The rating of the state of the economy is subjective. It is a function of the observer’s personal status and wealth at that moment in time. Even if poverty is visibly evident, many wealthy people cannot internalise or comprehend what impact the state of the economy has on impoverished people. This situation can be likened to the current divide in South Africa.

In this blog, I will utilise a letter written in 1884 by hides and skin merchant, Peter Titheranton who bemoans the ostentatious displays of wealth, to underscore my contention. Titheranton’s views can be juxtaposed with what Harradine emphatically states in her singular book, The Social Chronicle in which she states that ‘this was a period of drought and deep economic recession causing great hardship from retrench­ments, insolvencies and general unemployment’. This will provided balance in the debate but will not justify the wealth and societal imbalances.

Main picture: Sketch of Wesleyan Methodist Church in Russell Road. Commenced erection in 1870, opened in 1872 and closed on 7 Dec 1969 to be demolished in order to widen Russell Road

Rant about a rapacious, materialistic society
“To Tell of Many Things” by the Walrus dated 26^th February 1953, he quotes a letter dated 1884 from Peter Titheranton, a hides and skin merchant, to a friend in which he describes the congregation of the Russell Road Methodist Church as a metaphor for his contention. This church was a “wealthy church“, he opined. Furthermore Titheranton claimed that Mr Price had told him that he could not preach there. Moreover, Price asserted to Titheranton that “the words seem to stick on my tongue and described the attendees as lifeless, worldly-minded and money-loving. I believe that to be quite true, for they will do anything for money in Port Elizabeth. Money, money is the cry and as soon as they have got it, they generally clear out home and I don’t blame them for the latter. The old colonists make a great outcry about it and that is one reason why they have such an antipathy to newcomers.“

Insane level of “Villainy and roguery”
In a continuation of the letter to the editor published by Walrus in the paper dated 27 February 1953, he quotes from Titheranton’s 1884 letter; and continues: Such is life here I do believe that there is more villainy and roguery carried out here than in any other part of the world. The one reason is that this is the nearest port to the diamond fields and so you will know from reading, all classes, reckless, dissolute men from all parts of the world. Port Elizabeth is not a place where I would recommend a fastidious person to come to. There is a deal of style and in a certain way a deal of life. Money is spent freely, though not as much as formerly when trade was flourishing. Indeed, I have heard it stated that at that time, money was of no value whatsoever. Many without difficulty cleared their one, two, or three thousand a month. But times have changed.

Reality
In contrast to such a harsh characterisation of the residents of Port Elizabeth as irreligious rogues and spend-thrifts, the reality that pervaded the lives of most Port Elizabethans was soul-destroying poverty. A catastrophic level of drought had been succeeded by a deep economic recession. This left many with the inability to pay their rents, meet their bond repayments or put food on the table. Compounding this, was the level of business insolvencies and consequent retrenchments.

The solution for many was to join the throng seeking their fortunes on the diamond fields while back home in Port Elizabeth the municipal authorities set up a Distress Relief Committee and  employed labour on public works. The wages of these employees might have been derisory, but it kept the hungry wolf from the door.  Moreover, it also enabled the council to complete a long-desired project of building a proper road up Cooper’s Kloof, today’s Albany Road. The idea of instituting a Poor Rate was mooted for the indigent but was dismissed by the Council in October.

From Titheranton’s diatribe it is evident that he lived in a vastly different world from those at the bottom of the societal pyramid; perhaps his life should be termed fantastical.

Source
Titheranton is listed in the 1884 edition of the Port Elizabeth Directory as living at 142 Upper Adderley Street.
“To Tell of Many Things” by the Walrus