period in Scotland, are preserved in the Museum of Scottish
Antiquaries, and one set in particular, found enclosed in an urn within
a rude stone cist, on the demolition of a tumulus near the Old House of
Assynt, Rossshire, in 1824, we here engrave. They include a necklace
of irregular oval jet beads, which appear to have been strung together
like a common modern string of beads, and are sufficiently rude to
correspond with the works of a very primitive era. The other ornaments
which are represented here about one-fourth the size of the original,
are curiously studded with gold spots, arranged in patterns similar
to those with which the rude pottery of the British tumuli are most
frequently decorated, and the whole are perforated with holes passing
obliquely from the back through the edge, evidently designed for
attaching them to each other by means of threads.
JUGGLERS IN JAPAN.
The perfection of jugglery in Japan entitles it to be ranked amongst
the fine arts. An eye-witness thus describes the performance of a
Japanese juggler. "Here are some of his feats:--No. 1. He took an
ordinary boy's top, spun it in the air, caught it on his hand, and then
placed it (still spinning) upon the edge of a sword, near the hilt.
Then he dropped the sword point a little, and the top moved slowly
towards it. Arrived at the very end, the hilt was lowered in turn, and
the top brought back. As usual, the sword was dangerously sharp. No. 2
was also performed with the top. He spun it in the air, and then threw
the end of the string back towards it with such accuracy that it was
caught up and wound itself all ready for a second cast. By the time it
had done this it had reached his hand, and was ready for another spin.
No. 3 was still performed with the top. There was an upright pole, upon
the top of which was perched a little house, with a very large front
door. The top was spun, made to climb the pole, knock open the said
front door, and disappear. As well as I remember, the hand end of the
string was fastened near the door, so that this was almost a repetition
of the self-winding feat. But feat No. 4 was something even more
astonishing than all this. He took two paper butterflies, armed himself
with the usual paper fan, threw them into the air, and, fanning gently,
kept them flying about him as if they had been alive. 'He can make
them alight wherever you wish! Try him!' remarked the Kami (Prince),
through the interpreter. Mr. H---- requested that one might alight
upon each ear of the juggler. No sooner expressed than complied with.
Gentle undulations of the fan waved them slowly to the required points,
and there left them comfortably seated. Now, whether this command over
pieces of paper was obtained simply by currents of air, or by the power
of a concealed magnet, Mr. H---- could not tell or ascertain. One
thing, however, was certain, the power was there."
MAY-FAIR PLAY BILL IN THE TIME OF WILLIAM III.
WILLIAM REX.
MAY-FAIR.
MILLER'S,
OR THE LOYAL ASSOCIATION BOOTH,
AT THE UPPER END OF
BROOK-FIELD MARKET,
NEAR HYDE PARK CORNER.
DURING THE TIME OF MAY-FAIR, WILL BE PRESENTED
AN EXCELLENT DROLL, CALLED
KING WILLIAM'S HAPPY DELIVERANCE
AND GLORIOUS TRIUMPH OVER HIS ENEMIES,
OR THE CONSULTATION OF THE
POPE, DEVIL, FRENCH KING, AND THE GRAND TURK,
WITH THE WHOLE FORM OF THE SIEGE OF NAMUR,
AND THE HUMOURS OF A RENEGADE FRENCH MAN
AND BRANDY JEAN,
WITH THE CONCEITS OF SCARAMOUCH AND HARLEQUIN,
TOGETHER WITH THE BEST SINGING AND DANCING THAT WAS
EVER SEEN IN A FAIR, ALSO A DIALOGUE SONG.
VIVAT REX.
BELLS.
Bells were formerly a prolific source of superstition. There is a
valley in Nottinghamshire, where a village is said to have been
swallowed up by an earthquake, and it was the custom on Christmas Day
morning for the people to assemble in this valley and listen to the
fancied ringing of the church bells underground. At Abbot's Morton
there is a tradition that the silver bells belonging to the abbot are
buried in the site of his old residence there. At Ledbury, a legend
relates that St. Katharine had a revelation that she was to travel
about, and not rest at any place, till she heard the bells ringing of
their own accord. This was done by the Ledbury bells on her approaching
that town. When the church at Inkberrow was rebuilt on a new site in
ancient days, it was believed that the fairies took umbrage at the
change, as they were supposed to be averse to bells; they accordingly
endeavoured to obstruct the building, but, as they did not succeed, the
following lamentation was occasionally heard by the startled rustics:
"Neither sleep, neither lie,
For Inkbro's ting-tangs hang so nigh."
Many years ago the twelve parish churches in Jersey each possessed a
beautiful and valuable peal of bells; but during a long civil war, the
states determined on selling these bells to defray the heavy expenses
of their army. The bells were accordingly collected, and sent to
France for that purpose; but, on the passage, the ship foundered, and
everything was lost, to show the wrath of Heaven at the sacrilege.
Since then, before a storm, these bells ring up from the deep; and,
to this day, the fishermen of St. Ouen's Bay always go to the edge of
the water before embarking, to listen if they can hear "the bells upon
the wind;" and, if those warning notes are heard, nothing will induce
them to leave the shore; if all is quiet they fearlessly set sail. As a
gentleman, who has versified the legend, says:
"'Tis an omen of death to the mariner,
Who wearily fights with the sea;
For the foaming surge is his winding sheet,
And his funeral knell are we:
His funeral knell our passing bells beat,
And his winding sheet the sea."
BRIBING THE DEMONS.
The rich inhabitants of the Celestial Empire, it is almost needless
to say, make an exorbitant display at funerals. They invite as many
relations and friends as they can, in order to muster an imposing
procession, and the mourning dresses worn by the whole party are at
the cost of the family of the deceased, who are also bound to provide
them for several days together with splendid repasts. A great number
of musicians are hired for the occasion, and also of _weepers_, for
though most people in China are pretty well skilled in the art of
shedding tears, there exist mourners by profession, who have carried it
to still greater perfection, and are absolutely inimitable at sobs and
groans. They follow the coffin in long white robes, hempen girdles, and
dishevelled hair; and their lamentations are accompanied by the beating
of gongs, by the sharp and discordant sounds of rude instruments of
music, and the discharge of fireworks. The sudden explosion and the
smell of the powder are supposed to be efficacious in frightening away
the demons, and hindering them from seizing on the soul of the defunct,
which never fails to follow the coffin; and as these malevolent spirits
have also the reputation of being extremely covetous and fond of money,
people endeavour to get on their weak side. They let fall, for this
purpose, all along the road, sapecks and bank-notes, that the wind
carries away in all directions; and as the demons in China are by no
means so cunning as the men, they are taken in by this device, and
fall into the trap with charming simplicity, though, the supposed
bank-notes are in fact only bits of white paper. Whilst they are
engaged in pursuing these deceitful appearances of riches, the soul of
the defunct proceeds quietly and comfortably after its coffin without
any danger of its being stopped by the way.
HOLY-WATER SPRINKLER.
To sprinkle the holy water was, in ancient times, the cant phrase for
fetching blood, which will account for the appellation of a certain
class of weapons, as there is no resemblance whatever between them and
the aspergillum used by Roman Catholics. The specimen we have here
sketched is a demi holy-water-sprinkler--to speak in the language of
the time--"with gonnes at the ende." This awkward weapon, prior, in
point of date, to the invention of the matchlock, and, therefore, not
later than the time of Edward IV., was made to hang at the saddle-bow
instead of a mace. The iron cap at the end is furnished with a
spear-like blade, and opens on an hinge, or is held in its place by
a hook. It contains four short barrels, each of which is fired by a
match, and its touch-hole is protected by a sliding piece of wood.
[Illustration: [++] Holy Water Sprinkler.]
In using this weapon the intention was first to fire at the enemy with
the "gonnes at the ende," and then to club him on coming to close
quarters. To effect all this, however, in a satisfactory manner, much
time must have been lost, and many accidents, no doubt, were liable to
happen to the person who used such a weapon as this, which was almost
as dangerous to the man who possessed it, as to the enemy against whom
he directed it. The lid at the top must first have been opened, and
not only so, but must have been kept open all the time the weapon was
used as a gun, and then, previously to closing with the foe, it must
have been necessary to secure it, lest, in brandishing the instrument
as a club, the open lid should strike against the head of the man who
wielded it. No wonder that this dangerous compound of club and gun soon
went out of fashion, and survived its invention only a very few years.
FIRST TEA-DRINKERS PUZZLED.
The first brewers of tea were often sorely perplexed with the
preparation of the new mystery. "Mrs. Hutchinson's great grandmother
was one of a party who sat down to the first pound of tea that ever
came into Penrith. It was sent as a present, and without directions how
to use it. They boiled the whole at once in a bottle, and sat down to
eat the leaves with butter and salt, and they wondered how any person
could like such a diet."
COLUMN AT CUSSI.
[Illustration: [++] Column at Cussi.]
The great object of the erection of pillars of victory was to serve
as vehicles for sculpture; though, as we now see them, or as they are
caricatured at Paris and elsewhere, they are little more than instances
of immense labour bestowed to very little purpose. In the original
use of these pillars, they were placed in small courts surrounded by
open porticos, whence the spectator could at two, or perhaps at three
different levels examine the sculpture at his leisure at a convenient
distance, while the absurdity of a pillar supporting nothing was not
apparent, from its not being seen from the outside. A good specimen of
this class is that at Cussi, near Beaune, in France. It is represented
in the annexed cut. It probably belongs to the time of Aurelian, and
no doubt was first erected within a court; but it is not known either
by whom it was erected, or what victory it was designed to celebrate.
Still that it is a pillar of victory is certain, and its resemblance
to pillars raised with the same object in India is quite striking.
The arrangement of the base, serving as a pedestal for eight statues,
is not only elegant, but appropriate. The ornament which covers the
shaft takes off from the idea of its being a mere pillar, and, at the
same time, is so subdued as not to break the outline or interfere with
constructive propriety. The capital of the Corinthian order is found
in the neighbourhood, used as the mouth of a well. In its original
position it no doubt had a hole through it, which being enlarged
suggested its application to its present comparatively ignoble purpose,
the hole being no doubt intended either to receive or support the
statue or emblem that originally crowned the monument, but of that no
trace now remains.
STYLE OF LIVING AMONG THE NOBILITY OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
The ordinary meals were now increased to four a day--breakfast at
seven in the morning, dinner at ten, supper at four in the afternoon,
and "liveries," which were taken in bed, between eight and nine at
night. These latter, as well as the breakfast, were of no light or
unsubstantial character, consisting of good beef and mutton (or salt
fish in Lent), with beer and wine in the morning; and of a loaf or
two, with a few quarts of mulled wine and beer, at nights. At dinner
the huge oaken table, extending the whole length of the great hall,
was profusely covered with joints of fresh and salt meat, followed by
courses of fowl, fish, and curious made-dishes. The Lord took his seat
on the dais or raised floor at the head; his friends and retainers were
ranged above or below the salt, according to their rank. As forks were
not yet in use, the fingers were actively employed, whilst wine and
beer in wooden or pewter goblets were handed round by the attendants.
Over head the favourite hawks stood upon their perches, and below the
hounds reposed upon the pavement.
The dinner generally lasted for three hours, and all pauses were filled
up by the minstrels, jesters, or jugglers, or by the recitation of
some romance of chivalry. At the end of each course they sometimes
introduced a dish called _subtlety_, composed of curious figure in
jellies or confectionery, with a riddling label attached for the
exercise of social wit. The monasteries were especially noted for
their good dinners, and the secular clergy, not to be outdone in their
hospitality invented _glutton-masses_ in honour of the Virgin. These
were held five times a year in the open churches, whither the people
brought food and liquor, and vied with each other in this religious
gormandizing. The general diet of the common people continued, however,
to be coarse and poor, and severe famines not unfrequently occurred.
ORIGIN OF THE TITLE "SFORZA."
James Sforza, the father of Francis the first duke, was the founder of
the house of Sforza, which gave six dukes to Milan, and was allied with
almost every sovereign in Europe during the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries. He was born in 1369, at Catignuola, near Faenza; his
father, according to tradition, was a day labourer, and to others, a
shoemaker, but probably wrought as both. Perceiving some soldiers pass,
he was struck with the desire of bearing arms. "I will go," said he to
himself, "and dart my hatchet against that tree, and if it stick fast
in the wood I will immediately become a soldier." The hatchet stuck
fast, and because, says the Abbot of Choisi, he threw the axe with all
his force, he assumed the supposed fortunate name of Sforza, as his
real name was Giacomuzzo, or James Attendulo.
MAY-POLE IN THE STRAND.
During the austere reign of the Puritans, when theatres were closed,
and every sort of popular amusement was considered sinful, the
May-poles fell into disrepute, and were pulled down in various parts
of London. Among the rest, the famous May-pole in the Strand came to
the ground. With the restoration of the monarchy, the people saw the
restoration of their ancient sports; and on the very first May-day
after the return of Charles II., the May-pole in the Strand was set
up again, amid great popular rejoicing. The following account of the
ceremony is taken from a rare tract of the times, entitled "The Citie's
Loyaltie displayed. London, 4to., 1641," and quoted in the first volume
of Hone's "Every-Day Book," page 557:--
"Let me declare to you the manner in general," says the loyal author,
"of that stately cedar erected in the Strand, 134 feet high, commonly
called the May-pole, upon the cost of the parishioners there adjacent,
and the gracious consent of His Sacred Majesty, with the illustrious
Prince the Duke of York. This tree was a most choice and remarkable
piece, 'twas made below bridge, and brought in two parts up to Scotland
Yard, near the King's Palace, and from thence it was conveyed, April
14th, to the Strand, to be erected. It was brought with a streamer
flourishing before it, drums beating all the way, and other sort of
music. It was supposed to be so long that landsmen, as carpenters,
could not possibly raise it. Prince James, the Duke of York, Lord High
Admiral of England, therefore commanded twelve seamen to come and
officiate the business; whereupon they came, and brought their cables,
pulleys, and other tackling, with six great anchors. After these were
brought three crowns, borne by three men bareheaded, and a streamer
displaying all the way before them, drums beating, and other music
playing, numerous multitudes of people thronging the streets, with
great shouts and acclamations all day long.
"The May-pole then being joined together, and hooped about with bands
of iron, the crown and vane, with the King's arms, richly gilded, was
placed on the head of it: a large top, like a balcony, was about the
middle of it. This being done, the trumpets did sound, and in four
hours' space it was advanced upright; after which being established
fast in the ground, again great shouts and acclamations did the
people give, that rang throughout all the Strand. After that came a
morris-dance, finely decked with purple scarfs, in their half shirts,
with a tabor and pipe, the ancient music, and danced round about the
May-pole, and after that danced the rounds of their liberty. Upon
the top of this famous standard is likewise set up a royal purple
streamer, about the middle of it are placed four crowns more, with the
King's arms likewise. There is also a garland set upon it, of various
colours, of delicate rich favours, under which are to be placed three
great lanthorns, to remain for three honours, that is, one for Prince
James, Duke of York, Lord High Admiral of England; the other for the
Vice-Admiral; the third for the Rear-Admiral. These are to give light
on dark nights, and to continue so as long as the pole stands, which
will be a perpetual honour for seamen. It is placed as near hand as
they could guess in the very same pit where the former stood, but far
more glorious, higher, and bigger, than ever any one that stood before
it; and the seamen themselves do confess that it could not be built
higher, and there is not such an one in Europe besides, which doth
highly please His Majesty and the illustrious Prince, Duke of York.
Little children did much rejoice, and ancient people did clap their
hands, saying that golden days began to appear. I question not but it
will ring like melodious music throughout every county in England when
they read this story exactly penned. Let this story satisfy for the
glories of London, that other loyal subjects may read what we here do
see."
COSTUME OF A GERMAN NOBLE.
The annexed cut represents the dress of a young noble of the year 1443,
from the extremely interesting genealogical history of the baronial
family of Haller von Halleostein. The figure is that of Franz Haller
von Halleostein, who died unmarried in the above year. He wore an open
jerkin of a greenish colour, and very finely plaited chemisette. The
jerkin has a white silk trimming with a black border throughout, and
is held together by fine white silk ribbons, beneath which appears the
white shirt. The sword-couple and sheath, are black, hilt and mountings
are of the colour of steel. The stockings are vermilion, and on the
right leg is a white and yellow stripe. The shoes are black, turned
with white. The hair is long, and over it is worn a neat cap with
lappets and a golden agraffe and love-knot, to support the hair.
[Illustration: [++] Dress of a Young Noble in 1443.]
At the period of this costume very great attention was bestowed by
the German nobility to their dress. The sums they expended on it
were enormous, and in many instances families were reduced to ruin
by the extravagant decorations of their person. Jewellery, furs,
silks, and laces, all of which were far more expensive and difficult
to be obtained than they are now, were used in reckless profusion,
and one nobleman vied with another in the magnificence, novelty, and
expensiveness of their attire. The illustrated books of that period
abound in sketches of the most beautiful costumes, and are a fund of
interest to those who are curious in such matters.
ABSURDITIES OF THE TOILET.
The ladies of Japan are said to gild their teeth, and those of the
Indies to paint them red, while in Guzerat the test of beauty is to
render them sable. In Greenland, the women used to colour their faces
with blue and yellow. The Chinese must torture their feet into the
smallest possible dimensions--a proof positive of their contracted
understandings. The ancient Peruvians, and some other Indian tribes,
used to flatten their heads: and among other nations, the mothers, in a
similar way, maltreat the noses of their offspring.
AN EGYPTIAN DINNER.
The complicated, and, at first sight, somewhat incomprehensible sketch
which we here lay before our readers, was taken from an interior wall
of a palace in Egypt. It is, of course, by Egyptian artists, and the
subject of it is no other than an Egyptian dinner-table set out and
adorned for a banquet.
[Illustration: [++] Egyptian Dinner-Table.]
At a dinner in ancient Egypt, small and low circular tables were used,
standing on a single pillar, with a dilated base; sometimes one of
these was apportioned to every guest, the viands being brought round
by the servants successively, from a larger pillar-table which had
been brought in readily set out by two men. The accompanying engraving
shows a table thus laid out, requiring, however, a little allowance for
the lack of perspective. Round and oblong cakes of bread flattened and
pricked in patterns, a goose, a leg of a kid or antelope, baskets of
figs and other fruit, are crowned by a huge bunch of the lotus-lily.
Under the table are bottles of wine placed on stands in a series, and
crowned with a lotus-garland, upon which is thrown a long withe of what
seems from the tendrils a vine, loaded with clusters of grapes, as well
as thickly set with foliage.
ELEPHANT-GOD OF BURMAH.
A white elephant is a great rarity, and whenever one is caught, the
Burmese treat it as a god and pay worship to it. Captain Yule thus
describes the white elephant of 1855, and his palace at Amarapoora, the
capital of Burmah:--