August, 1928
Personal recollections of W. G. Anglin (153), August, 1928 (part 2)
WILLIAM GARDINER ANGLIN, (1856 - 1934)
52 EARL ST, KINGSTON, ONTARIO
So I began going with the buyers to the Fairs - carrying from two hundred to three hundred pounds in my pockets and paying for the stock as purchased, twice in the week, and on the other days attending in the Market at the Stall, and in this way met many of the nobility and landed gentry of the County who came to purchase.
In the course of the next few months, the fall of 1876, I made several trips to Plymouth, Bristol and London, and the business was doing well. When buying pigs, etc. at the Fairs, it was essential that the buyer should be able to estimate the weight of the animals, and I began to study the situation by placing certain marks, - nicks under the tail of pigs and calves, and noting my estimate of the weight of these when dressed for the market. In a short time I was able to do this to within a pound or two , and then when at Bandon fair one morning with two buyers, Wm. Uppingdon and his son, I said, "Now Billy, get busy we want about thirty pigs out of this lot today." About half an hour afterwards, I said, "Billy, how are your getting on?" "Oh! about a dozen", he said. "All right, go ahead, but I have bought six myself. What's that, Sir, Would you mind letting me see them?" "Certainly, come along" (Our mark was three parallel cuts in the bristles over the right hind quarter about 3" long.) "There is one. What did you pay for that?" I told him - and so the process was repeated until I had shown him the six pigs purchased. I can see the old fellow now, as he scratched his head and remarked "You're not far out Sir. Say, you want to be a Master before you're out of your apprenticeship. All right Billy! I'm glad you're satisfied. I will just buy a few more" - and so from that day on the buyers held me in respect and I did my share of the buying as well as being the custodian of the funds.
Uncle Samuel Anglin (25) was in business on a large scale as a manufacturer and exporter of Bacon, and had a large establishment on the hill about half a mile above Mrs. Waugh's yards. He very much resembled my father in appearance and manner of speaking. Had several sons - one a professor in Queen's College, Cork, and the others employed in the business.
One day looking over our stock of live pigs, I noticed that several of them were more suitable - owing to weight - for Bacon purposes than for our retail trade in the Grand Parade Market, and after asking permission, I sent them up to Uncle Sam. A few days afterwards I went up to collect the money which was promptly paid, and then Uncle Sam said, "William, would you mind telling me if you made anything out of the sale of these pigs?" I told him, "Yes - about £3.10.0." His son, John, was working near by, and he called out to him, "John! Here's your Cousin William comes over here from America and buys pigs in the Open Market, and sells them to me at a profit."
My health was steadily improving and I was not troubled with indigestion. Most of my time was spent in the open air. Travelling in the trains to and from Fairs, I was continually amused by the native wit and humor, and often had to lean out of the railway carriage door to get a rest from laughing. A large dry-goods firm in Cork (Sir John Arnott & Co.) were advertising bargains. The "Chape Sale", the men called it, and in the train one day they were telling of the great bargains - and some of them were telling "Whoppers", when finally a man called out, "Oh, but did you hear what Dennis Flaherity bought? Well, he got a whole suit entirely for himself and the wife and the seven children for eleven pence, three farthings." The ten men in the compartment were all smoking their short pipes, and nothing was said for about a minute. Then a pipe was removed and the reply came - accepting the "Whopper" as a possible fact. "Shure, he needn't have been so economical - he might have made it the even shilling while he was about it." Another example - (The ladies can skip this one.) A man, named Fennell, in our employ, was very cadaverous and wore black side whiskers - getting drunk in the Pub one evening, someone shaved off one side, and he had to get a clean shave the next morning. I came out into the Market Place and was looking at him, astonished at his appearance, when "Mickey" another employee came up, and immediately burst out with - "Shure you look for all the wuruld like a man got up from the grave to make his water and forgot to go back."
Socially I had a very pleasant time among all the relatives and enjoyed the Church Services at "Wesley Chapel". Had a week in London on one of my business trips, and with the aid of a map had no difficulty in finding my way about the Metropolis. Enjoyed also a visit to the lakes of Killarney, Blarney Castle was only five miles from Cork, and the walk there and back was almost a weekly event accompanied by some of the Waugh children.
Meantime the business was prospering but John Duke took seven months to come over, and then I had to remain and instruct him, as he was new to the business. A nephew of Mrs. Waugh's - a John Litton, was my main support, but Mrs. Waugh always took charge of the retail market in the Grand Parade Market. We always lunched there on market days, and I always enjoyed the delicious and "Cork" butter, and fragrant bacon or mutton chop.
But, alas for my want of business training. I was content to be useful and just accepted everything I wanted in the way of spending money, clothes, etc., and never mentioned salary. Coming home in September, 1877, I was supplied with the best in the way of travelling necessities, clothing, etc., and a small sum of money, and left behind me, I trust, a grateful memory of work well done, and the business in good running order.
The Rev Richard Duke (Mrs. Waugh's brother) had gone to Canada the previous year, and his sister, Minnie Duke, a young woman about 30 years of age, came over with me on the S.S. "Nepigon" of the Beaver Line, and after a short stay in Kingston, joined her brother, Richard. We sailed from Liverpool to Montreal.
Arrived home, several of my relatives did not recognise me. I weighed 180 lbs., and certainly must have looked different to the sick boy I was in 1876.
Did not go back to school, but assisted my father in the Bursar's office at Rockwood Hospital, and had great friends in Dr. Metcalfe, the Superintendent, Dr. C.K. Clarke, his Assistant, and Allan McLean, the Steward and his wife, Kate Seymour McLean, who was a poetess. Still had occasional headaches, and could not do much reading or study. Enjoyed sailing in summer and ice yachting in winter with Dr. Clarke. Moved back to the City in 1878, living in a brick house on Sydenham St. adjoining Sydenham St. Church. Still had the little mare "Fanny" and in February 1878, one Sunday, I remember taking Rev. Dr. Galbraith to Napanee in 2 hours (24 miles). It was a clear, cold day - no snow on the road - got another pony from a livery to team up with our pony, and attached to a light covered buggy. I had the outfit ready in the gateway adjoining the Church where Dr. Galbraith preached in the morning, and then came into our house for a hurried lunch, and we arrive in Napanee in good time for the afternoon service. As we tore along the highway, approaching rigs invariable drew off to one side, and gave us a free course. My! what changes the years have brought. Now, an auto would take you over the same distance in about half an hour, if necessary.
My sister, Annie, contracted a severe cold on the 1st July, 1878, while thinly dressed. She was watching a display of fireworks in the Cricket Field from the roof of McRossie's house (later Dr. Third's residence) and this cold developed into Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and we had a sick girl on our hands in the winter of '78-79. We had then moved down to 56 Earl St., the big roughcast house. I spent much time with her - taking her out for drives on suitable days. Annie died in April, 1879. Let me record this incident on the day of her death. In the morning she said to me, "Willie, I'm afraid I'm going to die today." We had previously talked over her condition and both had faith in the Eternal verities. "Not afraid, Annie!" "Oh, no, you know what I mean, I think I am going to die today." and in the twilight hour she called out, "Oh Willie! Listen, listen, joy" and so she slipped away - Gone to be with Jesus.
The ensuing summer I assisted my father with his Bursar's duties, and was very much interested as to what my lifework should be. Prayed about it earnestly, and woke up one morning with a voice ringing in my ears. "You must study Medicine." Did not like the idea, but it persisted. Mentioning the subject to Mrs. McLean (the Steward's wife), she sprang from her chair - took both my hands in hers and said, "Willie, I have been praying for that for a year, and I am delighted to hear it."
So, in October, 1879, I walked with fear and trembling into Dr. Fife Fowler's office in the Medical Building on Princess St., just below King St., south side, and registered. Then I felt that I had indeed "put my hand to the plough and could not recede".
Went at once into the dissecting room (quite different to the present condition) and felt no compunctions. Dr. Harry Chown (now in Winnipeg) was Demonstrator of Anatomy and I had my first instruction that day.
The Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons was then distinct from Queen's University. Later on in Principal Grant's time becoming again affiliated with the University during my Medical Course of four years.
I had not matriculated, and so after Christmas holidays I applied myself to studying in the evenings for the Matriculation subjects especially, though of course attending Medical Classes during the day. It was hard work but I had the satisfaction of passing the Matric very well, ranking third out of a large class. My brother, James, was taking his B.A. Course at this time, and we both graduated in 1883.
My summers - at times I studied at the K.G.H. and at Rockwood Hospital - and had good friends in both Dr. Metcalfe and Dr. Clark. One summer I was in Dr. K.N. Fenwick's office and my last summer in Dr. McCammon's office. Dr. R.W. Garrett started with me, but being a B.A., he graduated in 1882. My cousin, Dr. R.S. Anglin (Bob) [132] graduated in 1884.
A great many of the students in those days were given to drink. I remember well one incident when Dr. Thos R. Dupuis took a number of us out to Odessa where he amputated a thigh in the local hotel dining room. When the bloody stump was exposed one of the curious women about the hotel appeared in the doorway, and, catching sight of the stump, promptly fainted. Dr. Dupuis called out "Coutlee (later Dr. Coutlee of Sharbot Lake) look after that woman." Coutlee had her stretched out on a sofa, and proceeded to try and pour about half a glassful of brandy down her throat - and she promptly revived. One of the other women then spoke up. "Indeed, he needn't have bothered to put any brandy in the glass. All he had to do was to breathe in her face once or twice."
Surgery was pretty crude in those days. We students saw on an average about one operation a week. No wonder, when I graduated, I felt that it was necessary to gain further knowledge by post-graduate work. So it was arranged that I should go to London to walk the hospitals and take the English degree Member of The Royal College of Surgeons (M.R.C.S., Eng.).
Just before graduation a Stuart Cumberland was giving exhibitions of so-called "thought reading" in the Kingston Opera House and I attended the performance one evening in company with Drs. Metcalfe, Clarke and others, and we were greatly interested, and all went to Dr. Metcalfe's home afterwards when, after supper, it was suggested that we all try some of the simpler experiments. The operator was blindfolded, and the Medium, placing the back of the fingers of one hand on the operator's forehead was to think intently as to what was required to be done. For instance - pick up an article from some position and place it in another position - the operator having previously gone out of the room while the experiment was being agreed upon. Everyone signally failed, and I was the last one to try. Immediately I went across the room and picked up a small object from the mantelpiece - crossed the room and placed it on the middle of a chair. Tore off the handkerchief from my eyes and said: "That's what you wanted done". "By George, you're right, Anglin, we will try you again", and I did correctly five or six other experiments - each a little more difficult than the last. Could not account for the success, but in every experiment I was conscious that I was doing the right thing. When my fingers touched the desired object, I closed on it with a feeling of certainty.
Next week I started for Halifax to sail on the "Parisian", Allan Line for Liverpool. On the train between Kingston and Montreal I was particularly attracted by a young man's face at the other end of the Pullman. As I was about to board the Halifax train, I came face to face with this young man. "Hello", I said, "are you coming on this train?" "Yes, to Halifax", and we got into conversation, and enjoyed each other's company on the comparatively long trip on this Intercolonial - getting off for meals at various stations. he was Dr. Alex. Thompson of Strathroy, Ont., a recent graduate at Toronto. Well, of course, I told him about the "Thought-reading" and we made it interesting for the passengers on the voyage, as I was equally successful as at Dr. Metcalfe's. A passenger would say - "Well, Doctor, I hid a pin somewhere on the ship - an hour ago". "All right, if you know where it is, I'll find it for you", and blindfolded, I would take his right hand and, holding the fingers to my forehead, I would say, "Think where it is", and we would start upstairs and downstairs, and along corridors to the spot, and I would pick up the pin from a curtain or a chair wherever he had placed it, etc.
As before stated - My arrangements were made to go to London ......................
End of Diary - too bad - I wish we could have heard about my father's time studying in London and Edinburgh, where he was entertained at many high society places on account of his Thoughtreading.
Return to Personal Recollections (part 1) for the previous section of W.G.'s recollections.
Return to THE ANGLIN FAMILY STORY, PART 3.2 .