Gossip at once fastened on the instances of his free-handed generosity. Like other recent millionaires he gave away donations with as careless a spirit as that in which, according to his own statement in the witness box, he bestowed his cheques upon those with whom he had business relations. People are curious to know what will happen to the magnificent service of altar plate which he presented to St. Paul's Cathedral at lust year's Jubilee. The four patens, two flagons, and four chalices weigh 300 ounces of pure gold. Beautiful designs are chased on the plate, and the lids of the flagons represent the dome of the Cathedral with the cross. 'The chalices bear the inscription "Presented by Ernest Torah Hooley, of Risley Hull, Derbyshire, on the Sixticth 'Anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria." It is probable thnt at' the time of the gift there was no reason to doubt the solvency of Mr. Hooley, and the Cuthedral authorities, it is' argued, would be showing excessive scrupulousness in now surrendering the gift for the benefit of Mr, Hooley's creditors, who followed his fortunes with all the contingent risks. Were Mr. Hooley an American the reverse would doubtless be considered merely a "temporary eclipse." He is only about forty now and might make new fortunes his life time. He work is father's mill at Nottingham but ever since he was twenty-one has always managed to amoke three or four thousand a year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.