FIGHTING A DEAN AND CHAPTER. 45 



through the medium of the post, usually carried on 

 with a good deal of spirit, but resulting generally in 

 concessions on both sides. After his first experience, 

 I may here mention, my father used purposely to make 

 an insertion or two which he himself had no desire 

 whatever to uphold, and which he knew perfectly well 

 would never be allowed to remain by the Chapter. 

 That august body, however, usually remained content 

 with the assertion of their power shown in striking out 

 the objectionable passages, and allowed all that my 

 father really wished for to remain unchallenged. And 

 so all parties were satisfied. 



Then, after the book was printed and published, 

 arrangements had to be made with every choir which 

 was to take part in the festival for a private practice by 

 the precentor himself ; necessitating a vast amount ot 

 correspondence, and the expenditure of much time and 

 ingenuity in making the different fixtures work in with 

 one another. A good deal of expense would also have 

 been involved, but this was in great part obviated by 

 the liberality of the South- Eastern and London, Chat- 

 ham, and Dover Railway Companies, who. furnished the 

 precentor with a free pass over the whole of their 

 respective systems during the two months over which 

 the preliminary practices extended. 



But the mere necessary work attending the pro- 

 duction of the festivals was sufficient to appal an 

 already busy man, far more so one whose time was so 

 greatly occupied as was that of my father. But he, 

 nevertheless, went to work with his accustomed energy 



