From the BEN files

WHAT is believed to have been the last full-size snooker table in the Horwich area has been consigned to the scrap heap. Its place at the Victoria Hotel, Chorley New Road, has been taken by two pool tables, much to the disgust of the pub's snooker team.

BLACK despair shrouds the workers in Britain's textile towns, for they are beginning to fear the run-down of their once-proud industries is a deliberate Government aim. After months of hard campaigning to save trouble-hit industries in both Lancashire and Yorkshire from closures and job losses, they reckon they are getting no-where.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 6, 1950

THE Harwood Agricultural Society's show attracted crowds of people from Bolton and the neighbouring district to Nab Gate today. The weather was dry until after midday, but there was a cool wind, and the rain this afternoon deterred many holidaymakers who had intended to spend a pleasant half-day at the show. Records were broken in the horticultural section, where there were over 500 entries, whilst in the goal section there were 50 entries, double last year's figure.

WHILE shirt manufacturers have had conversations with the Board of Trade on the danger to the British cotton industry of the import of cheap shirts made in Hong Kong, makers of sports footwear are becoming alarmed at the import of rubber footwear also marked 'Empire Made'. Imported footwear is being sold at some multiple stores at more than 20 per cent less than home produced goods.

AN amusing matrimonial case has just come before the Paris Tribunal. Monsieur Bocher, a dealer in skins, was looking over his newspaper, when his eye caught the following advertisement: 'Important notice. Rich marriages. Discretion and facility. A young lady of twenty, with a dowry of 300,000 francs. An orphan with 50,000f. Several widows of various ages and dowries. Address, enclosing postage stamps to the sum of five francs, &c.' M Bocher at once exclaimed - 'That's my affair', and, laying down his paper, sent off the subjoined letter with the money to the matrimonial agent, one Bouqueur...- 'Sir, As a widower more than nine months, with four children, all in good situations, and consequently alone under the sky of Paris, belonging to a very honourable family of the South, full of health, with black eyes and an aquiline nose, a good figure, and aged only fifty years, but with no fortune but my luminous intelligence in the skin trade, I desire to marry a lady of thirty-five to forty years of age, possessing a handsome dowry. Tell me if my portrait is necessary. It is well understood that the lady must pay the expenses of the wedding. Reply immediately, Yours, etc., Bocher.'

The answer was forthcoming the following day. It ran thus: 'My dear sir, I have got just your affair. She is a lady who would dearly like the skin trade. She is a widow. She seeks not fortune, but is pious and amiable, and fond of doing good. Send your portrait with 25 francs, Yours faithfully and obediently, Bouqueur.' Mr Bocher sent his portrait and 25 francs, and the lady called on him, but, according to his evidence, instead of talking about marriage, she chaffed him about his skin, and finding it not to her liking, wished him good day.

Away went the skin dealer in a rage to the matrimonial agent, who, to pacify him, gave him the addresses of several women who kept glove shops, as being likely to accept his hand, but they all refused him, whereupon he brought an action for 2,000 francs damages; but the court, considering the skin dealer as bad as the matrimonial agent, dismissed the case.