“Then the battle can proceed,” said Joseph Bell, laughing.
And a very excellent fight it was. I should be sorry to have to read again all the letters that were written and speeches that were made. I remember I had to move the resolution against the old Board at the Memorial Hall and Lord Derby was in the chair. I certainly did not forget the nurse case when I told the members of the old Board that, “however great my temptations, I would not say anything worse of them than I knew they often said of themselves, namely, that they had left undone all they ought to have done, and had done all they ought not to have done, and there was no health in them.” A sentiment I was glad to hear heartily cheered.
We won the resolution, we won the poll the friends of the old Board demanded, and then we had an election forced upon us. Joseph Bell’s policy had been to form a Board by consent, and on his “ticket” he ran several members of the old Board who more or less favoured his views. He was absolutely master of the situation, and could, had he wished, have nominated his own Board. There were twenty-two members to be elected, and Bell’s
committee put up twenty-one. The friends of the old Board did not understand Bell’s good sense in taking over so many members of the old Board, and did their best to thwart any settlement by consent. An election took place, and certainly created more interest and feeling than any municipal election that I can remember. It was with some excitement that, coming out of Court on the afternoon of the counting, I bought a paper from a Chronicle boy, who was shouting out “Result of the Infirmary Poll.” One of Bell’s candidates had resigned at the last moment, and the other twenty were returned at the head of the poll.
As I read the successful names I felt a sense of relief. Something had been attempted and something done. That nurse case that had begun before Mr. Justice Day ten years ago was really finished.
But though the Battle of the Sites was over, the Battle of what to do with the old Site is not yet well begun, for having pulled down the old building, there is a very pretty quarrel going on as to what to put in its place. And I envy Joseph Bell sniffing the battle from the upper windows of Portland Street, where the stricken field—and it is a stricken field—lies at his doorstep. At the right time he, as a good Manchester citizen, will off with his coat and rush into the fray whilst I shall be idling here, with no right to heave even half a brick in the good cause. But whoever is on the other side, the stable money is on Joseph Bell.
CHAPTER XII
THAT REMINDS ME
Fluellen: It is not well done, mark you now, to take the tales out of my mouth, ere it is made and finished.