THE CITY OF MANCHESTER 209 



lecturing tour against the tariff, and he begged the 

 postmaster at once to supply him, for that purpose, 

 with patterns of all sorts of Manchester goods to show 

 around ! 



Amongst questions put to postmasters in their 

 official capacity, on a multitude of subjects, only two, 

 to the best of my knowledge, have turned upon 

 matrimony. One was propounded, in 1890, by an 

 extremely deaf old lady, who had to be addressed in a 

 very loud voice, much to the edification of a crowded 

 public office. The point was whether the particular 

 ceremony of marriage which her daughter had gone 

 through was or was not legally binding. 



The postmaster explained that matters of that sort 

 had not yet been added to the business of the post- 

 office, and suggested a reference to the local clergy- 

 man. The old lady, however, had already consulted 

 the reverend gentleman, who had himself adroitly 

 advised consultation with the postmaster. Next, the 

 name of the superintending registrar was mentioned, 

 but he, too, had been seen on the subject. 



The discussion had therefore come to a dead-lock, 

 when a happy thought struck the appellant. She 

 would telegraph to Mr. Gladstone, who was then in 

 opposition in Parliament, to take the matter up and 

 settle it. A full telegram was accordingly despatched, 

 every needful particular being given, and an answer 

 being prepaid. In due course a reply arrived, but 

 only to the effect that the Eight Honourable gentle- 

 man was absent abroad. This greatly exasperated 



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