In a lighthearted and comical tale of census-taking escapades, the Yorkshire Post has recounted the amusing experiences of a census-taker who ventured into the homes of some rather eccentric individuals. From a beer-loving and uncooperative housewife to a mother-daughter duo of Irishwomen who serenaded the census-taker with a spirited rendition of ‘Doolally,’ these encounters are sure to bring a smile to your face.
The adventure begins with a visit to a housewife who could only be described as frowsy, with her priorities leaning heavily towards a pot of beer rather than maintaining the tidiness of her surroundings. It quickly became evident that this housewife had little interest in participating in the census. When asked to provide information about her family, her response was nothing short of dismissive.
With a devil-may-care attitude, she boldly declared that she couldn’t be bothered with such matters because she lacked the five pounds necessary to face a potential fine for non-compliance. This declaration, while likely not rooted in the actual census regulations, was delivered with a conviction that left the census taker momentarily bewildered.
However, the situation took a humorous turn when the housewife, clearly not one to back down from a standoff, brandished a saucepan in a somewhat threatening manner. The census-taker, faced with this unexpected culinary confrontation, wisely decided to make a swift exit. It appears that this particular house call had taken an unexpected turn, leaving both parties with a tale to share.
Meanwhile, on another street in Yorkshire, a census taker encountered a pair of Irishwomen who welcomed them with open arms and a lively rendition of ‘Doolally.’ The mother-daughter duo, hailing from the Emerald Isle, immediately set the tone for an unconventional encounter.
The daughter, in particular, had absolutely no reservations about sharing her personal information with the census taker, doing so with an enthusiasm that could be heard by the entire neighbourhood. From proudly announcing her Limerick origins to revealing her age of 32, she left no stone unturned.
As the daughter continued to enthusiastically divulge details, the census-takers found themselves in the unique position of having their task made remarkably easy. With the daughter’s penchant for vocalizing every bit of information, it was almost as if the census form was filling itself out.
The encounter with these spirited Irishwomen undoubtedly left the census-taker with a memorable story to tell. Their unabashed openness and zest for sharing details about their lives added a delightful twist to what might otherwise have been a routine task.
In these humorous anecdotes of census-taking in Yorkshire, we are reminded that the act of collecting data can sometimes lead to unexpected and amusing encounters. From a housewife’s saucy saucepan threat to the spirited Irishwomen who turned census sharing into a musical performance, these tales serve as a delightful reminder that humour can be found in the most unexpected places, even during the official count of a nation’s population.
Portsmouth Evening News – Thursday 04 April 1901
