Pages from the past

1859 150 Years Ago What manner of evil is this? Over the last few months, this column has regularly highlighted how, in many ways, matters making the news 150 years ago, were not that dissimilar to that which grabs the headlines nowadays. However, one letter of complaint to this paper in late November 1859 showed how, in contrast, things have changed utterly from that time. The letter, which was simply signed by M, and published, read: "I am sorry to feel obliged to call your attention, and that of your readers, to the following fact: You will scarcely believe me when I tell you that a locomotive engine, on the railway now in construction between Athlone and Roscommon is employed on Sundays drawing ballast waggons, which, of course, are filled and emptied. It would be impossible to say what amount of evil may be caused by such irreverent conduct. No hurry of work can palliate the offence. Directors and actors, employers and employed - all are equally guilty. May it be put into the heart of each to ask himself: How will it be with my soul at the hour of my death, if I continue to sanction such proceedings? Temporal gains will not avail at the great day." 1909 100 Years Ago Opposition to publicans' licences because of illegal Sunday trading A different sort of activity on Sunday was exercising a section of the Athlone public in 1909. According to the Westmeath Independent of November 20, 1909 there was set to be "sweeping opposition to Athlone publicans' licences when they come up next for renewal". The paper said the principal ground of objection was likely to be relating to the extent of Sunday transactions and the abuse of the Sunday closing act. "The entire facts are to be fully gone into and the authorities are to be asked not to renew licences in various parts of the town, more particularly on the Leinster side. One form of opposition will be the difficulty of supervision and detection owing to the vigilance of the publicans though the police are aware that the Sunday Closing Act is being infringed." In the recent licensing prosecutions, it will be recollected evidence was given that it was the practice of certain publicans to employ scouts who were kept on Sundays to watch the police while an illegal sale was being transacted." "This decision to oppose all the licences in particular localities distributed over the town, was, we understand arrived at some short time ago and will be prosecuted in a very thoroughgoing fashion. Complaint is still being made, we are informed, of the extent of the Sunday traffic, which the police, for the reason assigned, are practically powerless to cope with." 1959 50 Years Ago Athlone aids world refugees 50 years ago this week the people of Athlone and surrounding areas dug deep to help out the world's refugees. The Red Cross and The Order of Malta personnel, together with representatives from public bodies, cultural, social and sporting organisations manned church gates in the town for what the Westmeath Independent described on its front page as a very "worthy cause". A public meeting, organised by the Red Cross heard that the International Refugee Committee has asked the Government to assist in the task of placing 14 million refugees worldwide. The Government in turn, requested that the Irish Red Cross set about collecting the money for this purpose. "We are the fortunate ones, who have homes and a country, and we're expected to help those have been deprived of everything they hold dear in life," Rev PF Lane said, urging the assembled Athlone crowd to be generous as possible. "The refugee has been described as a festering sore on the body of modern society. The problem was a vital one which was now being attacked the world over and was receiving undoubted support in all countries. The Holy Father has described the refugee problem as a sad anomaly in a modern society so proud of technical and social progress," he concluded.