/ Preach to the Farson. 153 



man 



...... I have known prize-fighters, navvies, long-shore men 



by the Thames, men in night cellars, and what you call the 

 scum of the earth ; have smoked the friendly pipe with the 

 coster, and discussed burglary as a science with one of the 

 greatest burglars ever known in Newgate, and fished with 

 the late hangman, Mr. Calcraft — a good fisherman, 

 naturalist, and florist, who hated his calling— without his 

 having the remotest idea that I knew who he was. Jack 

 Ketch was fishing in Hertfordshire, and I did not know 

 who he was when our conversation commenced ; but when 

 I did know, though the situation was peculiar, I did not 

 see why I should shrink from him ; in fact, I was rather 

 pleased to think that he had an innocent amusement. I 

 have not gone as a missionary, but have sat down among 

 them as fellow-men. I have seen the most brilliant jewels 

 set in the roughest casket, and I have heard noble senti- 

 ments expressed, and seen deeds of charity done worthy of 

 the Good Samaritan, accompanied by language which would 

 make your hair stand on end ; and I will tell you a secret 

 —you may attract them all to you, but all the preaching at 

 them will not influence them the least, because the preaching 

 is not preceded by the kind word in season in private. That 

 is the antidote to the rough language. 



" Now I want to get you on about these sports. You 

 say that you hear the fellows use bad language playing 

 quoits ; and the very name of skittles is an abomination. 

 Very true ; because all sports w^ere condemned by the 

 Puritans, and driven into low beershops. You want all 

 kind of amusements now, skittles — a manly game- 

 promoted and publicly played on the green, the same 

 as cricket, football, and parish organisation of all classes 

 for aU sports, and yourself as patron of all. We 

 don't want you to come; your friendly nod on 

 passing by will do it. When I was a boy at school, the 



