From our Files

Unwanted

rubbish

October 3, 1975

ULVERSTON does not want Kendal's rubbish, but if all else fails it will start getting it from the beginning of December.

The 27-mile trip will put an extra £100 a week on South Lakeland Council's refuse collection bill and the decision was taken with considerable reluctance at Tuesday's meeting.

But, in the end, members accepted it was the only course open to the council if Cumbria County Council does not succeed in its efforts to produce either a short-term or long-term solution to the problem.

The responsibility for finding tips lies with the county council and it came under fire from a number of councillors, Coun C.

Barker accusing it of dragging its feet.

But Coun E.R.

Capstick, chairman of the Technical Services Committee, jumped to the county authority's defence.

It had been faced with the problem of finding a new tip for Kendal as soon as it had taken office and had been put in a very difficult position, he said.

Transporting Kendal's rubbish to Ulverston will, however, be a last resort.

50 Years Ago

Sky high

rate demand

October 7, 1950

THERE is one particular respect in which Westmorland may interest itself in the London Festival celebrations.

While it is not clear what particular signal will be transmitted to the moon it might be advisable to send for the benefit of the man reputed to live there a cost of living index, and a few tax and rate demand notes, among which this county's at 20s.

8d.

in the pound is entitled to some claim to astrological fame.

The man in the moon's reactions might then be closely watched.

Sometimes he smiles, but in May next he may very well put on a large size in pouts.

100 Years Ago

Disquiet over

thumb-licking

October 6, 1900

IT IS hoped that 'thumb-lickers' will become extinct.

This enigmatic statement which winds up the report of the proceeding of the conference of the Library Association at Bristol.

'Thumb-lickers' it seems, are persons who resort to a public library and turn over the leaves of books or periodicals with the aid of a damp thumb.

It is explained that by doing so they are liable to convey to their mouths some of the microbes which congregate wherever there is dirt and dust, as there commonly is on much-used books and papers.

Hence the expression of that curious hope for their extinction.

I do not suppose that it is the wish of the Library Association that incontinent readers should be killed off by the microbes, though a few such cases would naturally have a wholesome effect.

They only desire that the thumb-lickers should cease thumb-licking, and since the habit is as dangerous as it is unseemly, there would be no harm in giving notice in our public libraries that thumb-licking is strictly prohibited.

Prohibitions are already imposed in regard to conversation and spitting, though unfortunately they are not completely effectual.

It is only by degrees, often slow and somewhat painful, that we are civilised.

Professor Jenks has observed that the first barbarian who ventured to draw milk from his cow, probably paid for his rashness with his life.

And if some of the thumb-lickers who resort to Kendal Library were compelled to turn over the leaves dry-fingered their struggles would doubtless be excruciating.

150 Years Ago

Sparky

phenomena

October 5, 1850

AT THE recent meeting at New Haven of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a communication was made of a novel, and to us curious, phenomena of electrical houses.

His statement was as follows: "Within a few years past, several houses in the city of New York have exhibited electrical phenomena in a very remarkable degree.

For months in succession they have emitted sparks of considerable intensity, accompanied by a loud snap.

A stranger, on entering one of these electrical houses, in attempting to shake hands with the inmates, receives a shock, which is quite noticeable, and somewhat unpleasant.

Ladies, in attempting to kiss each other, are saluted with a spark.

A spark is perceived whenever the hand is brought near to the knob of a door, the gilded frame of a mirror, the gas pipes, or any metallic body, especially when this body communicates freely with the earth.

In one house which I had the opportunity to examine, a child in taking hold of the knob of a door received so severe a shock that it ran off in great fright."