Huddersfield Chronicle (22/Jan/1853) - Marsden: A Blue Affair

The following is a transcription of a historic newspaper article and may contain occasional errors. If the article was published prior to 1 June 1957, then the text is likely in the Public Domain.

DISTRICT NEWS.

MARSDEN.

A Blue Affair.

It would be a pity for the following "owre true tale" to be lost for want of a chronicler, so we will give it for the benefit of the public generally, and "snuffers" in particular. John and Judy (their surname is of no avail), were man and wife, and a few years ago lived not far from this village, on the roadside leading to Meltham. Both were inveterate snuff-takers, and could not exist for any great length of time without a pinch. The habit had become so strong, that when retiring to bed they took a quantity in a paper, and placed it under the pillow, so that, during the night, a supply might be at hand to go on with. One night John awoke and began to poke about, and under the pillow for the snuff, but none could he find. He then gently nudged Judy under the ribs, and enquired whether there was any or not. Judy replied he could find some down stairs in the "delf-case." John having fasted as long as he was able, trudged down stairs, and to his joy, after some groping in the dark, discovered a large packet. He returned to bed, furnished his nose with a plentiful supply of the material, and, like a thoughtful husband, gave Judy a dose too. The remainder was placed under the pillow, and it seemed to be a particularly good mixture, for both parties had frequent recourse to it during the night. In the morning John awoke earliest, and the first thing he saw, to his consternation, was his wife's face, turned from its usual colour, into a light blue! He gave her a good shake, and roared out, "Judy whatever has ta done at thee face?" Judy opened her eyes, but instead of replying to John's question, she, in her turn, bawled out, "Nay, whatever has ta done at thoine, its us blue as a bilberry?" After staring at one another for some time in dumb astonishment, the murder came out. John, instead of bringing the genuine article, had fallen upon a packet of powder blue, which good housewives use for starching linen ; and the two, relishing the flavour, had made such free use of it as to make both themselves and every thing about them look very blue indeed!