An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY V..T e had an "Archery Gymkana '' at Lammas on 25th September, about 21 shooting. The stag and rabbits were very elusive and the flight-shooting very poor, but it was -all good fun, and I think the first ever attempted. The end of the year was rather eventless. On the 14th November I went over Wood orton Hall and saw the scene of the dictatorial ''corpse'' story, which I hope will one day appear iu print from an abler pen than mine. I think thi was the first year for a very long time that I did not have a coast ride, but I was not equal to it. My only little excursion was on the 17th November with Purdy to Selborne, which pleased him much with its fine view from the Hanger and its abundance of gushing living water from the banks-a new sight to a Norfolk man! On 2nd December a botauizing friend and his wife came down to Lammas, and found 14 sorts of flowers out. R.H. came down and greatly fraternized with R.J.W.P., both talking geology clean over my head. At Christmas Gilly only came down, and we were at Lammas 22nd to 24th, and actually walked, but very slowly back to Norwich. A very wretched and cold Christmas for all of us. During 1906 as mentioned before, I published a " History of the Bethel Hospital," and " The Recent Norwich Election and its Lesson." The Aerial 'Navigation question was beginning to cause some interest in Norwich in 1907, and I read a paper on it before the Woodpeckers, which I afterwards repeated before the Norwich Science Gossip Club. On the 12th Bess and her protecting bull pup "Diana" returned home. The pup grew into a very affectionate dog to us, but to others a ferocious animal. Her adventures would fill a book, and livened us (and others) very much. On the 13th I was very weak, languid and ill, pulse very feeble but fast and feverish. I doubt if I should ever get back from a walk with R.J.W.P. round Seo Ruston and Scottow, in fact I seldom felt myself such a poor weak thing. Just about now the "Pageant" mania was begin· ning, and I went to see a reproduction by Louis Parker of the Bury Pageant at St Andrew's Hall. I was again consulted as to the City Boundary question, and investigated considerably round about Sprowston. The fro t was intensely cold in January, below free~ing– point in my bedroom, and I discovered that it could be as