ANCIENT CUSTOM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1933, Page 6

ANCIENT CUSTOM

UNIQUE CHARITY IN ENGLAND I HOSPITALITY TO TRAVELLERS ; ■' v ■-•*’' LONDON, ( August 8. i To-day, 350 years after its foundation,- a charity still exists which gives hospitality every night “to six peor-ti-a-ivelleng.’’ Appropriately enough, it is at Rochester, with which the life arid work of Charles Dickens are largely identified, that the charity exists. In the first.of liis Christmas stories, “The SfeVriri Poor Travellers,” the ri'riyfeli'st tellg of his visit to a house in the Ifigli Street of the ancient c-ity. On the door of the house a tablet, dated Aiigsut 22', 1579, informed all and sundry that “Richard Watts, Esq., founded this Charity for Six Poor Travellers, who not being Rogues or Proctors, May receive gratis for One night Lodging, Entertainment and Fourpence each.” When Dickens wrote his story he was the- seventh traveller, and his signature may still be seen in the repeptiori book. Little is known of Richard Watts except that lie was a very great benefactor to Rochester arid that, through his .munificence, six poor men may to this day . enjoy 1 the hospitality in the modernised building still known as “The Six Poor Travellers.” Much, of the original building remains, including the men’s .bedrooms, each containing a bed', chair, .fireplace and Bible, but much lias been added. . Eaoli man for instance, may-have a hot bath before enjoying his supper of half -a pound of,meat, a loaf of .bread and a pint of oocoa in . the . comfortable-dining-joom,. where, the. latest periodicals are also provided for him to read.

•. Six pairs of slippers stand ready in a neat row, and it .can be imagined how niucli .this little attention is appreciated .by footsore men who have probably been tramping the streets in search of work. since early morning. The charity provides for only six men;, and the master of the Six Poor has an unenviable task when he has to select that number from twenty or thirty applicants, as is the case in the winter months. To qualify for admission a man must show that, however' poor and needy lie may be, he has marie an effort to keep himself of,,,clean; appearance. The .master .also endeavours to 'have a complete change of each night, in order that as many as possible may enjoy the hospitality ptovided for by the will of Richard- Watts.

In the morning the six poor travellers are' given another pint of cocoa and,»with what they have saved from their meal of the previous evening, are assured of a good breakfast before being sent .on tlieir way with fourpence in their pockets and in their hearts at least one happy memory of their sojourn at Rochester.