Rev. W. Benton 209 



chief mourned to him over. the " Submerged Tenth," he rephed, 

 " This is not your work, vicar ; it requires a bachelor to go and 

 hve among them, and I will go." 



If the good vicar was slightly scandalised at so much assur- 

 ance on the part of his new curate he must have felt relieved at 

 the idea of the slums being taken off his shoulders, so he 

 consented. 



Benton took rooms in the worst part of the district and set 

 about converting the submerged. His methods were original, 

 and if the vicar knew all, his hair must have stood straight on 

 end, for on the door of his lodging appeared a large notice, 

 " Beer and baccy free; come and have a talk"— which as a 

 preliminary must have endeared him to the hearts of the 

 temperance party ! but he was absolutely fearless in his con- 

 victions and ideas. If he felt a thing was right he would do it, 

 although his methods were often misunderstood and criticised. 



With this stimulating announcement on his door he awaited 

 events. No one came for some time, but at last a few venture- 

 some spirits dropped in and were greeted something after this 

 fashion : 



" Here I am come to live among you, whether you like it or 

 not. My door will always be open and you can come and help 

 yourselves to a pipe or to a meal, but don't take anything away. 

 If I have any tobacco it will be here, and if I have any beer it 

 will be here. If it is not here it will mean I have not got any." 



Mr. Benton said, as far as he knew, his rough visitors never 

 did take anything out of the house. 



It was almost impossible to get any facts from him of his 

 work amongst the poor, but I know a good deal of his endea- 

 vours and doings at different times in his life. 



Some of his experiences in the Walsall slums were unusual. 

 He was known amongst the habitues as the " Fighting Parson." 

 This was in consequence of his settling disputed points in 

 pugilistic fashion, which no doubt he found was the method they 

 understood best. 



Once when finding a man and wife having a fierce fight he 

 ventured to interfere, and while so doing another man came up 

 behind and struck him a violent blow behind the ear. After 

 Mr. Benton had finished with the married couple he turned to 

 his second assailant, who said by way of explanation, " You 



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