THE DONKEY IN THE CHAIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1746, 21 January 1888, Page 3

THE DONKEY IN THE CHAIR.

(" Q latterly Review.") Johnson's definition of a costermonger, It eeema, as " a person who sells apples,' 1 ia pronounced " gammon " by the fraternity, one of whom is said to h-ive «jub- • tit u ted the following for it : " A cove wot works werry'ardfor a werry poo: I Hvln 1 , and is always a bela' hintertorod with, and blowed op, and moved hen, and fined, and cent to quod by the beake a*-d bobblo?." Amoag this curious tribe a mission had been sent on foot by a Z3&loas evangelist, and Lord Shaftt-sbury on hearing o! it offered hia nrvices, and became Its President. Of the " Barrow •and Dookey Olab," which ban been instituted, be enrolled hlrae«lf a member, and subscribed for a barrow of his own, which bore hit arm) and motto, and was lent oat to young members who bad not yet attained to the honors of proprietorship It was bis delight to call himself a coster, and spend a looial evening with the " brethern." On one Bach occasion, having invi'ed tretn to w^'lte to him if any grievance eprasg up, and bains; ask( d hii addroao, he assured thorn that arj idUdr aenr to Grosvenonqtiarfl with • X W and Coster ' after his name would b > sure to reach him. One am cdote of ttie queer Intimacy is too amusing to be passed over. la 1875 the venerable Earl, being Invited to meet them ti receive ft presentation, found abayo a thousand of the fraternity Assembled with m'-ny frlenda of all classes ; aud presently, after fciklng hia seat, a Sne donkey decorated with ribbons waa Intro duced, led do to t' e platform, and solemnly presented to hia lordship The Esrl, having vacated the chair, m the donkey'o favor, stood with hia arm round it* neck, whilo hobrlifly returned thinks, adding, with a touch of pathoj, 'When I have ptwsed away from thia life t desire to have done my duty, as the poor donkey has done his, with patience and onmurmuring resignation.' On the retirement ef the temporary ohalrmin, if the f-xprce-aion may be pardoned, the Karl bogged the reporters to state that ' fche donkey hiving vacated the ohalr, the place was taken by Lord Fhafteabury.'