Centenary of the Author of 'Sandford and Merton.'

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 424, 30 November 1889, Page 3

Centenary of the Author of ' Sandford and Merton.'

Tiioaias Day, the author of ' Sandford and JNlerton,' a book which several geneiations ot children have heartily enjoyed for its stories, without bestowing a thought on its philosoohy, was born in Wellclo&e Square in i74S. His father (says the ' City Pres-s ') held a place in the Custom House, and left him a fortune of £1,200 a year. ' He was educated at tho Charterhouse and Oxford, and spent some time in France, where he accepted the new philosophy of education, condemning old systems as wholly vicious, and -believing that no perfection 1 of Character was attainable ' under Rousseau. Having resolved on marriage* he determined that his wife should be modelled in accord* anco with the new light. He therefoie went to an Orphan Asylum at .Shrewsbury, and picked out a iiaxen-haired girl of twelve, whom lie named Sabrina Sidney, after the Severn and Algernon Sidney, and then to the Foundling Hospital, in London, where he selected a fecond, whom he v called Luoretia. In taking these gills he gave a written pledge, that within a year lie would place one of them with a respectable tradesman, giving £100- to bind her apprentice, and that he should, maintain her if she shouH turn out well until she married or commenced business ; in either of which cases he wouldadvancfc C5OO. With Sabrina and Lucretia he set oil" for France, in older that in quiet he might discover and discipline fcheir chai'acters. He, however, quarrelled with the girls. Next day they took small pox, and he had to nurse them night and day, and by-and-by he was glad to return to London and get Lucretia off his hands by apprenticing her to a milliner on Ludgate Hill. She behaved well, and on her marriage to a substantial linendraper, Day cheerfully produced his promised dowry of £500. Poor Sabrina could by no means qualify for Mr Day. Against "the aen.se of oain and danger no discipline could fortify her. When Day dropped melting sealingwax on her arms she flinched, and when h* fired pistols at her garments, &he started and screamed. When he told her secrets she divulged them. He packed her off to an ordinary boarding-school, kept her there for three years, allowed her £50 a year, gave her £500 on her marriage to a barrister, and when sho became a widow with two boys he pensioned her with £30 a year. In 1788 ho nvirriod Mi*s Milnee, of Wakoficld, a lady whope opinions coincided with his own. He was killed on the 28th of September, 1789, by a kick from a young horse ho was trying to train on a now method.