Saturday, July 22, 2006

100 years ago

At the Scarborough Police Court a man was summoned to show cause why certain obscene prints, found on the premises at 25, Huntriss Row, and kept there for the purpose of sale, should not be destroyed. The publisher's name was on the card, which was exposed in the window.

The defence stated that although there was a large stock of cards, the copies of this print were the only ones that could be objected to. The defendant had always been careful that no indecent cards should be offered in his shops, and he could congratulate his client on his discernment. He argued that the card was not obscene, but would give an undertaking that all copies of it would be destroyed.

50 years ago

A deterioration in the conduct of people who hired rowing boats on the Ouse was described by Mr William Hill as one of the factors leading to increased charges. Prices charged would be 1s 6d an hour per person instead of the existing charge of 1s. This 1s charge had prevailed since pre-war days.

Increased cost of materials and replacements and staff wages had forced the price up. In Mr Hill's belief, currently, not one person in ten had any real pride in being able to row correctly. This year, he instanced the common practice of two men in a boat, who instead of sharing the work of rowing and rudder control, each took an oar and pulled frenziedly on either side. As a result, ten pairs of skulls had been smashed since the start of the season.

Mr Hill had found more damage of the boats for hire, and people using them were becoming rowdier. However, he pointed out that the new charge of 1s 6d would still be cheaper than that prevailing at many other Yorkshire resorts and rivers.

25 years ago

People queued early for the Royal wedding special stamp issue in York today. At opening time there was a queue of more than 70 people outside and sales were brisk from then on.

One philatelist in the queue was 40-year-old German tourist Mrs Irmgard Weisser. She had a special interest in English stamps and said: "The English make such attractive stamps. I think they are possibly the best in the world and collecting English stamps is most rewarding."

Post Office counter assistant Mr Chris Lodge said the queue was "more or less what we expected considering it is such a special occasion." There were two stamps in the issue, a 14p and a 25p. Letters bearing the new stamps, which were posted in the special posting boxes at main post offices, would be cancelled "first Day of Issue".