December 1890
Snow, how our girls can escape degradation, and soup-kitchens, Guille-Alles Library and beginnings of the Societe Guernesiaise, Theatre Royal, Herm overseer, Mr Roger's new premises (SPP), and Sark French, from the local newspapers.
The Star, Tuesday 9th December 1890
St Peter-Port Soup Kitchen
The unusual very cold weather we have lately, and are still experiencing at this comparatively early season, has forced me to OPEN the KITCHEN a month earlier than usual, trusting that the friends of the is Old Institution would come forward as usual with their assistance. In this I have not been disappointed, having been seconded by many most generously to all of whom I beg to tender my heartfelt thanks.
In appealing to those who have not as yet contributed, I should wish to state; that last year the Treasury’s accounts showed a deficit of receipts over expenditure, also that a complete set of Iron Boilers have just been purchased, the old ones being entirely worn out and useless. Help is therefore the more urgent to enable me to continue the deliveries, bi-weekly during the winter, and I feel convinced I shall not appeal in vain for funds, for so deserving a charity, so much appreciated by the poor and needy.
Messrs T. Rowley, Palmer, T. De Saumarez, and the Rev. P. G. U. Pickering, kindly afford assistance at each delivery. Lists are opened at all Booksellers in the Town. Soup-Tickets can be procured at the Star-office. Deliveries every TUESDAY and FRIDAY at eleven o’clock.
Julius A. Carey, Hon Sec. and Treasurer.
TUPPER v RYAN. Mr De Vic Tupper actioned Dr Ryan for the payment of £20,000 as damages for illegally having signed a certificate stating that the said Tupper was insane, the said Ryan not being justfied in acting as a medical practitioner in this island, he not having obtained the authorisation of the Royal Court.
TUPPER v THORNHILL. Dr Thornhill was Actioned by Mr De Vic Tupper for £10,000 damages, for having, in conjunction with Dr Ryan, signed a certificate of his insanity, the said Thornhill not having previously been granted permission by the Royal court to practise medicine in this island.
The Star, 6th December 1890
GUERNSEY WEEKLY
After so much snow, and a fine day or two, the weather has again this week been anything but agreeable. All traces of snow have disappeared with the exception of a mound or two, one especially in Trinity Square, which was piled up from the snow swept down from the church roof, which, owing to its density, has as yet, obstinately defied the thaw. But, like most things in our island, it will doubtless vanish in time, if every allowance is made for the fact that it might have been carted away, but was not. Rain has copiously fallen during the last few days, and, as an alternative, it is preferable to snow, for few will forget the inconvenience it created last week, and the intense cold it was accompanied by.
I had a conversation the other day with a gentleman, whose name is well known in the island, and who takes a great interest in emigration. He is a warm advocate of it as a remedy for the overcrowding of the labour market witnessed in most parts of the Old World. It is averred that in the British Colonies—for which purpose we must all turn our eyes towards Canada, in preference—there are sundry good openings for the surplus of the rising population, to do well in. It would be idle to deny that such is the case. But, whereas the difficulty of knowing what to do with 'Our Boys' is comparatively less complicated than if 'Our Girls' were concerned, it is not without misgivings, as I told the gentleman in question, that I have and will look on the emigration cure, as affording very satisfactory results. Capital is, in the New, as in the Old World, an essential item without which very little success is achieved.
Of course, I have been speaking in a general way, for there are exceptions. The main subject of the conversation I have referred to was what to do with 'our girls'. I was disagreeably reminded that here, among the working class, 'our girls' do very badly. Either parents are too lenient, or the liberty afforded them at an age when care and precaution are most necessary is too large. The evil is yet increased by the fact that at a comparatively speaking tender age they quit the paternal roof for service where 'our girls' acquired a certain freedom of action and independence obviously dangerous if as is often the case they happen to meet bad companions. For this class, emigration is ten thousand times better than the degradation in to which they unfortunately degenerate here.
November 22nd, 1890
Speaking the other day to one of the noble founders of the Guille Allès Institute and Library, I was glad to hear of a scheme for the formation of an Archaeological Society with a praiseworthy and important object in view. The records of this island, the archives at the Greffe, and private collections much contain a richness of historical documents which were it not for the enterprise of a Society, such as it is intended to create, would be lost to the majority. Every support that can be given, should be tended to the idea and I am glad to know, from another conversation I had with Mr Linwood Pitts, that help has been promised from the mother country. Still the movement should be a national one, and one, too, in which the insular community ought to take a pride. I hear that the annual subscription will be a small one. [Details of the inaugural meeting are given in the November 27th issue of The Star. Thomas Guille had held the funds and administration of the former Société Guernesiaise since February 13th, 1888. 'He now generously proposed, in connection with Mr Allès, to give their joint support to this new Society; to offer the members a room for their meetings; and to give for the present an annual subscription of £20 from the funds of the Société Guernesiase towwards carrying out the objects which the new society has in view.' The inaugural meeting with the rules of the new society: The Star December 20th 1890.]
I see on the ruins of what was once the Theatre Royal the following notice; 'These premises to be let. Apply at the States' Office.' When my attention was called to this notice, I thought it was a joke on the part of the officials. The boards are nailed on the stage and gallery doors. Now, Sir, what I want to know is, what the States wish to let. Is it the bare walls, or a rat warren? I have thoroughly examined, through the cracks of the doors, and found nothing but an empty space, without even the covering overhead. Perhaps the States intend to let the space for building purposes, but the idea of renting premises without a roof has caused many a laugh among my friends and acquaintances.
November 29th 1890
HERM. The new Overseer. It is seldom that any event has to be reported from our neighbouring island of Herm. We are told that Mr J C Godfrey, of Serk, has been appointed overseer in place of Mr McNaught. Whether the change will influence the enforcing of less stringent regulations for visitors or not, remains to be seen.
December 6th 1890
Mr A Roger's new premises. The unsightly corner building which formerly stood as part and parcel of the 'Old Rectory House' in the Market Place, will be fresh in the public memory. Since the purchase of the building in question it has undergone extensive alterations. Those effected in the Old Rectory House proper have now become a familiar feature, but that portion of the site already referred forming the corner of the Market Place and Arcade on which Mr A Roger has built his spacious and handsome new establishment has undergone such a transformation that, now, the spot, instead of being an eyesore, has become one of the most attractive business premises in Town. The premises are the first of the kind built in Guernsey and thus a description of them would prove of more than casual interest to our readers. [Many further details: architect H B Torode of the Property Trust Society; internal works Fuzzey of Mill Street; builders Messrs C A De Putron, Pierre Percée, and W T Sebire, St Sampson's. Premises entirely erected by Guernsey labour.]
Sark French: A friend artist from London writes from the 'Gem' in a most melancholy strain. He says: 'I have spent my days au couain du faeu, with the result that j'sie hardi enrimaï. My friend is a wag and has been doubtless trying his hand at the dialect with satisfactory progress, but as the vernacular he uses savours to me more of Guernsey than of Serk, it is feared that he has been, by some means or other, misled by his Serk instructor. However, as it would be a hopeless task to undertake the mastery of the Serk dialect at my friend's age, it is perhaps as well that, consciously or unconsciously, he has not made the attempt.
December 13th 1890
In the recent examination held by the Société Nationale de professeurs de français en Angleterre, open to all the schools of Great Britain, Harold G Lainé, of Elizabeth College, has come out First, thus winning the Diploma of Honour, which for Channel Island candidates represents the Gold Medal.