I have seemed to have so much to do I am not able to do so well as when I was younger, this year have not felt quite [f?l], I think my younger days I worked a bit to hard, & it is falling on me now. Please thank Miss A Blackwell for very kind letter, telling me how you were, & for the [p]rom on your dear doggie, which we thought excellent it was ever so kind of her to send it, & I do appreciate all her kindnesses in sending letters & [?]. I have quite a lot of them, & often my thoughts turn to you when looking over things I would love to have these dear old times over again, everything seems so different now, I often, & often, picture you dear Miss Barry coming up our hill with your [?] dear doggies & then the thought of your many kindnesses to me, & my dear dear father, I shall never forget Nr 10 High Wickham has been empty a long long whole, & it is beginning to look very bad, nothing is done to it, the landlord cannot afford it, isn't it a pity? Our dear old home [?] your dear [?] House so neglected it seems so sad to me for they seem to hold so much that is dear to us. Dear Miss Barry & Miss A Blackwell I do wish you a very very Happy Christmas with many kind rememberences I remain Yours very very sincerely N Ely4 High Wickham Hastings Oct 23rd 1932 Dear Miss Barry Thank you so much for [?], we think it ever so good, I do hope you are feeling better for your holiday I thought you would like the enclosed in reference to dear [?] "[?]" death, it seem as if all the old residents are are going there are so many now on the terrace I dont know. What a glorious summer we have had but now it has turned very stormy With many loving thoughts Yours very sincerely N ElyHASTINGS AND ST. LEONARDS OBSERVER, SATURDAY, O A GREAT FIGURE PASSES. ----------------- DEATH OF MR. THOMAS PARKIN, J.P. ------------------ FULL AND ADVENTUROUS LIFE. One of the most lovable of Hastings' "grand old men," Mr. Thomas Parkin, J.P., of Fairseat, High Wickham, died on Monday at the age of 87. He had been in fair health until about a fortnight before his death. He then developed a cold, his heart became troublesome, and a small operation was found necessary. This was performed at a local nursing home on October 7th, and he came through it well, in spite of his advanced age. But he grew gradually weaker and the end came rather suddenly on Monday afternoon. Mr. Parkin never married, and his nearest relatives are his two nephews, Captain Albert J. Parkin, of 3, Chapel Parkroad, St. Leonards, and Mr. R. T. Parkin. His elder brother, Mr. John Samuel Parkin, died in June, 1931. [picture inserted of Mr. Parkin] The late Mr. T. Parkin. He was "Tommie" Parkin to all his far-flung world of friends, but the hermit- like seclusion of his latter years had made him little more than a name, though a potent one, to younger Hastings. But in the Hastings of the not-too-distant past there was no more vital, no more varied and no more surprising personality. Tom Parkin had done everything and been everywhere. His friends were legion, from the Walde- graves and other leading figures of latter- day society in Hastings to the very cats and dogs who sunned themselves on the doorsteps of High Wickham. His life was one long adventure, lit by the sunniest nature imaginable. The son of the Rev. John Parkin, first vicar of Halton, a garrison church in the days when a small garrison was quartered at Hastings, his boyhood was passed in the vicarage in Priory-road. He was educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts. Originally intended for the same profession as his father, he turned to the law, and was called to the Bar in 1874. Actually, the only time he appeared in court in wig and gown was to listen to the Tichborne case. SAILED TO AUSTRALIA. The law was sterile fare for a young sportsman with a roving spirit and a burning love of Nature in his heart. Instead, he sailed to Australia on the celebrated clipper, "Sobraon." one of the noblest of the old windjammers and only broken up last year. The object of his voyage -- which lasted several months in fair weather and foul -- was not adventure alone, but a close study of the life and habits of the albatross and the petrels, for Thomas Parkin was the keenest of ornithologists all his long life. He spent some time in Australia shooting rare birds (he was a first-class shot) and satisfying his love of natural history. A fragment of the "Sobraon's" timbers, made into a paper-weight, commemorated this early voyage for him. His journeyings took him to South and North America, Egypt, up the Nile, and to many parts of Europe. He was especially fond of Spain, where he spent a good deal of time. He and his brother walked across the battlefield of Sedan, securing several trophies of the conflict, which he added to [half?] oddly assorted collection of quaint firearms at his home. In his younger days, too, he took up painting with zest, and studied art in Paris and at Newlyn, where he was closely associated with W. H. Borrow. He accompanied Borrow on sketching tours in Sussex and Cumberland, where he owned an estate. A NOTABLE CRICKETER. Mr. Parkin's love of nature was rivalled by his love of cricket. He was the sole survivor of the players who took part in the first match on the Hastings Central Ground when it was opened in the 1860's. and he was a vigorous playing member and for many years president of the Hastings Cricket Club. He was also a playing member of the M.C.C. and was reputed to be the hardest hitter at Trinity in his University days. He made a collection of early cricket scores and records of unique interest to cricket enthusiasts. Until old age intervened, he was in re- To have lived, fully, bravely, and to have been loved as Tom Parkin was loved -- by his friends, by the two devoted servants who tended his old age, and by the children he met and for whom he had always a smile -- this was a happy life. It has been suggested that a tablet commemorating Mr. Parkin's residence at Fairseat, should be affixed to the house, a course adopted at several houses should be affixed to the house, a course adopted at several houses in High Wickham where notabilities have lived. BURIED AT HALTON. He was buried on Thursday beside his father in the little now disused churchyard at Halton -- the first to be interred there for many years. Many friends attended the funeral service at All Saints' Church, a choral service conducted by the Rector (the Rev. E. A. Penson) and the Rev. E. J. H. Walker (vicar of Halton). The family mourners were Captain A. J. Parkin (nephew) and Mrs. A. J. Parkin, Mr. R. T. Parkin (nephew), and Mr. W. E. F. Cheesman. The service was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor G. H. Ormerod, J.P., and Mrs. Ormerod). Others present in the church were the Deputy Mayor, Councillor H. E. Johnson, K.P. (chairman of the Museum and Library Sub-Committee), Alderman F. W. Morgan (chairman of the Education Committee), Alderman R. W. Mitchell, J.P., and Alderman T. S. Dymond (Education Committee), Mr. W. G. Tyrrell (Education Committee staff). Mr. Anthony Belt (president of the Natural History Society), Dr. Norman Ticehurst, Mr. F. W. Blackburne, Mr. A. Miles, Mrs. Clift and Mr. W. Peatfield (Natural History Society), Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield (Borough Librarian and Currator), Mr. E. W. Amoore (Museum Association), Mr. J. E. Ray (Sussex Archaeological Society), Major A. J. Dawson (Twenty Club). Mr. W. G. Kemsley (representing the Countess Brassey, president of the Royal East Sussex Hospital), Dr. Thomas Luson, J.P. (Bexhill), Colonel P.R. Papillon, J.P. (Battle), Mr. H.C. Burra, J.P. (Rye). Colonel F.G. Langham, Mr. C.F. Botley (chairman of the Central Ground Committee) Mr. W.J. Ransom (secretary), Mr. A. Tutt (groundsman), Milicent Lady Moore, Mr. H.C. Davenport Jones, Mr. G.E. Barr, Dr. E.J. Glynn, Lieut.-Colonel J. Curteis, Mrs. Cranstone Leslie, Mrs. Sayer Milward, Mrs. Anthony Belt, Mr. Foord Hghes, Mrs. Jutson (Towers School), Mrs. Sidney Wildish, Mr. and Mrs. W. Slade, Mrs. F.H. Thorpe, Mr. W.J. Coombs, Mr. T.D. Oyler, Mr. J.H. Sims, Mr. K. H. Marriott, Mr. E. Stranger, Mr. W.S. Dunster, Mr. and Mrs. H. Whistler, Mr. H. M. Vidler, Mr. C. Adams, Mrs. Dommett, Mr. C. Baldockk, Captain S. H. Swann and Lieut. Millest (Halton Corps, Salvation Army). The coffin was accompanied to the grave by Mrs. Lear, who was housekeeper to the late Mr. Parkin for 24 years, until 1919, by Mrs. Thorne, the present housekeeper, and by Miss Annie Adams, who nursed him devotedly in his last illness. MEMORIAL FLOWERS. There were many beautiful wreaths, including the following: -- "In affectionate memory and kindest remembrance of an old friend, Mary de Roemer;" "With deepest sympathy, and in memory of a very old and valued friend. Mrs. Brabazon Combe and Captain Harvey Combe, Oaklands, Sedlescombe;" "In affectionate remembrance, Mrs. F.H. Thorpe, 5, Regency-mansons, Hastings, and Dr. W.H. Thorpe, Jesus College, Cambridge;" "In affectionate remembrance of a dear old friend of 40 years, Mrs. Sayer Milward, Fairlight Place, East Sussexl" "With kindest remembrance and sincere sympathy, Mrs. Thorne and Annie;" "From Miss Bullock, 11, High Wickham;" "In remembrance, with sympathy and kind regards, from Mrs. Dunkin and Miss Power, The Heath, Fairlight" "From Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Belt and Major Cyril Davenport;" "In memory of a dear old friend;" Mr. W. E.R. Cheesman; Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History Society; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cross; "From old friends at Windycroft;" Jack and Nellie Postlethwaite; staff and students of the Municipal School of Art; Hastings and St. Leonards Museum Association; Mr. William Slade and Mrs. William Slad; 'With sincre sympathy and in memory of a long and happy friendship, Mrs. Harry Furniss, Dorothy Furniss, Frank Furniss, Laurence Furniss, E. Mackenzie Furniss, The Mount, High Wickham, Hastings;" Captain and Mrs. Parkin (nephew and niece), Miss Violet and Miss Lily Parkin (nieces), Mr. and Mrs. Jack Parkin and Mr, Kenneth Parkin (great nephews and niece); "In affectionate remembrance, from Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Edwards, The Museum, Wisbech, Cambs;" "In affectionate remembrance of Uncle Tommy;" "In remembrance of Thomas Parkin, Esq.;" "With happy remembrance, Mr. Arthur D. Snow, Lynwood, Silverhill Park, St. Leonards;" the members of the Twenty Club; the Rector, churchwardens, sidesmen, Parish Church Council, school managers, and verger of All Saints' Church Miss Young; Mr. Maurice G. W. Burton; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Spicer; Joan and Hugh Whistler; fellow magistrates, Bexhili. The whole of the funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. J. Vine and Son, of 46, High-street. A LETTER FROM MR. C. B. GABB. A TRIBUTE BY COULSON KERNAHAN. "Another of the landmarks gone!" wrote R. L. Stevenson, of the death of a friend. Then R.L.S. went on: "When it comes to my own turn to lay my weapons down, I shall do so with thankfulness and fatigue, and whatever be my destiny afterward, I shall be glad to lie down with my fathers in honour. It is human, at least, if not divine. And these deaths make me think of it with an ever greater readiness." These words came to my mind, this tenth day of October when, half an hour ago, I heard of the death of Mr. Tom Parkin. Of High Wickham, where he made his home, I once wrote: "The literary stronghold of Hastings is High Wickham, which, like a corporal's guard, holding a height against the enemy, stands, an isolated row of some fifteen houses, looking down, as if upon an encamped army, upon the crowded houses of the Old Town." And just as High Wickham and the East Hill are the most prominent landmarks on one side of Hastings, so Tom Parkin was, himself, a landmark among our local celebrities. I do not know how long he lived at Fairseat, High Wickham, but long before I was a resident in Hastings I was taken, when staying with my dear old friend, George Deeping (father of Mr. Warwick Deeping, the world-famous novelist), at Oaklands, St. Helens, to see Tom Parkin at High Wickham. His name as an ornithologist was well known to me, and when I came to live here he was the first resident to call on my wife and myself and to ask us to dinner. Speaking of dining with dear Tom Parkin reminds me of an amusing happening. As everyone who knew him is aware, he was a great talker, and on one occasion when George Deeping, Harry Furniss and I were at a bachelor dinner given by Parkin, our host talked so much that, though he had helped himself to a plateful of roast chicken and had begun his own dinner, he quite forgot that his guests had been given nothing to ear. As he was calmly munching roast chicken, and was helping himself to bread sauce, he turned to me to say: "I do wish you would let me give you a little more chicken, Kernahan. You are not getting on with your dinner at all." "No, I answered with a smile. "I am not getting on with my dinner, because you have never given me any dinner to get on with. Nor have you given Deeping or Furniss any. You have been talking so animatedly and so interestingly that you did not notice that the only person on whose plate you have put anything to eat, is yourself." Covered with confusion, but laughing heartily at his own absent- mindedness, our hospitable host piled our plates with the choicest cuts from the birds, and then fell to talking as unceasingly as before. My own tongue runs away with me too often, which is why Parkin said it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black when I scribbled some doggerel nonsense about his flow of language. He was showing me some of his treasured "associated volumes -- by which one means volumes with personal letters from the author, or with the author's portrait, or something else associated with the author, pasted inside the cover -- and, as was his way, piled book after book into my arms, or upon my lap, talking breathlessly, even pantingly, about his friend, Madame Boudichon's pictures, or about the books he was showing me. So, then and there, I dashed off the doggerel, of which I remember only the concluding lines. The reference to Harry Furniss relates to a drawing of Parkin by Furniss, in which the ornithologist who was the proud possessor of a Great Auk's egg, is pictured as that extinct bird, the Dodo, and in slippers. When with Boudichons I'm breathless, and Parkin is in pants (No allusion to his hosier) comes my nimble host, and plants In my arms a score of volumes, and -- I beg you not to smile -- In my lap another dozen, and he's talking all the while. In fact, I often think that house which crowns High Wickham's hill, That tower-like house, where, if awake, I'm sure he's talking still; That very pumping place of talk -- talk witty, brilliant, able -- Should re-christened be from "Fairseat" to "T. Parkin's Tower of Babel." He's our Doyen and our Dodo, with a slipper on each leg (See the sketch by Harry Furniss), he's our only Great Auk's egg. Fairseat is packed with precious things, floor, table, wall and shelf, But the priceless and most precious thing, dear Parkin, is yourself. No one was more amused by this atrocious jingle than was the subject of it, for he showed it to most of his callers, adding with a chuckle: "Kernahan is as great a gabbler as I am, so I told him it was a clear case of the kettle calling the pot back." So it was. There was an occasion at the Savage Club when even I, who am said to talk nineteen to the dozen, had to give Parkin "best." At the Savage the bearers of famous names in all walks of life are everyday to be seen, and there one hears not only the latest funny "story," but also corruscations of witty and amusing talk. But when Parkin was my guest there, and though the editor of a great "Review," the editor of a popular magazine, three famous authors, a Cabinet Minister, a well-known actor, and a well-known entertainer were at the table with u -- Parkin out-talked the lot of us. One story he told amused my "brother savages" not a little. "Kernahan's charming and gifted wife," he said, "did me the honour of dedicating a novel of hers to me, and very proud I was. But she took away my character sadly in doing so, for the dear lady quite forgot that I was a bachelor when she dedicated a book called "The Chance Child" 'To our old friend, Mr. Tom Parking.'"The late Mr. T. Parkin. He was "Tommie" Parkin to all his far-flung world of friends, but the hermit-like seclusion of his latter years had made him little more than a name, though a potent one, to younger Hastings. But in the Hastings of the not-too-distant past there was no more vital, no more varied and no more surprising personality. Tom Parkin had done everything and been everywhere. His friends were legion, from the Waldegraves and other leading figures of latter-day society in Hastings to the very cats and dogs who sunned themselves on the doorsteps of High Wickham. His life was one long adventure, lit by the sunniest nature imaginable. The son of the Rev. John Parkin, first vicar of Halton, a garrison church in the days when a small garrison was quartered at Hastings, his boyhood was passed in the vicarage in Priory-road. He was educated where he took the degree of Master-of-Arts. Originally intended for the same profession as his father, he turned to the law, and was called to the Bar in 1874. Actually, the only time he appeared in court in wig and gown was to listen to the Tichborne case. SAILED TO AUSTRALIA. The law was sterile far for a young sportsman with a roving spirit and a burning love of Nature in his heart. Instead, he sailed to Australia on the celebrated clipper, "Sobraon," one of the noblest of the old windjammers and only broken up last year. The object of his voyage -- which lasted several months in fair weather and foul -- was not adventure alone, but a close study of the life and habits of the albatross keenest of ornithologists all his long life. He spent some time in Australia shooting rare birds (he was a first-class shot) and satisfying his love of natural history. A fragment of his love of natural history. A fragment of the "Sobraon's" timbers, made into a paper-weight, commemorated this early voyage for him. His journeyings took him to South and North America, Egypt, up the Nile, and to many parts of Europe. He was especially fond of Spain, where he spent a good deal of time. He and his brother walked across the battlefield of Sedan, securing several trophies of the conflict, which he added to an oddly assorted collection of quaint firearms at his home. In his younger days, too, he took up painting with zest, and studied art in Paris and at Newlyn, where he was closely associated with W. H. Borrow. He accompanied Borrow on sketching tours in Sussex and Cumberland, where he owned an estate. A NOTABLE CRICKETER. Mr. Parkin's love of nature was rivaled by his love of cricket. He was the sole survivor of the players who took part in the first match on the Hastings Central Ground when it was opened in the 1860's, and he was a vigorous playing member and for many years president of the Hastings Cricket Club. He was also a playing member of the M.C.C. and was reputed to be the hardest hitter at Trinity in his University days. He made a collection of early cricket scores and records of unique interest to cricket enthusiasts. Until old age intervened, he was in request at all local shooting parties, and was as keen a shot with a bow and arrow as with a gun. But much as he loved his gun, Tom Parkin was no bloodthirsty exterminator of wild fowl, but had an eager eye for a rare specimen to add to his admirable collection of birds, which he skinned and mounted himself. He was the greatest existing authority on the great auk, and possessed an egg of this extinct bird which was sold last year. He published a brochure containing a full record of the eggs and relics of the great auk still extant. He was the author of many pamphlets on natural history matters, on the rookeries and heronries of the district, and on many of the famous old houses and estates of East Sussex. LITERARY FRIENDS. On the death of his father, Mr. Parkin came to live at Fairseat, High Wickham, which was his home for the rest of his life. Here he surrounded himself with the host of curios collected on his travels and a large collection of books, which it was one of his hobbies to "Graingerise," or annotate in a peculiarly elaborate and interesting way. At High Wickham he found near neighbours and close friends in Mrs. Betham Edwards and Mark Rutherford, the novelists, and Harry Furniss, the famous "Punch" artist, and the warmth of his jovial personality radiated throughout the literary and artistic coteries of Victorian and Edwardian Hastings. Tom Parkins was one of the original members of the Twenty Club, which crystallized from informal gatherings of literary-minded people in a local cafe. Not a brilliant speech-maker, he was the most delightful after-dinner raconteur, drawing on a rich fund of experiences with a vividness of expression that entranced his listeners. AN EGG SHELL JOKE. Not long after John's Place became the home of the Borough Museum, Mr. Parkin presented to it his huge collection of birds' eggs, numbering between 5,000 and 6,000, and catalogued and annotated in many volumes. This is probably the finest collection of eggs is any provincial museum, and it represents a lifetime's devotion to a fascinating hobby. Tom Parkin's enthusiasm for eggs once prompted Harry Furniss, a frequent guest at Fairseat, to an amusing practical joke. While his host's back was turned, Furniss covered an empty egg-shall with lighting sketches, of "Tommie," whose delight was boundless when it was suggested that a hen had paid him the compliment of laying an egg bearing his portrait in 15 or so places! Mr. Parkins public appointments were legion. He was for over 30 years president of the local Natural History Society, a past president of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, vice-president of the Hastings Museum Association, University Extension Association and Literary Society member of the Sussex Archaeological Society since 1881, member of the committee J.P., and Mrs. ? Others present in the church were the Deputy Mayor, Councilor H. E. Johnson, J.P. (chairman of the Museum and Library Sub-Committee), Alderman F. W. Morgan (chairmen of the Education Committee), Alderman R. W. Mitchell, J.P., and Alderman T. S. Dymond (Education Committee), Mr. W. G. Tyrrell (Education Committee staff), Mr. Anthony Belt (president of the Natural History Society), Dr. Norman Ticehurst, Mr. F. W. Blackburne, Mr. A. Miles, Mrs. Clift and Mr. W. Peatfield (Natural History Society), Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield (Borough Librarian and Curator), Mr. J. E. Ray (Sussex Archaeological Society), Major A. J. Dawson (Twenty Club), Mr. W. G. Kemsley (representing the Countess Brassey, president of the Royal East Sussex Hospital), Dr. Thomas Luson, J.P. (Bexhill), Colonel P. R. Papillon, J.P. (Battle), Mr. H. C. Burra, J.P. (Rye), Colonel F. G. Langham, Mr. C. F. Botley (chairman of the Central Ground Committee), Mr. W. J. Ransom (secretary), Mr. A. Tutt (groundsman), Milicent Lady Moore, Mr. H. C. Davenport Jones, Mr. G. E. Barr, Dr. E. J. Glynn, Lieut.-Colonel J. Curteis, Mrs. Cranstone Leslie, Mrs. Sayer Milward, Mrs. Anthony Belt, Mr. Foord Hughes, Mrs. Jutson (Towers School), Mrs. Sidney Wildish, Mr. and Mrs. W. Slade, Mrs. F. H. Thorpe, Mr. W. J. Coombs, Mr. T. D. Oyler, Mr. J. H. Sims, Mr. K. H. Marriott, Mr. E. Stanger, Mr. W. S. Dunster, Mr. and Mrs. H. Whistler, Mr. H. M. Vidler, Mr. C. Adams, Mrs. Dommett, Mr. C. Baldock, Captain S. H. Swann and Lieut. Millest (Halton Corps, Salvation Army). The coffin was accompanied to the grave by Mrs. Lear, who was housekeeper to the late Mr. Parkin for 24 years, until 1919, by Mrs. Thorne, the present housekeeper, and by Miss Annie Adams, who nursed him devotedly in his last illness. MEMORIAL FLOWERS. There were many beautiful wreaths, including the following -- "In affectionate memory and kindest remembrance of an old friend, Mary de Roemer;" "With deepest sympathy, and in memory of a very old and valued friend, Mrs. Brabazon Combe and Captain Harvey Combe, Oaklands, Sedlescombe;" "In affectionate remembrance, Mrs. F. H. Thorpe, 5, Regency-mansions, Hastings, and Dr. W. H. Thorpe, Jesus College, Cambridge;" "In affectionate remembrance of a dear old friend of 40 years, Mrs. Sayer Milward, Fairlight Place, East Sussex;" "With kindest remembrance and sincere sympathy, Mrs. Thorne and Annie;" "From Miss Bullock, 11, High Wickham;" "In remembrance with sympathy and kind regards, from Mrs. Dunkin and Miss Power, The Heath, Fairlight;" "From Mr. And Mrs. Anthony Belt and Major Cyril Davenport;" "In memory of a dear old friend;" Mrs. W. E. F. Cheesman, Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History Society; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cross; "From old friends at Windycroft;" Jack and Nellie Postlethwaite; staff and students of the Municipal School of Art; Hastings and St. Leonards Museum Association; Mr. William Slade and Mrs. William Slade; "With sincere sympathy and in memory of a long and happy friendship, Mrs. Harry Furniss, Dorothy Furniss, Frank Furniss, Laurence Furniss, E. Mackenzie Furniss, The Mount, High Wickham, Hastings;" Captain and Mrs. Parkin (nephew and niece), Miss Violet and Miss Lily Parkin (nieces), Mr. and Mrs. Jack Parkin and Mr. Kenneth Parkin (great nephews and niece); "In affectionate remembrance, from Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Edwards, The Museum, Wisbech, Cambs;" "In affectionate remembrance of Uncle Tommy;" "In remembrance of Thomas Parkin, Esq.;" With happy remembrance, Mr. Arthur D. Snow, Lynwood, Silverhill Park, St. Leonards;" the members of the Twenty Club; the Rector, churchwardens, sideman, Parish Church Council, school managers, and verger of All Saints' Church; Miss Young; Mr. Maurice G. W. Burton; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Spicer; Joan and Hugh Whistler; fellow magistrates, Bexhill. The whole of the funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. J. Vine and Son, of 46, High-street. A LETTER FROM MR. C. B. GABB. We received the following on Thursday: -- SIR, -- You are sure to have told elsewhere of the death of one of our senior and at one time quite amongst the best known, all the way round, of our townsmen, and published to your readers many points of interest in his long local life. Tom Parkin, as he was ever most widely called, was my very oldest friend, and, when asking you to print these lines, please forgive me if they seem couched in warmer personal terms than is usual in the public Press, and may seem to be read not quite germane to those who forget there was "a yesterday" in life. When St. Stephen, as read in Acts vii, so boldly faced the Sanhedrin and told it many home truths, he quoted the Book of Exodus: "Another king arose, which knew of my friend; the day and generation of which he was a most vivid and up-to-date part, full of its ideas and plans, has long passed, and is even very much forgotten. Going back some 15 years, then for 50 years before that (outside local political and municipal affairs), there was no better known or liked or more active personality, warmly welcomed on all sides in Hastings and East Sussex, than was my now departed friend. He was early Victorian in his birth, and he was always mid-Victorian in his wide outlook of life; and therefore he became not over reasonable sometimes in the eyes of younger generations, nor they in his. Still he made and kept his real mark in many walks of life, of which you are sure to have told. I believe that I am correct in saying that my father (the late Mr. D. H. Gabb) was present when Mr. Parkin was born at Halton Vicarage 87 years ago. He was certainly talking to Mrs. Parkin (the mother) there a year or two after, when that lady, sitting in her chair, suddenly and unexpectedly died of an embolism some weeks before another child was due to be born. I personally for years attended the father (the late Rev. John Parkin), vicar for over 30 years of St. Clement's, Halton, and I saw him daily for many weeks before his death there on September 7th, 1887, and learned from him so very much I know of Hastings life, long forgotten, when Sarah Countess Waldegrave (formerly Mrs. Milward) (he was her private chaplain), from "The Mansion" at the top of High-street, ruled the Old Town with a very iron hand, minus sometimes the velvet glove. This week my cousin (Dr. Harry Gabb), after 28 years of sincere friendship and mutual high regard on both sides, has seen Mr. Tom Parkin pass to his rest. That, all told, is a very strong personal and professional unbroken friendship of nearly 90 years between the two families, begun when my father first came to the town and to Wellington-square in the mid 'forties of the last century as partner to Mr. Robert Ranking, who was Mayor of Hastings exactly 100 years ago. When, in the future, some ecclesiastically-minded people essays to write up a "Kalendar of Local Saints," good Christian and active Churchman as he was, maybe Mr. Thomas Parkin may not be over highly great talker, and on one occasion when George Deeping, Harry Furniss and I were at a bachelor dinner given by Parkin, our host talked so much that, though he had helped himself to a plateful of roast chicken and had begun his own dinner, he quite forgot that his guests had been given nothing to eat. As he was calmly munching roast chicken, and was helping himself to bread sauce, he turned to me to say: "I do wish you would let me give you a little more chicken, Kernahan. You are not getting on with your dinner at all." "No," I answered with a smile. "I am not getting on with my dinner, because you have never given me any dinner to get on with. Nor have you given Deeping or Furniss any. You have been talking so animatedly and so interestedly that you did not notice that the only person on whose plate you have put anything to eat, is yourself." Covered with confusion, but laughing heartily at his own absentmindedness, our hospitable host piled our plates with the choicest cuts from the birds, and then fell to talking as unceasingly as before. My own tongue runs away with me too often, which is why Parkin said it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black when I scribbled some doggerel nonsense about his flow of language. He was showing me some of his treasured "associated" volumes -- by which one means volumes with personal letters from the author, or with the author's portrait, or something else associated with the author, pasted inside the cover -- and, as was his way, piled book after book into my arms, or upon my lap, talking breathlessly, even pantingly, about his friend, Madame Boudichon's pictures, or about the books he was showing me. So, then and there, I dashed off the doggerel, of which I remember only the concluding lines. The reference to Harry Furniss relates to a drawing of Parkin by Furniss, in which the drawing of Parkin by Furniss, in which the ornithologist who, was the proud possessor of a Great Auk's egg, is pictured as that extinct bird, the Dodo, and in slippers. When with Boudichons I'm breathless, and Parkin is in pants (No allusion to his hosier) comes my nimble host, and plants In my arms a score of volumes, and -- I beg you not to smile -- In my lap another dozen, and he's talking all the while. In fact, I often think that house which crowns High Wickham's hill, That tower-like house, where, if awake, I'm sure he's talking still; That very pumping place of talk -- talk witty, brilliant, able -- Should re-christened be from "Fairseat" to "T. Parkin's Tower of Babel." He's our Doyen and our Dodo, with a slipper on each leg (See the sketch by Harry Furniss), he's our only Great Auk's egg. Fairseat is packed with precious things, floor, table, wall and shelf, But the priceless and most precious thing, dear Parkin, is yourself. No one was more amused by this atrocious jingle than was the subject of it, for he showed it to most of his callers, adding with a chuckle: "Kernahan is as great a gabbler as I am, so I told him it was clear case of the kettle calling the pot black." So it was. There was an occasion at the Savage Club when even I, who am said to talk nineteen to the dozen, had to give Parkin "best." At the Savage the bearers of famous names in all walks of life are everyday to be seen, and there one hears not only the latest funny "story," but also corruscations of witty and amusing talk. But when Parkin was my guest there, and though the editor of a great "Review," the editor of a popular magazine, three famous authors, a Cabinet Minister, a well-known actor, and a well-known entertainer were at the table with us -- Parkin out-talked the lot of us. One story he told amused my "brother savages" not a little. "Kernahan's charming and gifted wife," he said, "did me the honour of dedicating a novel of hers to me, and very proud I was. But she took away my character sadly in doing so, for the dear lady quite forgot that I was a bachelor when she dedicated a book called 'The Chance Child' 'To our old friend, Mr. Tom Parkin.'" Then he told my guests a story -- this time against himself. "As the chairman of the County Bench," he said; "I sometimes have to warn my fellow citizens against taking the law into their own hands. But, like Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice,' 'I can better teach twenty what were well to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.'" It seemed that a rascal of a boy had committed some misdemeanour -- I think that Parkin said the young ruffian had deliberately broken one of the windows of Fairseat by throwing stones at the house, and that when charged with the offence the boy brazenly lied about it, and was insulting to Parkin as well. So as the boy's parents were poor folk, Parkin thought it would be kinder to them, and would perhaps teach their rascal of a son a very necessary lesson, if he administered physical chastisement to the offender instead of summoning the parents and compelling them to pay for the damage done. To his surprise, the parents summoned him for an assault upon their son, and chairman of the county Bench as he was, his fellow magistrates had no option but to fine him some small sum for a technical breach of the law. "But what made the matter worse," said Parkin, "was what happened afterwards. I live at High Wickham, Hastings. Conceive what I felt when someone sent me a letter, addressed: -- T. Parkin, Esq., J.P., I Whack'em -- not High Wickham, Hastings." No one more greatly enjoyed the joke -- against himself as it was -- than did Tom Parkin, perhaps the most distinguished, the most representative, and, I believe, the best beloved figure in all Hastings and St. Leonards. When I suggested to my friend, the Rev. H. J. Boyd, that such a club as The Twenty Club now is, should be founded, and he inquired: "Whom would you invite to join it?" my reply was: "The very first name of all is, of course, the honoured name of Tom Parkin," and as Parkin cordially accepted the invitation, he was, at the time of his death, the senior member and doyen of a club in which he took the keenest interest. I believe I am right in saying that his last public appearance in Hastings was when he took the chair at The Twenty Club lunch to Lord Conway. If, in the course of these hurried and random recollections of an eminent fellow-townsman, I have written in a light instead of a serious vein, it is because when I, too, go hence I hope there will be no darkened rooms or drawn blinds, and that there will be happy and human, rather than said memories. Moreover, when last I spent an hour not very long ago, in the fascinatingly interesting room, almost a museum, in which dear Parkin lived and worked and slept, he spoke of the approach of death -- not with the dull, dreadful and compelled acquiescence in the inevitable with which some persons speak of their coming end, but with calm faith, with hope, and with resignation. Very beautiful itSAILED TO AUSTRALIA. The law was sterile fare for a young sportsman with a roving spirit and a burning love of Nature in his heart. Instead, he sailed to Australia on the celebrated clipper, "Sobraon," one of the noblest of the old windjammers and only broken up last year. The object of his voyage -- which lasted several months in fair weather and foul -- was not adventure alone, but a close study of the life and habits of the albatross and the petrels, for Thomas Parking was the keenest of ornithologists all his long life. He spent some time in Australia shooting rare birds (he was a first-class shot) and satisfying his love of natural history. A fragment of the "Sobraon's" timbers, made into a paper-weight, commemorated this early voyage for him. His journeyings took him to South and North America, Egypt, up the Nile, and to many parts of Europe. He was especially fond of Spain, where he spent a good deal of time. He and his brother walked across the battlefield of Sedan, securing several trophies of the conflict, which he added to [??] oddly assorted collection of quaint firearms at his home. In his younger days, too, he took up painting with zest, and studied art in Paris and at Newlyn, where he was closely associated with W. H. Borrow. He accompanied Borrow on sketching tours in Sussex and Cumberland, where he owned an estate. A NOTABLE CRICKETER. Mr. Parkin's love of nature was rivalled by his love of cricket. He was the sole survivor of the players who took part in the first match on the Hastings Central Ground when it was opened in the 1860's, and he was a vigorous playing member and for many years president of the Hastings Cricket Club. He was also a playing member of the M.C.C. and was reputed to be the hardest hitter at Trinity in his University days. He made a collection of early cricket scores and records of unique interest to cricket enthusiasts. Until old age intervened, he was in request at all local shooting parties, and was as keen a shot with a bow and arrow as with a gun. But much as he loved his gun, Tom Parking was no bloodthirsty exterminator of wild fowl, but had an eager eye for a rare specimen to add to his admirable collection of birds, which he skinned and mounted himself. He was the greatest existing authority on the great auk, and possessed an egg of this extinct bird which was sold last year. He published a brochure containing a full record of the eggs and relics of the great auk still extant. He was the author of many pamphlets on natural history maters, on the rookeries and heronries of the district, and on many of the famous old houses and estates of East Sussex. LITERARY FRIENDS. On the death of his father, Mr. Parkin came to live at Fairseat, High Wickham, which was his home for the rest of his life. Here he surrounded himself with the host of curios collected on his travels and a large collection of books, which it was one of his hobbies to "Graingerise," or annotate in a peculiarly elaborate and interesting way. At High Wickham he found near neighbours and close friends in Mrs. Betham Edwards and Mark Rutherford, the novelists, and Harry Furniss, the famous "Punch" artist, and the warmth of his jovial personality radiated throughout the literary and artistic coteries of Victorian and Edwardian Hastings. Tom Parkin was one of the original members of the Twenty Club, which crystallised from informal gatherings of the literary-minded people in a local cafe. Not a brilliant speech-maker, he was the most delightful after-dinner raconteur, drawing on a rich fund of experiences with a vividness of expression that entranced his listeners. AN EGG SHELL JOKE. Not long after John's Place became the home of the Borough Museum, Mr. Parkin presented to it his huge collection of birds' eggs, numbering between 5,000 and 6,000, and catalogued and annotated in many volumes, This is probably the finest collection of eggs in any provincial museum, and it represents a lifetime's devotion to a fascinating hobby. Tom Parkin's enthusiasm for eggs once prompted Harry Furniss, a frequent guest at Fairseat, to an amusing practical joke. While his host's back was turned, Furniss covered an empty egg-shell with lightning sketches, of "Tommie," whose delight was boundless when it was suggested that a hen had paid him the compliment of laying an egg bearing his portrait in 15 or so places! Mr. Parkin's public appointments were legion. He was for over 30 years president of the local Natural History Society, a past president of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, vice-president of the Hastings Museum Association, University Extension Association and Literary Society, member of the Sussex Archaeological Society since 1881, member of the committee of the Royal East Suxxes [????] Combe, Oaklands, Sedlescombe;" In affectionate remembrance, Mrs. F.H. Thorpe, 5, Regency-mansions, Hastings, and Dr. W.H. Thorpe, Jesus College, Cambridge;" "In affectionate remembrance of a dear old friend of 40 years, Mrs. Sayer Milward, Fairlight Place, East Sussex;" "With kindest remembrance and sincere sympathy, Mrs. Thorne and Annie;" "From Miss Bullock, 11, High Wickham;" "In remembrance, with sympathy and kind regards, from Mrs. Dunkin and Miss Power, The Heath, Fairlight;" "From Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Belt and Major Cyril Davenport;" "In memory of a dear old friend;" Mr. W. E.F. Cheesman; Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History Society; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cross; "From old friends at Windycroft;" Jack and Nellie Postlethwaite; staff and students of the Municipal School of Art; Hastings and St. Leonards Museum Association; Mr. William Slade and Mrs. William Slade; "With sincere sympathy and in memory of a long and happy friendship, Mrs. Harry Furniss, Dorothy Furniss, Frank Furniss, Laurence Furniss, E. Mackenzie Furniss, The Mount, High Wickham, Hastings;" Captain and Mrs. Parkin and Mr. Kenneth Parkin (great nephews and niece); "In affectionate remembrance, from Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Edwards, The Museum, Wisbech, Cambs;" "In affectionate remembrance of Uncle Tommy;" "In remembrance of Thomas Parkin, Esq.;" "With happy remembrance, Mr. Arthur D. Snow, Lynwood, Silverhill Park, St. Leonards;" the members of the Twenty Club; the Rector, churchwardens, sidesmen, Parish Church Council school managers, and verger of All Saints' Church; Miss young; Mr. Maurice G.W. Burton; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Spicer; Joan and Hugh Whistler; fellow magistrates, Bexhill. The whole of the funeral arrangements wee carried out by Messrs. J. Vine and Son, of 46, High-street. A LETTER FROM MR. C. B. GABB. We received the following on Thursday:-- SIR, -- You are sure to have told elsewhere of the death of one of our senior and at one time quite amongst the best known, all the way round, of our townsmen, and published to your readers many points of interest in his long local life. Tom Parkin, as he was ever most widely called, was my very oldest friend, and when asking you to print these lines, please forgive me if they seem couched in warmer personal terms than is usual in the public Press, and may seem to read not quite germane to those who forget there was "a yesterday" in life. When St. Stephen, as read in Acts vii, so boldly faced the Sanhedrim and told it many home truths, he quoted the Book of Exodus: "Another king arose, which knew not Joseph." Now that is very true indeed of my friend; the day and generation of which he was a most vivid and up-to-date part, full of its ideas and plans, has long passed, and is even very much forgotten. Going back some 15 years, then for 50 years before that (outside local political and municipal affairs), there was no better known, or linked or more active personality, warmly welcomed on all sides in Hastings and East Sussex, than was my now departed friend. He was early Victorian in his birth, and he was always mid-Victorian in his birth, and he was always mid-Victorian in his wide outlook of life; and therefore he became not over reasonable sometimes in the eyes of younger generations, nor they in his. Still he made and kept his real mark in many walks of life, of which you are sure to have told. I believe that I am correct in saying that my father (the late Mr. D.H. Gabb) was present when Mr. Parkin was born at Halton Vicarage 87 years ago. He was certainly talking to Mrs. Parkin (the mother) there a year or two after, when that lady, sitting in her chair, suddenly and unexpectedly died of an embolism some weeks before another child was due to be born. I personally for years attended the father (the late Rev. John Parkin), vicar for over 30 years of St. Clement's, Halton, and I saw him daily for many weeks before his death there on September 7th, 1887, and learned from him so very much I know of Hastings life, long forgotten, when Sarah Countess Waldegrave (formerly Mrs. Milward) (he was her private chaplain), from "The Mansion" at the top of High-street, ruled the Old Town with a very iron hand, minus sometimes the velvet glove. This week my cousin (Dr. Harry Gabb), after 28 years of sincere friendship and mutual high regard on both sides, has seen Mr. Tom Parkin pass to his rest. That, all told, is a very strong personal and professional unbroken friendship of nearly 90 years between the two families, begun when my father first came to the town and to Wellington-square in the mid 'forties of the last century as partner to Mr. Robert Ranking, who was Mayor of Hastings exactly 100 years ago. When, in the future, some ecclesiastically- minded person essays to write up a "Kalendar of Local Saints," good Christian and active Churchman as he was, maybe Mr. Thomas Parkin may not be over highly In my arms a score of volumes, and -- I beg you not to smile -- In my lap another dozen, and he's talking all the while. In fact, I often think that house which crowns High Wickham's hill, That tower-like house, where, if awake, I'm sure he's talking still; That very pumping place of talk -- talk witty, brilliant, able -- Should re-christened be from "Fairseat" to "T. Parkin's Tower of Babel." He's our Doyen and our Dodo, with a slipper on each leg (See the sketch by Harry Furniss), he's our only Great Auk's egg. Fairseat is packed with precious things, floor, table, wall and shelf, But the priceless and most precious thing, dear Parkin, is yourself. No one was more amused by this atrocious jingle than was the subject of it, for he showed it to most of his callers, adding with a chuckle: "Kernahan is as great a gabbler as I am, so I told him it was a clear case of the kettle calling the pot black." So it was. There was an occasion at the Savage Club when even I, who am said to talk nineteen to the dozen, had to give Parkin "best." At the Savage the bearers of famous names in all walks of life are everyday to be seen, and there one hears not only the latest funny "story," but also corruscations of witty and amusing talk. But when Parkin was my guest there, and though the editor of a great "Review," the editor of a popular magazine, three famous authors, a Cabinet Minister, a well-known actor, and a well-known entertainer were at the table with us -- Parkin out-talked the lot of us. One story he told amused my "brother savages" not a little. "Kernahan's charming and gifted wife," he said, "did me the honour of dedicating a novl of hers to me, and very proud I was. But she took away my character sadly in doing so, for the dear lady quite forgot that I was a bachelor when she dedicated a book called 'The Chance Child' 'To our old friend, Mr. Tom Parkin.'" Then he told my guests a story -- this time against himself. "As the chairman of the County Bench," he said, "I sometimes have to warn my fellow citizens against taking the law into their own hands. Bit, like Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice,' 'I can better teach twenty what were well to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.'" It seemed that a rascal of a boy had committed some misdemeanour -- I think that Parkin said the young ruffian had deliberately broken one of the windows of Fairseat by throwing stones at the house, and that when charged with the offence the boy brazenly lied about it, and was insulting to Parkin as well. So as the boy's parents were poor folk, Parkin thought it would be kinder to them, and would perhaps teach their rascal of a son a very necessary lesson, if he administered physical chastisement to the offender instead of summoning the parents and compelling them to pay for the damage done. To his surprise, the parents summoned him for an assault upon their son, and chairman of the County Bench as he was, his fellow magistrates had no option but to fine him some small sum for a technical breach of the law. "But what made the matter worse," said Parkin, "was what happened afterwards. I live at High Wickham, Hastings. Conceive what I felt when someone sent me a letter, addresed: -- T. Parkin, Esq., J.P., I Whack'em -- not High Wickham, Hastings." No one more greatly enjoyed the joke -- against himself as it was -- than did Tom Parkin, perhaps the most distinguished, the most representative, and, I believe, the best beloved figure in all Hastings and St. Leonards. When I suggested to my friend, the Rev. H.J. Boyd, that such a club as The Twenty Club now is, should be founded, and he inquired: "Whom would you invite to join it?" my reply was: "The very first name of all is, of course, the honoured name of Tom Parkin," and as Parkin cordially accepted the invitation, he was, at the time of his death, the senior member and doyen of a club in which he took the keenest interest. I believe I am right in saying that his last public appearance in Hastings was when he took the chair at The Twenty Club lunch to Lord Conway. If, in the course of these hurried and random recollections of an eminent fellow- townsman, I have written in a light instead of a serious vein, it is because when I, too, go hence I hope there will be no darkened rooms or drawn blinds, and that there will be happy and human, rather than sad memories. Moreover, when last I spent an hour not ver long ago, in the fascinatingly interesting room, almost a museum, in which dear Parkin lived and worked and slept, he spoke of the approach of death -- not with the dull, dreadful and compelled acquiescence in the inevitable with which some persons speak of their coming end, but with calm faith, with hope, and with resignation. Very beautiful it Wal ST. LEONARD'S OBSERVER, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1932 WINTER IN COMFORT WITH BLACKMAN'S LARGE NUTS VERY HOT, LASTING. COKE NUTS unequalled for Domestic Boilers and Central Heating. ANTHRACITE NUTS 38, KING'S ROAD, ST. LEONARDS ('Phone 427). 26, HAVELOCK RD., HASTINGS ('Phone 660). GRIFFIN Cricket Club dance, Oct. 19th. MUSIC FESTIVAL. -- The syllabus for the Hastings Music Festival, 1933, is now ready, price 3d., from 9, Verulam-place, St. Leonards. BUNTINGS WHIST DRIVES. -- Whist drives will be held at Buntings cafe, Harold-place, on Monday and Friday at 8 p.m. Ticket 1s. Profits will be given to local charities. LITERARY SOCIETY. -- The Hastings and St. Leonards Literary Society will hold its opening meeting on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Mayor (Councillor G. H. Ormerod, J.P.) will preside. NIGGER TROUPE CONCERT. -- The "Black Birds" nigger troupe will give a concert at Holy Trinity Parish Hall on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The proceeds are for the organ fund. Tickets 1s. 2d. and 7d. TRADESMEN'S BALL. -- The tradesman's ball, at the White Rock Pavilion on Tuesday, from 8 p.m. to 2.30 a.m., should draw large crowds. The Harmony Aces (augmented) orchestra will be in attendance. Tickets can be obtained at the White Rock Pavilion or from Attwells, Binfield and Co., Grand-parade, St. Leonards. DEATH OF MRS. WHICHER. -- We regret to record the death last week of Mrs. Clara Whicher, at the age of 73 years. The deceased lady was the wife of Mr. W. P. S. Whicher, of Ben Rinnes, Filsham-road. The funeral took place on Monday, the interment being at the Church-in-the-Wood, Hollington, with the Rev. A. B. Taylor officiating. There was a large number of beautiful floral tributes. The whole of the funeral arrangements were admirably conducted by Mr. Arthur C. Towner, 25 and 69, Norman-road, St. Leonards. ESPERANTO. -- The local Esperanto Group's first meeting of the season took place on Monday evening at the Crossways Tearoom. After the reports and the election of officers, three members of the Group, Mr. J. J. Boutwood and the Rev. and Mrs. E. H. Kersley, who had attended the International Esperanto Congress at Paris in August, gave brief accounts of their impressions. Congratulations were expressed to Miss E. M. Pain, of Clive Vale, who was successful in passing the Society of Arts Intermediate Examination in Esperanto during the summer. THE LATE MRS. PANKHURS. -- On Tuesday of last week the death occurred of Mrs. Lily Edith Pankhurst, of 9, Fearonroad. The funeral took place on Saturday at the Borough Cemetery, where the Rev. E. Robinson officiated. The mourners included Mrs. Hill (mother), Mr. C. Hill (brother), Mrs. A. Chattaway (Wolverhampton, sister), Miss G. Hill (sister), Miss H. Hill (sister), Mr. F. Pankhurst (sister-in-law) and Mr. Read. Many beautiful floral tributes from relatives and friends were received. Mr. H. Burton, 88, Stonefieldroad, ably arranged and conducted the funeral. THE McMICHAEL DUPLEX MAINS FOUR (TRANSPORTABLE) Price 100/115 volts 220/250 volts 40/100 cycles 40/100 cycles 21 Gns. (25 CYCLE MODELS 22 GUINEAS). "RELEASE INITIATIVE." LORD EUSTACE PERCY ON PROBLEMS OF GOVERNMENT. ADDRESS TO ROUND TABLE MEMBERS. "The whole of our Parliamentary and local government machinery is a clogging of initiative in some way. At the present time it is clogged by every kind of restriction." In these words Lord Eustace Percy, the Borough Member, stigmatised the present parliamentary system at an address on "Parliament" to members of the Hastings Round Table at the Creamery Cafe on Tuesday evening. The Chairman of the Table (Mr. A. V. Owen) presided, and others present included the President (Mr. Alfred Dyer, J.P.), Mr. R. F. Boutwood, and Mr. Percy Webber (President of the Bexhill Rotary Club). Lord Eustace Perry dealt concisely and informatively with the operations of Parliament, and criticised its cumbrous procedure. He urged his hearers not to under-rate, however, the immense value of the old procedure of securing the redress of grievances before money was voted. "The free government must be a government where public grousings are continually being expressed," he said. "The danger of any regime like the Mussolini regime, is that he whole time you are surprising a growing dislike of a large number of people for a good many of the things you are doing, and you are concealing it form yourself. THE PRIVATE MEMBER'S ROLE. "Don't expect from your private Member of Parliament too much constructive work in Parliament. Encourage him, rather, to be critical, even if he doesn't appear to be constructively critical, because nine-tenths of the job of the private member is to be continually mildly destructive, but to be destructive in a practical way. In practice, the Bills which a private member can bring forward are rather little Bills. If he tries to bring forward anything very far reaching, he touches a great number of legal rights, and often his Bill is not workable. "Parliament exists to provide the country at any moment with an alternative Government. The private member's influence may be negative, but it is the private member who has to provide at some time the Government of the future. You see every dictatorship in Europe breaking down upon that point. No human organisation or Government remains permanently good. Government is a spiritually dangerous trade that very few people survive very long. Your dictatorship comes up against a mountain when it is tired and worn out, and there is no alternative. The dominating function of Parliament is to make sure that when you are tired of one Government, there is a reasonably efficient Government coming on. That is the only way which has been discovered of getting continuity and steady development in Parliament. "Parliament has got to provide leaders. Most people think they could be political leaders of a very much superior type than those who are in power. But political leadership of a nation like this, with its extreme diversities, economic and otherwise, between north and south is a much rarer thing than people suppose, and needs a much longer training. I think one of the weaknesses of Parliament at the present moment is that too few of us are really professional politicians in the old sense. The politician of the old school trained in the job had a quality, a sense of the nation as a whole, that you very rarely get in these days when most Members of Parliament have to earn their living at the same time, and have come into the job late. I would put in a word for the old politicians. "You get a situation as you have at the present moment, when, if you try to do anything in this country, political, economical, or anything, you will find the ground covered with dead wood and beset with man traps." Lord Eustace instanced Mr. A. P. Herbert's advocacy of water-buses on the Thames, and the host of authorities and legal restrictions which would have to be met before a single water-bus could take the river. A RUBBER STAMP. "Parliament," he continued, "can only exercise a general control, and just as you have had to hand over the whole business of fixing tariffs to the Tariff Committee, you will have to hand over a tremendously large area of legislative functions for a reconstruction of administrative authority. You will have to reduce Parliament in many ways, for many purposes, to the position of a rubber stamp. I believe we shall have to re-organise this country from top to bottom, and is it any good asking 600 gentlemen to undertake the enormously complicated task before you? "It is more and more difficult for the individual Member of Parliament to have any initiative, because the Government has to take up Parliament's time in putting through vastly complicated pieces of legislation, and you have to free it, just as you have to free local authorities, of a great deal of the work they are now called on to do. How can you expect a local authority to run the schools, build the roads, run tramways, and look after public health, all under one hat? We have got to free our great constitutional bodies of a great deal if they are to function properly. "Why have we succeeded in developing steadily in this country? Because we always succeeded in delegating powers to someone else when the machinery of our Government got too complicated. The danger when you are considering government, is that the efficient organisation you set up yesterday may prevent you setting up more efficient BRIGHTENING UP PARLIAMENT. IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS ADOPTED FOR LOCAL HOUSE. DEBATES ON NON-POLITICAL SUBJECTS. Steps to brighten up the meetings of the Hastings Parliament in order to increase the membership were made at an extraordinary general meeting at the Metropole Assembly Rooms on Thursday evening. There were about 200 members present. A proposal by Councillor W. J. Beck that topical as apart from political subjects be discussed on at least two evenings in the session was passed. A revised plan of the House and standing orders placing the Parliament on a similar footing to the parent body at Westminster, were also approved by the members. The report of the committee appointed at the annual meeting, to consider rules and procedure was read by the Hon. Secretary (Mrs. Sadler). It stated that a letter had been published by the Press inviting suggestions, but no proposals had been received. "The committee are unanimously of the opinion," continued the report, "that the falling off in membership of the society last session was not attributable so much to the loss of interest in the Parliament itself, but rather to the cumulative effect of the undue amount of interruption of speakers and the regrettable existence of a certain degree of personal animosity during the session 1930-31; the temporary disruption caused by the formation of and activities of the Empire Party during that session; the occurrence of the General Election at the opening of the 1931-32 session; the incidences of the National Government at Westminster tending to limit the scope of debate on party lines; and the lack of active participation in the debate by the large majority of the members, resulting in a small group of active members being obliged to speak at almost every debate in order to keep the discussion alive, this being wearisome to the speakers as well as to the listeners." In order to stimulate interest, a large number of changes in procedure were recommended, including the election of the Speaker in the same manner as at Westminster. It was recommended that when a Bill was to be debated it should be formally introduced at the conclusion of the proceedings at the meeting preceding the debate. Other suggestions were that the address in reply to the King's Speech be moved and seconded by backbenchers and that in the absence of any amendment the debate on the King's Speech be limited to one evening. Councillor Beck, moving the adoption of the report, paid tribute to the work of Mr. Lea in co-operation with the committee. Colonel de Salis seconded. PARTY LEADERS TO BLAME. Mr. R. T. Elders said that the fact that a larger number of members did not participate in the debate was not the fault of the members themselves. It was due to reorganisation by the party leaders. The Speaker said that the committee was not blaming any of the members for not coming forward. Mr. W. E. Leffler thought new members were very diffident, because if they rose three or four times and were always told to sit down by the party leader because it was arranged somebody else should speak, they became downhearted and did not come again. The Speaker said that when a new member rose to speak he was generally given preference. Mr. Godfrey West declared that the difficulty had been that they could not get enough speakers, and he was sure that anyone who wished to speak would be given every encouragement to do so. Referring to the statement in the report that no suggestions had been received, Mr. G. H. Child said he had in fact submitted a suggestion that a speaker should be invited to come down from London once a month and at the end of the evening give a constructive criticism of the speeches. "It might put an end to some of the terrible things we have to sit and listen to," he added, amid laughter. He was glad to see that an attempt was being made to tighten up the little niceties. Members had developed a lack of respect for the House during the last year or two. For instance, when members were leaving the House to vote they often started to light their pipes. If local topics were discussed in addition to political matters he thought the backbenchers would be encouraged to speak. The Speaker said he was not suggesting there had been no recommendations at all, but that there had been none in reply to the letter published in the Press. Mr. Child's proposal had been fully discussed by the committee, who felt that if it was adopted it would probably stifle the members. Mr. C. Lillicrap said the difficulty was that at a resumed debated so many members wished to speak that, before everybody had the chance to do so, the debate was closed. Another difficulty was that a member often went prepared to speak on what he had heard the previous week, and then an amendment was moved and what he hadCOMFORT WITH BLACKMAN'S LARGE NUTS VERY HOT, LASTING. COKE NUTS unequalled for Domestic Boilers and Central Heating. ANTHRACITE NUTS 38, KING'S ROAD, ST. LEONARDS ('Phone 427). 26, HAVELOCK RD., HASTINGS ('Phone 660). GRIFFIN Cricket Club dance, Oct. 19th. MUSIC FESTIVAL. -- The syllabus for the Hastings Music Festival, 1933, is now ready, price 3d., from 9, Verulam-place, St. Leonards. BUNTINGS WHIST DRIVES. -- Whist drives will be held at Buntings Cafe, Harold-place, on Monday and Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets 1s. Profits will be given to local charities. LITERARY SOCIETY. -- The Hastings and St. Leonards Literary Society will hold its opening meeting on Friday at 7.30 p.m. The Mayor (Councillor G. H. Ormerod, J.P.) will preside. NIGGER TROUPE CONCERT. -- The 'Black Birds" nigger troupe will give a concert at Holy Trinity Parish Hall on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The proceeds are for the organ fund. Tickets 1s. 2d. and 7d. TRADESMEN'S BA;;. -- The tradesmen's ball, at the White Rock Pavilion on Tuesday, from 8 p.m. to 2.30 a/m/. should draw large crowds. The Harmony Aces (augmented) orchestra will be in attendance. Tickets can be obtained at the White Rock Pavilion or from Attwells, Binfield and Co., Grand-parade, St. Leonards. DEATH OF MRS. WHICHER. -- We regret to record the death last week of Mrs. Clara Whicher, at the age of 73 years. The deceased lady was the wife of Mr. W.P.S. Whicher, of Ben Rinnes, Filsham-road. The funeral took place on Monday, the interment being at the Church-in-the-Wood, Hollington, with the Rev. A.B. Taylor officiating. There was a large number of beautiful floral tributes. The whole of the funeral arrangements were admirably conducted by Mr. Arthur C. Towner, 25 and 69, Norman-road, St. Leonards. ESPERANTO. -- The local Esperanto Group's first meeting of the season took place on Monday evening at the Crossways Tearoom. After the reports and the election of officers, three members of the Group, Mr. J.J. Boutwood and the Rev. and Mrs. E. H. Kersley, who had attended the International Esperanto Congress at Paris in August, gave brief accounts of their impressions. Congratulations were expressed to Miss E. M. Pain, of Clive Vale, who was successful in passing the Society of Arts Intermediate Examination in Esperanto during the summer. THE LATE MRS. PANKHURST. -- On Tuesday of last week the death occurred of Mrs. Lily Edith Pankhurst, of 9, Fearon- road. The funeral took place on Saturday at the Borough Cemetery, where the Rev. E. Robinson officiated. The mourners included Mrs. Hill (mother), Mr. C. Hill (brother), Mrs. A. Chattaway (Wolver- Hampton, sister), Miss G. Hill (sister), Miss [?] Hill (sister), Mr. F. Pankhurst (brother-in-law), Miss A. Pankhurst (sister-in-law) and Mr. Read. Many beautiful floral [?]ributes from relatives and friends were received. Mr. H. Burton, 88, Stonefield- road, ably arranged and conducted the funeral. ------------------------------------------------ THE MCMICHAEL DUPLEX MAINS FOUR (TRANSPORTABLE) Price 100/115 volts 200/250 volts 40/100 cycles 40/100 cycles 21 Gns. (25 CYCLE MODELS 22 GUINEAS). HIRE PURCHASE TERMS: 50 cycles Deposit ... ... ... .... £3 10 0 10 monthly payments ... .... ... £2 2 0 25 Cycles Deposit .... .... ...... £3 15 0 10 monthly payments ... ... ... £2 4 0 NEITHER AERIAL NOR EARTH necessary. Simply plug into the mains for which the set is designed, and a superlative performance may be obtained at once. IN STOCK AT -- G. FRED CLLOW'S 69, London Rd., ST. LEONARDS 'Phone 13. Just below "Regal" Cinema. THE LATE MR. DINHAM. -- The death took place on October 1st. of Mr. Charles Albert Dinham, at his residence, Rookery [?]ook, Horns Cross, Northiam. The funeral was on Thursday of last week, the cremation taking place at Golders Green. The chief mourners were: Mr. Dinham widow), Mr. Parkin (stepson), Mrs. Flook sister), Mrs. Weymouth and Mrs. Pfall, Mrs. Williams (sister-in-law) and Mrs. Pattenden (niece.) The funeral arrangements at Northiam and Golders Green were [?] the hands of Messrs. Douglas C. Mercer and Son. Alam-terrace, Silverhill, and were carried out to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. TWENTY GOOD STORIES. -- In "Foot-steps at the Forge," that famous writer, [?lton] Eadie, has given us a mystery story of exceptional merit. It is one of the many [?ne] tales in the November "20 Story" Magazine, now on sale. Lovers of thrilling action will find ample fare in this fine number, which also includes "Crosswords for [?rooks.]" a tale with an ingenious solution ADDRESS TO ROUND TABLE MEMBERS. "The whole of our Parliamentary and local government machinery is a clogging of initiative in some way. At the present time it is clogged by every kind of restriction." In these words Lord Eustace Percy, the Borough Member, stigmatised the present parliamentary system at an address on "Parliament" to members of the Hastings Round Table at the Creamery Cafe on Tuesday evening. The Chairman of the Table (Mr. A.V. Owen) presided, and others present included the President (Mr. Alfred Dyer, J.P.), Mr. R.F. Boutwood, and Mr. Percy Webber (President of the Bexhill Rotary Club). Lord Eustace Percy dealt concisely and informatively with the operations of Parliament. and criticised its cumbrous procedure. He urged his hearers not to under-rate, however, the immense value of the old procedure of securing the redress of grievances before money was voted. "The free government must be a government where public grousings are continually being expressed," he said. "The danger of any regime like the Mussolini regime, is that the whole time you are suppressing a growing dislike of a large number of people for a good many of the things you are doing, and you are concealing it from yourself. THE PRIVATE MEMBER'S ROLE. "Don't expect from your private Member of Parliament too much constructive work in Parliament. Encourage him, rather, to be critical, even if he doesn't appear to be constructively critical, because nine-tenths of the job of the private member is to be continually mildly destructive, but to be destructive in a practical way. In practice, the Bills which a private member can bring forward are rather little Bills. If he tries to bring forward anything very far reaching, he touches a great number of legal rights, and often his Bill is not workable. "Parliament exists to provide the country at any moment with an alternative Government. The private member's influence may be negative, but it is the private member who has to provide at some time the Government of the future. You see every dictatorship in Europe breaking down upon that point. No human organisation or Government remains permanently good. Government remains permanently good. Government is a spiritually dangerous trade that very few people survive very long. Your dictatorship comes up against a mountain when it is tired and worn out, and there is no alternative. The dominating function of Parliament is to make sure that when you are tired of one Government, there is a reasonably efficient Government coming on. That is the only way which has been discovered of getting continuity and steady development in Parliament. "Parliament has got to provide leaders. Most people think they could be political leaders of a very much superior type than those who are in power. But political leader- ship of a nation like this, with its extreme diversities, economic and otherwise, between north and south is a much rarer thing than people suppose, and needs a much linger training. I think one of the weaknesses of Parliament at the present moment is that too few of us are really professional politicians in the old sense. The politician of the old school trained in the job had a quality, a sense of the nation as a whole, that you very rarely get in these days when most Members of Parliament have to earn their living at the same time, and have come into the job late. I would put in a word for the old politicians. "You get a situation as you have at the present moment, when, if you try to do anything in this country, political, economical, or anything, you will find the ground covered with dead wood and beset with man traps." Lord Eustace instanced Mr. A. P. Herbert's advocacy of water-buses on the Thames, and the house of authorities and legal restrictions which would have to be met before a single water-bus could take the river. A RUBBER STAMP "Parliament," he continued, "can only exercise a general control, and just as you have had to hand over the whole business of fixing tariffs to the Tariff Committee, you will have to hand over a tremendously large area of legislative functions for a recon- struction of administrative authority. You will have to reduce Parliament in many ways, for many purposes, to the position of a rubber stamp. I believe we shall have to re-organise this country from top to bottom, and is it any good asking 600 gentlemen to undertake the enormously complicated task before you? "It is more and more difficult for the in- dividual Member of Parliament to have any initiative, because the Government has to take up Parliament's time in putting through vastly complicated pieces of legis- lation, and you have to free it, just as you have to free local authorities, of a great deal of the work they are now called on to do. How can you expect a local authority to run the schools, build the roads, run tramways, and look after public health, all under one hat? We have got to free our great con- stitutional bodies of a great deal if they are to function properly. "Why have we succeeded in developing steadily in this country? Because we always succeeded in delegating powers to someone else when the machinery of our Government got too complicated. The danger when you are considering government, is that the efficient organisation you set up yesterday may prevent you setting up more efficient organisations to-morrow." Proposing a vote of thanks to Lord Eustace, Mr. Dyer spoke of the value of the Round Table. He knew of no young men's organiation that carried out a more useful function. "It is from these young men," he said "that we are going to get our rulers in the future. As president, I am only too delighted to say that this Table has found more than one way of showing its usefulness." Lord Eustace, in reply, said there was no organisation in Hastings he would more like to help. The Hastings Round Table was a real dynamo of possible voluntary work in the town. If he could do anything to help on its own initiative in any direction it took, he would be glad to do so. JEPSON'S DEMONSTRATIONS FOUNTAIN PENS GUARANTEED FOR A LIFETIME PERFECT COFFEE AND IDEAL PAINT Guaranteed unconditionally for the user's lifetime, Sheaffer's balance lifetime pens will be demonstrated by a Sheaffer expert at Jepson's, 12, Robertson-street, from Monday, October 17th, to Saturday, October 22nd. Sheaffer pens, pencils and desk sets are distinguished by their beauty of colouring, exquisite workmanship and graceful out- lines. Providing any part of a Sheaffer pen, together with any broken parts, is returned, a new pen will be sent. Free sample bottles of Skrip, the successor to ink, will be obtainable. Visitors to Janson's are invited IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS ADOPTED FOR LOCAL HOUSE. DEBATES ON NON-POLITICAL SUBJECTS Steps to brighten up the meetings of the Hastings Parliament in order to increase the membership were made at an extraordinary general meeting at the Metropole Assembly Rooms on Thursday evening. There were about 200 members present. A proposal by Councillor W. J. Beck that topical as apart from political subjects be discussed on at least two evenings in the session was passed. A revised plan of the House and standing orders placing the Par- liament on a similar footing to the parent body at Westminster, were also approved by the members. The report of the committee appointed at the annual meeting, to consider rules and procedure was read by the Hon. Secretary (Mrs. Sadler). It stated that a letter had been published by the Press inviting sug- gestions, but no proposals had been received. "The committee are unanimously of the opinion," continued the report, "that the falling off in membership of the society last session was not attributable so much to the loss of interest in the Parliament itself, but rather to the cumulative effect of the undue amount of interruption of speakers and the regrettable existence of a certain degree of personal animosity during the session 1930-31; the temporary disruption caused by the formation of and activities of the Empire Party during that session; the occurrence of the General Election at the opening of the 1931-32 session; the inci- dence of the National Government at West- minster tending to limit the scope of debate on party lines; and the lack of active par- ticipation in the debate by the large majority of the members, resulting in a small group of active members being obliged to speak at almost every debate in order to keep the discussion alive, this being weari- some to the speakers as well as to the listeners." In order to stimulate interest, a large number of changes in procedure were recommended, including the election of the Speaker in the same manner as at West- minster. It was recommended that when a Bill was to be debated it should be formally introduced at the conclusion of the proceedings at the meeting preceding the debate. Other suggestions were that the address in reply to the King's Speech be moved and seconded by backbenchers and that in the absence of any amendment the debate on the King's Speech be limited to one evening. Councillor Beck, moving the adoption of the report, paid tribute to the work of Mr. Lea in co-operation with the committee. Colonel de Salis seconded. PARTY LEADERS TO BLAME. Mr. R. T. Elders said that the fact that a larger number of members did not parti- cipate in the debate was not the fault of the members themselves. It was due to reorganisation by the party leaders. The Speaker said that the committee was not blaming any of the members for not coming forward. Mr. W. E. Leffler thought new members were very diffident, because if they rose three or four times and were always told to sit down by the party leader because it was arranged somebody else should speak, they became downhearted and did not come again. The Speaker said that when a new member rose to speak he was generally given preference. Mr. Godfrey West declared that the diffi- culty had been that they could not get enough speakers, and he was sure that any- one who wished to speak would be given every encouragement to do so. Referring to the statement in the report that no suggestions had been received, Mr. G. H. Child said he had in fact submitted a suggestion that a speaker should be in- vited to come down from London once a month and at the end of the evening give a constructive criticism of the speeches. "It might put an end to some of the terrible things we have to sit and listen to," he added, amid laughter. He was glad to see that an attempt was being made to tighten up the little niceties. Members had developed a lack of respect for the House during the last year or two. For instance, when members were leaving the House to vote they often started to light their pipes. If local topics were dis- cussed in addition to political matters he thought the backbenchers would be encour- aged to speak. The Speaker said he was not suggesting there had been no recommendations at all, but that there had been none in reply to the letter published in the Press. Mr. Child's proposal had been fully discussed by the committee, who felt that if it was adopted it would probably stifle the members. Mr. C. Lilliecrap said the difficulty was that at a resumed debate so many members wished to speak that, before everybody had the chance to do so, the debate was closed. Another difficulty was that a member often went prepared to speak on what he had heard the previous week, and then an amendment was moved and what he had been prepared to say was wasted. The Speaker pointed out that the remedy in the first case lay in a member's own hands, as he could move the adjournment of the debate. A back-bencher contended that interest in a debate should be the deciding factor as to whether it should be resumed, and he thought that party leaders should get together and consider whether a subject was of sufficient interest to be further discussed. SUNDAY GAMES Councillor Beck proposed that a new rule should be made empowering the council to arrange debates on non-political subjects on not more than two evenings in any one ses- sion if the members so desired. By doing this the society would be considerably brightened up and it would be a welcome relief from ordinary procedure. He men- tioned two topics which were of general in- terest at the present time- greyhound racing, which was discussed by the Town Council yesterday (Friday) and Sunday games. The public had never had the opportunity of hearing both sides of the question of Sunday games, and if the society discussed the subject he considered it would be doing the town a service. The Speaker asked Councillor Beck to differentiate between his proposal and the provisions made for private members' motions. Councillor Beck pointed out that the pre- sent rule for a private member's motion only permitted a member to speak for about 15 minutes. "If you want to discuss Com- munism," he said, "you would be able to get down Mr. "Jimmy" Maxton and have a man of equal calibre on the opposite side and let them go ding-dong at each other for about two hours." Colonel P. Williams Till said that if the proposal was adopted the word "Parliamen- tary" would have to be omitted from the title of the debating society. LITERARY SOCIETY. —The Hastings and St. Leonards Literary Society will hold its opening meeting on Friday at 7.30 p.m. The Mayor (Councillor G.H. Ormerod, J.P.) will preside. NIGGER TROUPE CONCERT. — The "Black Birds" nigger troupe will give a concert at Holy Trinity Parish Hall on Wednesday at 8 p,m. The proceeds are for the organ fund. Tickets 1s. 2d. and 7d. TRADESMEN'S BALL. —The tradesmen's ball, at the White Rock Pavilion on Tuesday, from 8 p.m. to 2.30 a.m., should draw large crowds. The Harmony Aces (augmented) orchestra will be in attendance. Tickets can be obtained at the White Rock Pavilion or from Attwells, Binfield and Co., Grand-parade, St. Leonards. DEATH OF MRS. WHICHER. —We regret to record the death last week of Mrs. Clara Whicher, at the age of 73 years. The deceased lady was the wife of Mr. W. P. S. Whicher, of Ben Rinnes, Filsham-road. The funeral took place on Monday, the interment being at the Church-in-the-Wood, Hollington, with the Rev. A. B. Taylor officiating. There was a large number of beautiful floral tributes. The whole of the funeral arrangements were admirably conducted by Mr. Arthur C. Towner, 25 and 69, Norman-road, St. Leonards. ESPERANTO. — The local Esperanto Group's first meeting of the season took place on Monday evening at the Crossways Tearoom. After the reports and the election of officers, three members of the Group, Mr. J. J. Boutwood and the Rev. and Mrs. E. H. Kersley, who had attended the International Esperanto Congress at Paris in August, gave brief accounts of their impressions. Congratulations were expressed to Miss E. M. Pain, of Clive Vale, who was successful in passing the Society of Arts Intermediate Examination in Esperanto during the summer. THE LATE MRS. PANKHURST. —On Tuesday of last week the death occurred of Mrs. Lily Edith Pankhurst, of 9, Fearon-road. The funeral took place on Saturday at the Borough Cemetery, where the Rev. E. Robinson officiated. The mourners included Mrs. Hill (mother), Mr. C. Hill (brother), Mrs. A. Chattaway (Wolver- Hampton, sister), Miss G. Hill (sister), Miss M. Hill (sister), Mr. F. Pankhurst (brother- in-law), Miss A. Pankhurst (sister-in-law) and Mr. Read. Many beautiful floral tributes from relatives and friends were received. Mr. H. Burton, 88, Stonefield- road, ably arranged and conducted the funeral. THE MCMICHAEL DUPLEX MAINS FOUR (TRANSPORTABLE) Price 100/115 volts 200/250 volts 40/100 cycles 40/100 cycles 21 Gns. (25 CYCLE MODELS 22 GUINEAS). HIRE PURCHASE TERMS: 50 cycles Deposit ... ... ... ... £3 10 0 10 monthly payments ... ... £2 2 0 25 Cycles Deposit ... ... ... £3 15 0 10 monthly payments ... ... ... £2 4 0 NEITHER AERIAL NOR EARTH necessary. Simply plug into the mains for which the set is designed, and a superlative performance may be obtained at once. IN STOCK AT -- G. FRED CALLOW'S 69, London Rd., ST. LEONARDS 'Phone 13. Just below "Regal" Cinema. --------------------------------------------- THE LATE MR. DINHAM. —The death took place on October 1st. of Mr. Charles Albert Dinham, at his residence, Rookery Nook, Horns Cross, Northiam. The funeral was on Thursday of last week the cremation taking place at Golders Green. The chief mourners were: Mrs. Dinham (widow), Mr. Parkin (stepson), Mrs. Flook (sister), Mrs. Weymouth and Mrs. Pfaff, Mrs. Williams (sister-in-law) and Mrs. Pattenden (niece.) The funeral arrangements at Northiam and Golders Green were in the hands of 'Messrs. Douglas C. Mercer and Son, Alam-terrace, Silverhill, and were carried out to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. TWENTY GOOD STORIES. —In "Foot-steps at the Forge," that famous writer, Arlton Eadie, has given us a mystery story of exceptional merit. It is one of the many fine tales in the November "20 Story" Magazine, now on sale. Lovers of thrilling action will find ample fare in this fine number, which also includes "Crosswords for Crooks," a tale with an ingenious solution, by Paul Chadwick; "Not for Sale," by Lemuel De Bra, in which yellow and white rooks fall out; and another South Seas story, "Typhoon for Trouble," by Albert Richard Wetjen. For an enjoyable time in front of a cosy fire, be sure to buy the November "20 Story" Magazine. THE LATE MISS LIMEBEER. —Many friends in Clive Vale will learn with regret of the death of Miss Limebeer, at her residence, 142, Edmund-road, at the age of 76 years. The interment took place on Friday in the family grave at Highgate Cementery, when the Rev. H. J. Allison Suter officiated. The chief mourners were Mrs. Field (sister), Miss Pinnock (niece), Mr. F. Field and Miss Porter (companion and friend for many years, to whom depest sympathy will be extended). Numerous floral tributes were received. The relatives wish to express their appreciation to Mr. B. M. Harman, of 25, Queen's-road, for his kindness and sympathetic manner in which the funeral arrangements were carried out. TOC H WOMEN HELPERS. —Last Saturday and Sunday a conference was held at the Toc H Headquarters in Priory-street, Hastings, by the women's branch (usually known as the League of Women Helpers). Six towns were represented—Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, Burwash, Lewes, Bexhill, and Hastings. The chair was taken by Miss Dusart, of Bexhill, the area secretary. After refreshments had been served, the padre of Toc H, the Rev. H. H. Tarrant, of St. Peter's Church, gave an interesting and helpful talk. The various representatives attended Communion at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday, after which the day was given over to discussions of Toc H problems, the chair again being taken by Miss Dusart. Any ladies interested in the movement are invited to communicate with Miss D. Dusart, 12, Parkhurst-road, Bexhill, or Miss C. M. Elgar, the local secretary, of 170, Downs-road, Hastings. The Hastings branch, reaching, he touches a great number of [???] rights, and often his Bill is not workable. "Parliament exists to provide the country at any moment with an alternative Government. The private member's influence may be negative. but it is the private member who has to provide at some time the Government of the future. You see every dictatorship in Europe breaking down upon that point. No human organisation or Government remains permanently good. Government is a spiritually dangerous trade that very few people survive very long. Your dictatorship comes up against a mountain when it is tired and worn out, and there is no alternative. The dominating function of Parliament is to make sure that when you are tired of one Government, there is a reasonably efficient Government coming on. That is the only way which has been discovered of getting continuity and steady development in Parliament. "Parliament has got to provide leaders. Most people think they could be political leaders of a very much superior type than those who are in power. But political leadership of a nation like this, with its extreme diversities, economic and otherwise, between north and south is a much rarer thing than people suppose, and needs a much longer training. I think one of the weaknesses of Parliament at the present moment is that too few of us are really professional politicians in the old sense. The politician of the old school trained in the job had a quality, a sense of the nation as a whole, that you very rarely get in these days when most Members of Parliament have to earn their living at the same time, and have come into the job late. I would put in a word for the old politicians. "You get a situation as you have at the present moment, when, it you try to do anything in this country, political, economical, or anything, you will find the ground covered with dead wood and beset with man traps." Lord Eustace instanced Mr. A. P. Herbert's advocacy of water-buses on the Thames, and the host of authorities and legal restrictions which would have to be met before a single water-bus could take the river. A RUBBER STAMP. "Parliament," he continued, "can only exercise a general control, and just as you have had to hand over the whole business of fixing tariffs to the Tariff Committee, you will have to hand over a tremendously large area of legislative functions for a reconstruction of administrative authority. You will have to reduce Parliament in many ways, for many purposes, to the position of a rubber stamp. I believe we shall have to re-organise this country from top to bottom, and is it any good asking 600 gentlemen to undertake the enormously complicated task before you? "It is more and more difficult for the individual Member of Parliament to have any initiative, because the Government has to take up Parliament's time in putting through vastly complicated pieces of legislation, and you have to free it, just as you have to free local authorities, of a great deal of the work they are now called on to do. How can you expect a local authority to run the schools, build the roads, run tramways, and look after public health, all under one hat? We have got to free our great constitutional bodies of a great deal if they are to function properly. "Why have we succeeded in developing steadily in this country? Because we always succeeded in delegating powers to someone else when the machinery of our Government got too complicated. The danger when you are considering government, is that the efficient organisation you set up more efficient organisations to-morrow." Proposing a vote of thanks to Lord Eustace, Mr. Dyer spoke of the value of the Round Table. He knew of no young men's organisation that carried out a more useful function. "It is from these young men," he said "that we are going to get our rulers in the future. As president, I am only too delighted to say that this Table has found more than one way of showing its usefulness." Lord Eustace, in reply, said there was no organisation in Hastings he would more like to help. The Hastings Round Table was a real dynamo of possible voluntary work in the town. If he could do anything to help on its initiative in any direction it took, he would be glad to do so. ----------------------------------------------------- JEPSON'S DEMONSTRATIONS. FOUNTAIN PENS GUARANTEED FOR A LIFETIME. PERFECT COFFEE AND IDEAL PAINT. Guaranteed unconditionally for the user's lifetime, Sheaffer's balance lifetime pens will be demonstrated by a Sheaffer expert at Jepson's, 12, Robertson-street, from Monday, October 17th, to Saturday, October 22nd. Sheaffer pens, pencils and desk sets are distinguished by their beauty of colouring, exquisite workmanship and graceful outlines. Providing any part of a Sheaffer pen, together with any broken parts, is returned, a new pen will be sent. Free sample bottles of Skrip, the successor to ink, will be obtainable. Visitors to Jepson's are invited to bring their fountain pens during the demonstration period, when, if desired, they will be engraved with the owner's name free of charge. Another interesting demonstration at Jepson's will be that of the British "8 o'clock" coffee percolator, the simplest yet invented, yet a percolator that produces a perfect beverage and more cups to a given amount of coffee. The prices are extremely moderate. House proud people will be interested in demonstrations to be given all next week of "Joy" odourless cellulose enamels for all home decorative purposes, which have the advantages over ordinary paint that they dry rapidly with a pliable, non-brittle, surface; do not collect dust, are extremely hard-wearing, and offer complete resistance to hot water, grease and most acids. Shoppers should note that a free demonstration of Dennison's arts and crafts will be held at Jenson's from November 7th to the 11th. ------------------------------------------------------ CONSERVATIVE BALL. ENJOYABLE EVENT AT WHITE ROCK PAVILION. Over 400 people attended a ball organised by the Hastings and St. Leonards United Conservative Associations in conjunction with the Local Habitation of the Primrose League at the White Rock Pavilion on Wednesday. There was dancing in the main hall, for which Mr. H. W. Rymill was M.C., and music was supplied by the Harmony Aces (augmented) band. A good crowd spent a jolly time in this way until the early hours of the morning. Valeta and fox-trot com- small group of active members being obliged to speak at almost every debate in order to keep the discussion alive, this being wearisome to the speakers as well as to the listeners." In order to stimulate interest, a large number of changes in procedure were recommended, including the election of the Speaker in the same manner as at Westminster. It was recommended that when a Bill was to be debated it should be formally introduced at the conclusion of the proceedings at the meeting preceding the debate. Other suggestions were that the address in reply to the King's Speech be moved and seconded by backbenchers and that in the absence of any amendment the debate on the King's Speech be limited to one evening. Councillor Beck, moving the adoption of the report, paid tribute to the work of Mr. Lea in co-operation with the committee. Colonel de Salis seconded. PARTY LEADERS TO BLAME. Mr. R. T. Elders said that the fact that a larger number of members did not participate in the debate was not the fault of the members themselves. It was due to reorganisation by the party leaders. The Speaker said that the committee was not blaming any of the members for not coming forward. Mr. W. E. Leffler thought new members were very diffident, because if they rose three or four times and were always told to sit down by the party leader because it was arranged somebody else should speak, they became downhearted and did not come again. The Speaker said that when a new member rose to speak he was generally given preference. Mr. Godfrey West declared that the difficulty had been that they could not get enough speakers, and he was sure that anyone who wished to speak would be given every encouragement to do so. Referring to the statement in the report that no suggestions had been received, Mr. G. H. Child said he had in fact submitted a suggestion that a speaker should be invited to come down from London once a month and at the end of the evening give a constructive criticism of the speeches. "It might put an end to some of the terrible things we have to sit and listen to," he added, amid laughter. He was glad to see that an attempt was being made to tighten up the little niceties. Members had developed a lack of respect for the House during the last year or two. For instance, when members were leaving the House to vote they often started to light their pipes. If local topics were discussed in addition to political matters he thought the backbenchers would be encouraged to speak. The Speaker said he was not suggesting there had been no recommendations at all, but that there had been none in reply to the letter published in the Press. Mr. Child's proposal had been fully discussed by the committee, who felt that if it was adopted it would probably stifle the members. Mr. C. Lillicrap said the difficulty was that at a resumed debate so many members wished to speak that, before everybody had the chance to do so, the debate was closed. Another difficulty was that a member often went prepared to speak on what he had heard the previous week, and then an amendment was moved and what he had been prepared to say was wasted. The Speaker pointed out that the remedy in the first case lay in a member's own hands, as he could move the adjournment of the debate. A back-bencher contended that interest in a debate should be the deciding factor as to whether it should be resumed, and he thought that party leaders should get together and consider whether a subject was of sufficient interest to be further discussed. SUNDAY GAMES. Councillor Beck proposed that a new rule should be made empowering the council to arrange debates on non-political subjects on not more than two evenings in any one session if the members so desired. By doing this the society would be considerably brightened up and it would be a welcome relief from ordinary procedure. He mentioned two topics which were of general interest at the present time—greyhound racing, which was discussed by the Town Council yesterday (Friday) and Sunday games. The public had never had the opportunity of hearing both sides of the question of Sunday games, and if the society discussed the subject he considered it would be doing the town a service. The Speaker asked Councillor Beck to differentiate between his proposal and the provision made for private members' motions. Councillor Beck pointed out that the present rule for a private member's motion only permitted a member to speak for about 15 minutes. "If you want to discuss Communism," he said, "you would be able to get down Mr."Jimmy" Maxton and have a man of equal calibre on the opposite side and let them go ding-dong at each other for about two hours. Colonel P. Williams Till said that if the proposal was adopted the word "Parliamentary" would have to be omitted from the title of the debating society. Mr. H. Robinson contended that debates should be confined to members of the society alone. Mr. Godfrey West pointed out that provision was made for Councillor Beck's proposal to invite eminent speakers in the rule which stated that the council should have power to admit honorary members. He would lead to the meetings being used for the pushing of certain local schemes. Mr. Elders, seconding the motion, said the members were there for the education of one another and that the society should not be bound by the work "Parliamentary." Mr. A. H. Buttolph said that if the proposal were adopted it would give the members an opportunity of hearing the Speaker. "THING END OF THE WEDGE." Colonel de Salis described the proposal as "the thin end of the wedge" to do away with the society. Mrs. Sadler considered that if a person siched to enter into debate he could pay the subscription to join the society. "We don't want members of the Council coming to our meetings and saying what they cannot say on the Council," she added, amid laughter. The proposal was carried by 45 votes to 41. On the motion of the Speaker, it was decided that nobody should hold the office of party leader for more than two sessions. After considerable discussion it was decided that the speakers opening and closing a debate should each be allowed 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes and eight minutes. Mr. H. W. Rymill was elected hon. treasurer, and the council was constituted as follows:—The Speaker. the Deputy Speaker, hon. secretary, hon. treasurer, party leaders and chief whips, Miss Tyler, Miss I. Smith, Messrs. H. Robinson, E. G. Saddler, F. C. Figgett, E. Hannan, Newton Smith, and Councillor W. J. Beek. SUNDAY GAMES. Councillor Beck proposed that a new rule should be made empowering the council to arrange debate on on-political subjects on not more than two evening in any one session if the members so desired. By doing this the society would be considerably brightened up and it would be a welcome relief from ordinary procedure. He mentioned two topics which were of general interest at the present time -- greyhound racing, which was discussed by the Town Council yesterday (Friday) and Sunday games, The public had never had the opportunity of hearing both sides of the question of Sunday games, and if the society discussed the subject he considered it would be doing the town a service. The Speaker asked Councillor Beck to differentiate between his proposal and the provision made for private members' motions. Councillor Beck pointed out that the present rule for a private member's motion only permitted a member to speak for about 15 minutes. "If you want to discuss Communism," he said, "you would be able to get down Mr. "Jimmy" Maxton and have a man of equal calibre on the opposite side and let them go ding-dong at each other for about two hours." Colonel P. Williams Till said that if the proposal was adopted the word "Parliamentary" would have to be omitted from the title of the debating society. Mr. H. Robinson contended that debates should be confined to members of the society alone, Mr. Godfrey West pointed out that provision was made for Councillor Beck's proposal to invite eminent speakers in the rule which stated that the council should have power to admit honorary members. He thought, however, that if it was adopted, it would lead to the meetings being used for the pushing of certain local schemes. Mr. Elders, seconding the motion, said the members were there for the education of one another and that the society should not be bound by the word "Parliamentary." Mr. A.H. Buttolph said that if the proposal were adopted it would give the members an opportunity of hearing the Speaker. "THEN END OF THE WEDGE." Colonel de Salis described the proposal as "the thin end of the wedge" to do away with the society. Mrs. Sadler considered that if a person wished to enter into debate he could pay the subscription to join the society "We don't want members of the Council coming to our meetings and saying what they cannot say on the Council," she added, amid laughter. The proposal was carried by 45 votes to 41. On the motion of the Speaker, it was decided that nobody should hold the office of party leader for more than two sessions. After considerable discussion it was decided that the speakers opening and closing a debate should each be allowed 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes and eight minutes. Mr. H.W. Rymill was elected hon. treasurer, and the council was constituted as follows: -- The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, hon. secretary, hon. treasurer, party leaders and chief whips, Miss Tyler, Miss I. Smith, Messers. H. Robinson, E.G. Saddler, F.C. Figgett, E. Hannan, Newton Smith, and Councillor W.J. Beck. DEATH OF MASTER HARRIS. -- Sympathy has been extended to Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Harris, of 64, Greville-road, Hastings, in the loss of their eight-year-old son, Robert George. The funeral took place on Monday, the first part of the service being at Red Lake Congregational Church. The hymns, "There's a Friend for little Children," and "Jesus bids us shine," were sung. Pastor E. Jones officiated, as he did at the service at the Borough Cemetery. The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Harris (father and mother), Mrs. E. Seymour, Mrs. R. Firrell, Mrs. H. Fitsell, Mrs. A. Barton, Nurse Moon. Mrs. Drury and Mrs. Barton. There were many beautiful floral tributes. Mr. and Mrs. Harris desire to thank all kind friends for messages of sympathy and for floral tributes received. The funeral arrangements were admirably conducted by Messrs. W.E. Hinkley and Sons, of 2, Mount Pleasant-road, and 25, Emmanuel- road, Hastings. 4 High Wickham Hastings July 14th 1931 Dear Miss Barry, I didn't think it was so long since I wrote you, but my time has been so taken up, any bother has bought this little house, & has had much alterations done & we have had workmen in a good deal & it takes up my time, I really seem to have little time to spare Yes dear Miss Barry we still have those pictures you admired [so still on the same place, you saw them, I am so thankful we have had the opportunity of buying the dear old home, I think I could never have been really happy anywhere else, it has so many happy memories, I do often picture you coming up our hill with the dear doggies, I often wish the dear old days would come back, but I have so much to thank my Heavenly Father for, for all this great goodness to me thatnow I am getting old, the way has been made easier, for I am not strong for a hard life, I often feel how unworthy I am of all His great goodness to me, may I be more worthy. I thought dear Miss Barry I had written you that Emily Morgans gentleman has died, & that his nephew allowed Emily to rent the house at a reduced rental Emily, & all her sisters have come to live here, so they all pay towards it, & are very happy all together I am so glad Emily would have felt it dreadfully to have left the house, I dont know if you know knew they had a house at Robertsbridge (which they sold) so really with their 10/shilling old age pension, they are comfortable I think dear Miss Barry if you would feel very sad if you saw the dear Beck House it is oh so neglected I passed it the other day, & my thoughts flew to you; I thought how grieved you would be, when I look at that house it bring back all your kindnesses to me & my dear dear Father, always so thoughtful for him, it was always a real pleasure to work for you, how I would like to see you again, I shall ever remember your kindness to me in my difficult days. With many kind thoughts & every best wish. I remain Yours very sincerely N Ely Kindness I shall pass through this world but once, any good thing therefore I can do, & any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.4 High Wickham Hastings Oct. 26th 1930 Dear Miss Barry I really do not know how to thank you how to thank you for all the loving thoughts and kindness you send so often when I read (in Memory's Garden) which I have just received & also the news of your birthday celebrations, I feel how I would love just to hold your hand again, & thank you for all your loving kindnesses to me, how often I recall them, always so kind, thoughtful for me and my dear dear Father, sometimes I look down our hill from my bedroom window and I can see in my minds eye you coming up with Bur & Khake, how I wish I could I see you in reality, I often wonder why you are so kind to me? I feel greatly honoured, I do hope your eyelashes are not giving you pain now, I was so very sorry to hear they were troubling you, but you are so brave. Dear Miss Barry I do hope the journey back to Boston didn't upset you, I do thank Miss Alice Stone Blackwell for the beautiful verses on yourself & Jock, I think them wonderful and I shall prize them always. I have meant to write long before this but somehow my time seems so full, but you are often in my thoughts and I often look at your photo with Khake waiting for Dr. on the [terrace. Thank you dear Miss Barry for all your loving thoughts With many loving thoughts & kind memories, Yours with love N Ely4 [?] Markham Hastings Dear Miss Barry, I have meant to write you long before this, but so many things have come along, & I have been taking holiday. I do so often think about you, & wish you were back in Hastings again. I would so like to see you again, & if there was anything I could do for you, I should be so pleased to. I am so very very sorry to hear about your eyes getting so bad. I am sorry I gave a wrong impression in my letter about my eyes. I meant I couldn't do the needle work again, but I am thankful I can see fairly well otherwise, but it would be unwise to try them with close work, sometimes I can see much clearer than others. I thank you for your kind sympathy I have so much to be thankful for, my brother is so very good to me. I have been longing to get a P.C. of the [?] in the All Saints Meeting [?] at the bottom of our [?], but they tell me they are not to be had. If I can I will get a snap taken of them. I should so much like you to see them. You wouldn't know the place, it all looks so different. I am sending a P.C. of High Wickham Terrace. I passed Rock House the other day & I thought how many times I had been in & of course my thoughts turned to you, & how much that changed since then, & if you were here now I would love to be of little help to you in reading [?], or taking you out. I shall never forget your kindness to me, always so thoughtful. [?] [?] [?] is at [?] & also another son who is married & has 3 little boys. You speak in your letter of the little dog Nette. He was our dot at one time & as we were unable to take him out as often as he ought to go, we gave himti Mr. Dan [?] gardener, & he was so liked that they keeped him, he was a lonelt little dog, I know after we parted with him, he would run in to us for his lump of sugar, my dear father had taught him to beg for. I am having a terrier this winter, have been disappointed over a little [g] doggie I was to have. No my Airdale wasn't stolen, he died of distemper, I had got so to love him, he was so affectionate, Mr [D?] has an Airedale but I am sorry to say they have to muzzle it, as it has flown at people. Grandma Slade is still alive isn't she wonderful We have had a most glorious summer, & I never tire of looking out of our window it is all so lovely Please Miss Barry if you should write me dont send me stamps I feel it is a great privilege to write you, I do trust you are keeping well With very many Thanks for letter & pretty card With kindest thoughts Yours Very Sincerely N ELY