Copenhagen.
Minor Queries Answered.
_Hieroglyphics of Vagrants and Criminals._--In one of the recent deeply
interesting Sanitary Reports of Mr. Rawlinson to the General Board of
Health--reports which frequently contain scraps of antiquarian, among a
mass of more directly utilitarian information--there is passage which
opens up a curious subject, upon which, possibly, some of your readers
may be able to furnish illustrations from their literary stores. I
allude to that portion of his Report on the Parish of Havant
(Southamptonshire), in which he states:--
"There is a sort of _blackguard's literature_, and the initiated
understand each other by slang terms, by pantomimic signs, and by
hieroglyphics. The vagrant's mark may be seen in Havant, on
corners of streets, on door-posts, and on house-steps. Simple as
these chalk lines appear, they inform the succeeding vagrants of
all they require to know; and a few white scratches may say 'be
importunate,' or 'pass on.' The murderer's signal is even
exhibited from the gallows; as, a red handkerchief held in the
hand of the felon about to be executed, is a token that he dies
without having betrayed any professional secrets."
This is a curious subject; and I think it would prove interesting to
many readers, if any illustration could be afforded of the above strange
and somewhat startling statements.