Sept 17 Sheffield Independant
St Ledger Day – from Sheffield
Whilst passing the sidings of the Denaby Main Colliery, one cannot but observe withpleasure the orderly, well build houses of the Colliers employed there. If large employers of labour generally, under similar circumstances, would build such houses for their workmen, they would be better feeling between Masters and men, and greater probability of disputes being readily and amicably settled.
Up to the time of reaching, Denaby Main hopes have been entertained that the day would brighten, but when Conisborough comes in view, even the most sanguine make up their minds for a raw, disagreeable day. Grim and gloomy, the old Castle of Athelstane looks down over its fringe of trees, the fast bearing boughs which seem already to say that:
Winter comes to rule the varied year;
Sullen and sad, with all his rising train-
Vapours, and clouds, and storms
Here roamed the lawless bowman, Lords of the forest and the deer, but the forest has almost died away; and here centered the last jealous fears of the Norman conquerors, but the massive keep is now a ruin, and the peaceful ivory is its lord.
Perhaps Prof Huxley, in following out his singular theory of the development and migration of living organisms, might tell is that it is quite possible that the ivy is the being, or life element, of the last of the Royal Saxon race; and granting, for a moment, the supposition, how amazed must the noble Athelstane be to see us now driving through his domain in carriages drawn by a power he never dreamt off, and going in thousands to see such a tame sport as a horse race instead of the gallant tournament.
But although the learned professor is evidently devoutly “join to his idols,” his ground seems quite untenable, so I shall let him alone, and pass on to notice ground more valuable and solid.
A little distance beyond Conisborough the railway has been cut through solid rock to a considerable depth. Of course, such coatings are numerous on many lines, but the casual observer may not have noticed the special nature of the rock at this place.
It is a rich limestone of great things, and the bed is very large extent. Such a deposit within reach of large towns is very valuable, notwithstanding the fact that there is no scarcity of limestone. In this district, and it is satisfactory to note that the quarry is being worked to advantage.
Nothing further particular worthy of mention presents itself until we reach Doncaster