LIFE AND TIMES OF THE RIGHT HON. JOHN BRIGHT. CHAPTER I. ROCHDALE AND THE BRIGHT FAMILY. Bright's Residence-Schools in Rochdale-Its Public Library-Its Politics-Its Industries-Its Surroundings-Lord Byron and Rochdale-Origin of the Name "One Ash"-Derivation of the name Bright-Mr. Bright's Ancestors-Men of Genius and their Parentage. ROCHDALE, one of the most prosaic towns in the north of England, has a spot which, like Mecca and the Lourdes shrine, attracts hundreds of pilgrims annually. That centre of attraction is the now classic "One Ash," the residence of the Right Hon. John Bright, M.P. To the bleak and unpromising region of Cronkeyshaw Common flock visitors from far-off lands, at all times and all seasons, anxious to see, if not the person of England's great patriot, at least the home of his boyhood, and the topographical surroundings of his domestic life. For many years there has been a continual stream of emigration going on from Germany to America through a system of conscription being enforced in "Vaterland," and many of these exiles, in the route from Hull to Liverpool, pass through the Rochdale station. When they hear the word Rochdale pronounced, it has been noted that some exclaim in their native language, "Oh, this is the birthplace of John Bright." Their wistful glances show that they are anxious to obtain at least a rapid and superficial survey of the town and its suburbs. This absorbing interest in Rochdale is manifested not only by strangers from all parts of the United Kingdom, but by natives from remote countries. Indeed, it is not uncommon to hear of Americans, Frenchmen, and English colonists visiting Rochdale, solely for the purpose of satisfying their B curiosity, and seeing the lowly roof which shelters the foremost of England's orators, that they might carry its picture home, "to feed their fancy when far away." The place in which such an intellect resides, with its surroundings, has a thousand pleasant associations. A view of Rochdale from the railway would not give a favourable impression, nor would a stroll through its streets predispose strangers to consider it as a pleasant town to dwell in. They might, however, discover that with its 15,000 houses lying in a valley on each side of the river Roach, and with its clean and efficiently-sewered streets, it was propitious to health. The Registrar-General's reports prove it to be one of the healthiest towns in Lancashire. Its Town Hall, a fine Gothic structure, has been pronounced second in point of artistic elegance in the kingdom. Its churches number nine, Catholic chapels two, and Nonconformist chapels twenty-five; and the majority might be described as handsome structures. With each of these places of worship is connected a Sabbath school, in which children are trained for the religious services which succeed it. The town is remarkable for its provisions for secular instruction. The elementary and endowed schools number fifty-four, and out of a population of 69,750 about 13,000 children are under instruction. A prominent building, which would not escape observation on account of its elevated position and fine frontage, is the Equitable Pioneers' Central Stores in Toad Lane, a fitting monument of the birthplace and progress of this modern institution, which has been so beneficial to the welfare of the working class, intellectually as well as commercially. It has a library of 15,035 volumes, and nineteen news-rooms. The inhabitants also possess a Public Library, which contains 31,600 volumes. These educational advantages have doubtless aided in the intellectual development of the residents. A network of political clubs, both Liberal and Conservative, extends over the borough, and they have no small share of influence in forming the views of those within their sphere. But Rochdale is an ultra-Liberal town; for the last fifty years it has been represented in the House of Commons by five Liberals, and for a short time by two Conservatives. Seventy years ago it was a decided Tory town, there being at that time only three Dissenting chapels, namely, a Wesleyan, a Baptist, and a Presbyterian. Nearly the whole of the inhabitants were thus church-people, their places of worship being ROCHDALE AND THE BRIGHT FAMILY. 3 St. Chad's and St. Mary's churches. Since that period, however, so Liberal have they grown in politics, that they never have had a Conservative mayor, and at the present time there are only six Conservatives in the Town Council, while the Liberals number thirty-three; moreover, while there are ten Conservative members of the Board of Guardians, the Liberals have fourteen, notwithstanding that outside the borough the Conservative electors are more numerous than within the limits of the town. Even the Conservatives of Rochdale are in advance in their political creed, and their prominent leaders advocate free trade. The Liberals stand in the foremost ranks of political enlightenment, for they have had the benefit of the teachings of their distinguished townsman; and their members, Richard Cobden, W. Sharman Crawford, Edward Miall, John Fenton, and T. B. Potter, who have often, in their annual addresses, pointed out a safe course for the general good. The artisans do not depend upon one branch of industry for a livelihood. Although the staple trade is the manufacture of flannel, which has always stood in high repute, yet calico is largely made, as well as silk, machinery of various descriptions, carpets, paper, and manure from the town excreta; for the Corporation has, under the skilful direction of Mr. Alderman Taylor, a local chemist, taken a leading part in solving the difficulty of making it into a useful fertiliser. It is now also moderately remunerative to the Corporation, for in 1882, £3,344 were realised from the sale. The fame of the system has spread so widely, that deputations have visited the works, not only from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland, but from Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Austria, South Africa, Natal, Demerara, and Washington. As the sources of trade in Rochdale are so varied, a depression in one particular branch generally affects only a portion of the inhabitants; but all the principal trades since 1878 have been seriously paralysed, and "Many rich Sank down, as in a dream, amongst the poor; The return of prosperous trade has been slower than has ever been experienced before. This may be accounted for by the temporary adoption of wash-leather and other material instead of flannel. There are within the borough about 300 manufactories and machine works, and the forest of tall chimneys is indicative of busy industry. The town is encircled by mountain and moorland scenery, |