DANGEROUS IMPULSES

SHOULD lovers go on holiday together? Father Degen, the outspoken priest of Coalville, Leicestershire, thinks they should not, and points out the moral dangers of such a practice. He says it is time to utter a word of warning against this growing custom, which allows Miss Seventeen to roam off for a fortnight with her favourite boy as her only escort, to a seaside boarding house in which rooms are often on the same floor.

Unfortunately, he says, public conscience acquiesces in this dangerous practice, and in raising one's voice against it one feels like St John the Baptist felt, "like the voice crying in the wilderness."

"Nevertheless, the practice of unchaperoned holidays for youthful lovers calls for vigorous denunciation and censure, not because it always or necessarily leads to moral disaster, but because it undoubtedly places in the approximate occasion of sin young people who require to be protected against themselves. I am not suggesting that when they set out for a joint holiday they have any but the most honourable intentions.

"There is no intention of premeditated evil on their part. In spite of the flagrant paganism which assaults the eyes and ears at every bend and turn in the modern world, young people on the whole are clean in thought and mind."

Dublin Evening Post 21-24 July 1733

ON FRIDAY the 6th inst July, in the evening, Mr Adam Newman, one of the sheriffs of Cork, went out with one of his bailiffs to execute a Fieri facias on the cattle of one Mr Bernard of Monard, a place in his Liberty. The country rose on him and rescued 38 out of 50 cows, which he had seized; a battle ensued and the sheriff and his party were severely handled. The enemies' weapons were stones, he and his party had but his case of pistols, which became useless after two shots in vain. However, he secured 12 of the cows, and by cover of the night drove them to a pound within eight or nine miles of Mallow, and out of his bailiwick.

He returned with speed by private ways to Cork, and applied to the commanding officer for a guard, who sent an officer and 60 men under the government of the sheriff. On Saturday morning about nine o'clock he seized the 38 cows which were the night before rescued from him, as they were milking them in the bawn, and in driving them towards Cork the country rose again, and made a vigorous attack on the party.

The soldiers were cautious of shedding blood till their drum was knocked down.

They then applied to their officer for orders to fire, which he refused to give but ordered them to obey the command of the sheriff. He, on this, advanced at their head, fired his pistol among the throng, and commanded the party to do the like; the soldiers fired among them and brought some down.

However, this did not quell them, they renewed the attack and the soldiers were obliged to draw themselves up in a hollow square and fire again and again, and with much difficulty, dispersed them.

The first news from the enemy brought account that 14 were killed in the engagement, but by better advice it was confirmed that there was but one killed and several wounded, some of whom are in great danger. There were several taken prisoner and lodged in Cork Gaol.