WITCHES AT A WEDDING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 407, 16 January 1909, Page 11

WITCHES AT A WEDDING.

' Rc-cciit" English papers show in their we'd-, ding pages pictures of tlio weirdest little group of witches one could imagine—twenty little girls ill peaked ■ caps, .and picturesque cloaks over their light 1 frock's'.:' These, were a party of : schoolgirls :who attended , pretty ivliss'Dorothy de Jioghton as a guard of honour when she. was., married to, Mr. Alexander Lyle. " Sir Jaines de Hogh'tori's family is, oiio of .great.antiquity, and wlieji this is;the case the daughter' of - such a family lias abundant opportunities of striking some' interesting historic note in 'her weddiiig arrangements. Miss'de Hoghton had Charles II bridesmaids, and Jamos I witches, and there': was-'jeally no reasdtt' : why slio should not have had Aug-,-ustan: or early' Victorian pages, since:that Avouldi all have\been.historic. The witches call tlie .part played, according to Harrison AiuSworth's story, by certain "bonnie Lancashire lasses "when Miss de -Hoghton's ancestor Sir Richard Hoghton entertained King James at Hoghton Tower during three days •ill August,'; 1617. " Zounds I- Sir Itichard," ■ the: novelist makes ■ the King > say,-, "there's nao standing' the • spells o' your : Lancashire Witches. High-born and low-born, they-are a' alike." With a story-teller's license, Harrison Ainsworth brings on the scene, whilo tho King, was' being entertained Hoghton Tower, sorno of the so-called "witches" of the Pendlo district, who are sent for trial at Lancaster Assizes " next week." The King, however, never had anything to do with tho prisoners referred to. It was on an August day five years earlier when they were tried, tho death penalty being carried out the day' after thoy were convicted. / .

Politics are too often' apt to vulgarise and to blight everything with which' they are mingled. , Intrigue, wire-pulling, time-serv-ing, and,ingenious : raids upon:the public purse are-the'things that follow in the wake of' the politician.—" The Times." In education music has at least three aspects—(l) It is a wholesome, outlet for-tho emotions; (2) .it is a constant, and .certain mode of training the brain; (3), all chorus, an'd orchestral , work ' is_i an admirable .train-,, ing-.in social, co-operation.—Headmaster, of Eton,'in the "Musical.Times."