May 1898

May

FLOWER SHow.-A meeting of the Committee to make final arrangements, was held on May 1st. The Show is definitely fixed for July 19th. Sports and amusements have all been arranged to the utmost care to provide a village holiday. The whole village should endeavour to assist by growing something, either flowers or vegetables to make the show thoroughly representative and as large a show as possible. The more competition for the prizes the better. If the show is as successful this year as last, the balance in hand will be so large that the Committee will be in a position, to consider in what way the show may be extended.

IT is to be hoped that all will assist in putting a stop to the catapult nuisance in the village. Not less than fourteen panes of glass have been broken by catapult shooting in the school. In addition to that, many panes have been broken in private houses. It is not merely the damage done, '"but also the danger to human beings that has to be considered. We have known a person lose the sight of an eye through a bullet fired from a catapult. The school managers are most reluctant to prosecute lads, but if the latter can find no better amusement on a Sunday afternoon than shooting about with these dangerous things, and breaking windows on other people's property, they must not be suprised, if they are brought before the magistrates and punished for their mischievous conduct.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.-From time to time we are brought into contact with marriage contracted by a man with the sister of his former wife. Often people do not know there is anything wrong about this, and are very troubled when they find out that they are not really married at all, are living in adultery, and that any children they may have are illegitimate. Any man who marries his deceased wife's sister must first make a false declaration that there is no impediment. If he told the truth, he would not get anyone to perform the marriage service, because it is illegal. Having made a false declaration and thus deceived the clergyman or the registrar, he then goes through the marriage service and thinks he is married. Really it is no marriage at all. The whole proceeding is illegal and both man and woman are punishable by law, if anyone cares to prosecute them. The position of the woman is perhaps the worst; she thinks she is married, whereas she is living in adultery with a man who is not her husband. The man can turn her out of the house at any time; she has no claim legally upon him whatever, and if there are any children, they have no legal claim upon their father's property. It is very important that this should be generally known, in order that women may be warned against doing a thing which will destroy their life's happiness. Sooner or later either the man or woman or both, have it on their conscience that they have done a very wrong thing, and the woman must always feel that the man might at any time leave her and marry another woman. No doubt many people have contracted such marriages, but we have never known one yet to turn out happily. There has aways been trouble of some sort, as if a curse hung over the house where this evil has been committed. More about this law from the Literary Encyclopaedia.

ON Tuesday in Feast Week, a Garden Party, Sale of Work, and Jumble Sale will be held at the Rectory Garden. The gates will be open at 3 o'clock punctually. Many useful and ornamental things will be sold, also clothes of all descriptions. Whatever money is cleared by the sale will be added to the fund for the Parish Reading Room. As the object is a most commendable one, we hope everyone will support it. Nothing is more needed in the parish, than a place where young people can spend the evening in rational amusement, and in instructing their minds.

THE local branch of the Oddfellows' Olub intend to make a demonstration on Tuesday in Feast Week. There are now about thirty members. These together with other friends from other places, the officers in their scarves of office, will proceed in procession to church at two o'clock. After a short service they will return and dine together at the Fox and Hounds. This club has made very rapid strides here, probably owing to the fact that it is absolutely safe, and is affiliated to numberless branches all over England. See Oddfellows presentday website

MR. COLEBROOK has gone away for a month and will return again on Friday, July 1st.

UP to the present Downham has played three Cricket Matches this season, against Littleport, Stretham, and Manea. The match against Littleport was won by Downham, the other two were lost.