An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY Engineer pointed out, the shooting was through screens, but this was held up by adjoining landowners, who thought more of their sport than of the need of the County. This after all was only history repeating itself, for it was the love of the late Duke of Cambridge for his pheasants in Combe Wood that stopped the rifle shooting on Wimbledon Common and banished the N.R.A. meeting to far-off Eisley. Had the scheme come off both the Regulars and Volunteers would have had a fine range at their very doors, instead of having to waste time and money by going to Yarmouth for practice. On tbe 9th I was sworn in Mayor, and as a formality took the chair at the Police Court, but only afterwards sat on the Bench when there were life-saving presentations. The actual presentations I always delegated to Mr. Farrar Ranson who held the Royal Society's Medal for a very gallant rescue he had made at Ipswich very many years ago. I believe that as Mayor I was entitled to be made a J.P. for life after my term of office had expired, but I didu't covet the honour which has been bestowed on some very objectionable persons. Of course, it would be improper for me to criticise the working of the city machine during the short period I nominally held office, so I refrain from doing so. Wilh three or four exceptions, however, I think that the accusa– tions of officialism and favouritism, of which we hear so much, are at all events "not proven.'' Individual members of so mixed a body must necessarily be rude and offensiver but '' it is their nature to," and they should not be too severely criticised. The better plan is to say and write nothing of them, but to relieve one's mind by noting in one's diary some such a thumb-nail portrait as "A.B. has the face of a gorilla, tbe manners of a hog, and the voice of a bull of Bashan." On the 17th November I made some Cubitt searches at Honing, and in the Muniment room there found a deed from my ancestor, Thomas Cubitt of Wells, which settled the question of my descent from that branch once and for all. On the 24th I attended my fir t Council Meeting which went off quietly. I went to the Scots' dinner on the 30th, and the Anglers' dinner at the "Bell," the former being far the better of the two, though the latter had its merits, two