EDITORIAL – Sea-Side Gossip

Accreditation the Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 13/05/1870.

SEA-SIDE GOSSIP
(editorial)

            If nothing strikes the foreigner so forcibly as the fact of so many institutions, having for their object the mitigation of the ills of “suffering, sad humanity,” existing our midst. Every town has its hospital or infirmary, and every village its dispensary, where the poor, afflicted with illness or disease are cared for. Of late years there has sprung up a very useful institution, which is now regarded as a necessary adjunct to these benevolent establishments. I allude to the Convalescent Home, where poor persons recovering from illness are provided with good food, careful nursing, and pure air at a time when those essentials are alone required to complete the cure already begun. I observe by a paragraph in one of your daily contemporaries that one of these excellent institutions is about to be erected at Saltburn. Some of your readers are doubtless aware that in August, 1867, Messrs Pease, of Darlington, opened to dwelling houses in Garnet Street, Saltburn, for the reception of such of their work. People as were recovering from illness. They were prompted to take this step by seeing the success which attended the efforts of the, Convalescent Home at Coatham, to which they subscribed liberally. During the 12 months immediately succeeding the opening of the home, more than 80 patients were admitted. The accommodation at the “home” being now insufficient for the increased number of patients, and the buildings being unsuitable for the required purpose, Messrs Pease have determined to erect a suitable building. To this end, they have procured plans from Mr Oliver, of Newcastle, the designer of Prudhoe Memorial, Convalescent Home at Whitby. An excellent site has been secured near to Hazel Grove, and the work is to be pro-seeded with at once. The sympathy and help thus afforded by Messrs Pease to their work people is worthy of all praise; and it would be well if other employers of labour would imitate so laudable an example. It is quite cheering in these days when capital and labour are so often seen in direct antagonism to each other, to find employers come forward voluntary in order to assuage the woes of those whom providence has placed under them.

            On dit that the Redcar turfites are so elated with the success which has attended the race meeting this year that they purpose having a bona fide turf whereupon gratify their taste for horse racing. My informant states that the owner of certain fields at the back of the town has agreed to allow them to be used for race purposes, subject to the consent of the tenants being obtained; and that the race committee intend to stir in the matter, so has, to have the course ready for the meeting next year. Cui bono.

            I was one of the audience at the Central Hall on Friday evening last (06/05), on the occasion of the final entertainment of the Redcar Elocution Class. I mean, the final one of the season, not the last that will be given by them; though some of those ill natured folks who will are ever ready to prophecy the downfall of everything that does not tend to their own selfish ends, or will have no faith in anything calculated to do good to others, have been heard to croak, and to hint that the class has seen its best days, and is now dying a lingering death. I cannot think that such is the case. From what I have heard of the doings of the class during the past winter, I believe that, were a little more esprit de corps infused into it, the class will yet lead a long and useful career. While listening to the performance, I could not help thinking of the advantages enjoyed by the young men of Redcar in having such an institution as the elocution class, where they can meet weekly for instruction and amusement during the winter. Perhaps the members who took part in the performance will excuse me as an old playgoer, when I say that it would have been much better, ad a little more spirit and “dash” being used. Lacking this, some portions went very flat and tamely. I do not say this in a carping spirit, but as a friend who would rejoice to see the class “flourish exceedingly.”

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Lol Hansom July 19, 2013 Editorial, Letters and other.