Snowballing
Snowballs and stones!
Isle of Wight Observer January 5, 1867
SNOWBALLING – A somewhat amusing scene occurred on Wednesday opposite Mr Dashwood’s shop in Union-street. A coachman, driving a pair of horses with considerable difficulty, was watched by a young urchin, apparently about 10 or 11 years of age, with a covered basket, in which were a number of ready-made snowballs, with one of which he took aim and struck coachee on the cheek, when, seeing that he had made so good a shot, he immediately “skedaddled,” having highly enjoyed the fun. Had one of Mr Punch’s comic artists been present the countenance of the coachman would have afforded material for a very amusing picture.
THE WEATHER – We have often heard it remarked that the winters are not, now-a-days, what they formerly were. At length, however, we have one of the old-fashioned sort. The hills at the south of the Island were covered with snow on Monday, and on that night there was a general fall throughout the Island. It is a seasonable visitation, which will, undoubtedly, be attended with good results to the land. This is the time, however, to remember the poor and needy, when good food, clothing, and shelter are especially necessary.
THE SOUP KITCHEN – We are happy to announce that the soup kitchen will be opened for the winter on Monday next, the 7th. We have received a donation of 5s from Mr J Pell, which we will hand over to the collector.
The Stone Throwing Nuisance
Isle of Wight Observer March 7, 1868
RYDE PETTY SESSIONS
TUESDAY – Before R G Duff, esq. (chairman), T T Fowke, esq., and – Harvey, esq.
Glynn Perkis, Thos Hookey, and Frederick Douglas were summoned for throwing stones in Melville-street. PC Smith said that on the 24th of February, about half-past 10 in the morning, he was on duty in Cross-street, when he saw the three defendants throwing stones in Melville-street. He saw each of them throw and went toward them, when Perkis and Hookey ran away. Douglas, on being questioned, said he did not know the names of the other boys. He had a stone in his hand at that time. They were throwing at a German band. – Douglas said he had no stone when the policeman came up, and both the other defendants denied having thrown stones, but said they were catching potatoes with each other. – The Bench cautioned the defendants on the danger of such proceedings, and inflicted a fine of 6d each, and costs, or seven days’ imprisonment. Perkis paid. Hookey was allowed a week, and Douglas, who laughed considerably at the decision, was ordered to be locked up unless the money was forthcoming.
These boys were all around 11 or 12 at this time. From the census records, Glynn Perkis followed his father’s profession and became a baker and confectioner, in Ryde, and subsequently an electrical fitter in Portsmouth, Thomas Hookey a painter in Lymington and Frederick Douglas a photographer in Southampton.
