The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 333 by Various
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Various >> The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 333
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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
VOL. XII, NO. 333.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1828. [PRICE 2d.
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FIRE TOWER
[Illustration: FIRE TOWER]
Throughout Scotland and Ireland there are scattered great numbers of
_round towers_, which have puzzled all antiquarians. They have of
late obtained the general name of _Fire Towers_, and our engraving
represents the view of one of them, at Brechin, in Scotland. It consists
of sixty regular courses of hewn stone, of a brighter colour than the
adjoining church. It is 85 feet high to the cornice, whence rises a low,
spiral-pointed roof of stone, with three or four windows, and on the top
a vane, making 15 feet more, in all 100 feet from the ground, and
measuring 48 feet in external circumference.
Many of these towers in Ireland vary from 35 to 100 feet. One at Ardmore
has fasciae at the several stories, which all the rest both in Ireland
and Scotland, seem to want, as well as stairs, having only abutments,
whereon to rest timbers and ladders. Some have windows regularly
disposed, others only at the top. Their situation with respect to the
churches also varies. Some in Ireland stand 25 to 125 feet from the west
end of the church. The tower at Brechin is included in the S.W. angle of
the ancient cathedral, to which it communicates by a door.
There have been numerous discussions respecting the purposes for which
these towers were built; they are generally adjoining to churches,
whence they seem to be of a religious nature. Mr. Vallencey considers
it as a settled point, that they were an appendage to the Druidical
religion, and were, in fact, _towers for the preservation of the
sacred fire[1] of the Druids or Magi_. To this Mr. Gough, in his
description of Brechin Tower,[2] raises an insuperable objection. But
they are certainly not belfries; and as no more probable conjecture has
been made on their original purpose, they are still known as _Fire
Towers._
For this curious relic we are indebted to Mr. Godfrey Higgins's erudite
quarto, entitled "The Celtic Druids," already alluded to at page 121 of
our present volume.
[1] Like the ancient Jews and Persians, the Druids had a sacred and
inextinguishable fire, which was preserved with the greatest
care. At Kildare it was guarded, from the most remote antiquity,
by an order of Druidesses, who were succeeded in later times by
an order of Christian Nuns. The fire was fed with peeled wood,
and never blown with the mouth, that it might not be polluted.
[2] "On the west front of the tower are two arches, one within the
other in relief. On the point of the outermost is a crucifix,
and between both, towards the middle, are figures of the Virgin
Mary and St. John, the latter holding a cup with a lamb. The
outer arch is adorned with knobs, and within both is a small
slit or loop. At the bottom of the outer arch are two beasts
couchant. If one of them _by his proboscis was not evidently an
elephant_, I should suppose them the supporters of the Scotch
arms. Parallel with the Crucifix are two plain stones, which do
not appear to have had anything upon them. Here is not the least
trace of a door in these arches, nor anywhere else, except in
the church."
* * * * *
SOME ACCOUNT OF STIRBITCH FAIR.
BY A SEPTUAGENARIAN.
(_For the Mirror._)
(Stirbitch Fair, as our correspondent observes, was once the Leipsic or
Frankfurt of England. He has appended to his "Account" a ground plan of
the fair, which we regret we have not room to insert; the gaps or spaces
in which, serve to show how much this commercial carnival (for such it
might be termed) has deteriorated; for the remaining booths were built
on the same site as during the former splendour of the fair. Our
correspondent accounts for this "decay, by the facilities of roads and
navigable canals for the conveyance of goods;" the shopkeepers, &c,
"being able to get from London and the manufacturing districts, every
article direct, at a small expense, the fair-keepers find no market for
their goods, as heretofore." His paper is, however, a curious
matter-of-fact description of Stirbitch, "sixty years since." We have
been compelled to reject all but one verse of the "Chaunt," on account
of some local allusions, the justice of which we do not deny, but which
are scarcely delicate enough for our pages.
Stirbitch is still a festival of considerable extent, although it has
lost so much of its commercial importance. There are but few fortnight
fairs left: Portsmouth, we _recollect_, lasts 14 days, and there is
a fair held on some fine downs in Dorsetshire, which extends to that
period.)
Stirbitch Fair is held in a large field near Barnwell, about two miles
from Cambridge, covering a space of ground upwards of two miles in
circumference. It commences on the 16th day of September, and continues
till the beginning of October, for the sale of all kinds of manufactured
and other goods, and likewise for horses.
The etymology of the name of this fair has been much disputed. A silly
tradition has been handed down, of a pedlar who travelled from the north
to this fair, where, being very weary, he fell asleep at the only inn in
the place. A person coming into the room where he lay, the pedlar's dog
growled and woke his master, who called out, "Stir, bitch"; when the dog
seized the man by the throat, which proved to be the master of the inn,
who, to get released from the gripe of the dog, confessed his intention
was, with the aid of the ferryman who rowed him over from Chesterton,
to rob the pedlar; from which circumstance the fair ever after obtained
the name of _Stirbitch_. But a more reasonable derivation might be
found in the known custom of holding a festival on the anniversary of
the dedication of any religious foundation. There is a small and very
ancient chapel, or oratory, of Saxon architecture, still standing in
the field where the fair is kept; but to what saint dedicated, is not
recorded. I know not if a St. Ower is to be found in the calendar; if
there is, it will, by adding "wijk," or "wych," a district or boundary,
be no great stretch of invention to account for a transition from "St.
Ower wijch" to _Stirbitch_; or perhaps from a rivulet which empties
itself into the Cam at Quy-water, small streams, in some counties, being
called "stours."
Leaving this argument, however, at the road-side chapel, we must proceed
to the fair, where the "busy hum of men" announced the approach of the
mayor and corporate body to make proclamation. First are,
Mr. Samuel Saul, the beadle, and his
assistant, in full costume, with their
staves tipped with silver, bearing
the arms of the Corporation.
Next followed two trumpeters, in gowns,
on horseback.
Sackbut and clarionets.
The mace.
The Worshipful the Mayor, in a scarlet gown.
The Vicar of Barnwell, (formerly the
Abbot,) and other of the Clergy
and Collegians.
The Corporate Body, two and two.
The Deputy Beadle.
All the train, as above, on horseback,
robed in full costume.
Then followed Gentlemen and Ladies in
their carriages and on horseback,
invited by the Mayor to the grand
dinner given on the occasion.
The proclamation was read, (heads uncovered,) first at the upper end
of the fair, next in the Mead where the pottery and coal fair were
held, and last at a little inn near the horse fair, in which place a
"Pied-poudre" court was held during the fair, for deciding disputes
between buyers and sellers, and for punishing abuses and breaches of the
peace in a summary way--stocks and a whipping-post being placed before
the door for that purpose. Here the mayor and the cavalcade partook of
some refreshment.
Should the harvest be backward, and the corn not off the ground, the
booths, nevertheless, are erected, the farmers being, as they admit,
more than indemnified for their losses in that case, by the immense
quantity of litter, offal, and soil left on the ground after the
standings and booths are cleared away; besides which, they seize on
every thing left upon the land after a fixed day. This has sometimes
occurred, and the forfeiture of the goods and chattels so seized has
been recognised judicially as a fine for the trespass. This local
custom, sanctioned by usage from time immemorial, is without appeal.
The booths were from 15 to 20 feet wide by 25 to 30 feet deep; they were
set out in two apartments, the one behind, about 10 feet wide, serving
for bed-room, dining-room, parlour, and dressing-room, The bedstead
was of _four posts and a lath bottom_, on which was laid a truss of
clean, dry straw, serving as a palliasse, with bed and bedding. The
front was fitted up with counters and shelves. The stubble was well
trodden into the ground; over which were laid sawdust and boards behind
and before the counters, to secure the feet from damp. The shutters, of
the space allowed for the windows, were fixed with hinges, and when let
down, rested upon brackets, serving as showboards for goods. The booths
were constructed of new boards, with gutters for carrying the rain off,
and covered with stout hair cloth, with which also a covering was made
to an arcade in front, about 10 feet wide. Under this the company
walked, protected from rain or the heat of the sun.
The proclamation being made, the clamour and din from the trumpets,
drums, gongs, and other noisy instruments, began. The road from
Cambridge was actually covered with post-chaises, hackney-coaches from
London, gigs, and carts, which brought visiters to the fair from
Jesus-lane, in Cambridge, at sixpence each. As soon as you passed the
village of Barnwell, your attention was attracted by flags streaming
from the show-booths, suttling-booths, &c.; whilst your ears were
stunned with the "harsh discord" of a thousand Stentorian bawlers, and
the clang of jarring instruments of music. The show-booths were the
first on entering the fair, being situated on the north side of the high
road. Here were three companies of players, viz. the Norwich company, a
very large booth; Mrs. Baker's, whose clown, Lewy Owen, was "a fellow of
infinite jest and merriment;" and Bailey's. The latter had formerly been
a merchant, and was the compiler of a Directory which bore his name, and
was a work of some celebrity and great utility. Fronting these were the
fruit and gingerbread stands. On the opposite side of the road stood the
cheese fair, attended by dealers from all parts, and where many tons'
weight changed hands in a few days, some for the London market, by the
factors from thence; and such cheeses as were brought from Gloucester,
Cheshire, and Wiltshire, and not made elsewhere, were purchased by the
dealers and farmers of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Opposite the cheese
fair, on the north side of the road, stood the small chapel, which was
then used as a warehouse for wool, hops, seed, and leather[3]. Here were
the wool-staplers, hop-factors, leather-sellers, and seedsmen. The range
of booths in the front were for glovers, leather-breeches makers,
saddlers, and other dealers in leather. Opposite to this, at the end of
the line of show-booths, Garlick-row commenced; the first range being
occupied by hardwaremen, silversmiths, jewellers, and fine ironmongery.
The next range was the row of mercers and linen-drapers, where a draper
from Holborn had a stock of not less than 5,000_l_. value. The next
range of booths was occupied by stuff-merchants, hosiers, lacemen,
milliners, and furriers; here one vender has been known to receive from
1,000_l_. to 1,200_l_. for Norwich and Yorkshire goods. A lace-dealer
from Tavistock-street likewise attended here with a stock of 2,000_l_.
value, together with many other respectable tradesmen, with goods
according to the London fashion. Then followed the ladies and gentlemen's
shoe-makers, hatters, and perfumers; and next to the inn was an
extensive store of oils, colours, and pickles, kept by an oilman from
Limehouse, whose returns were seldom less than 2,000_l_. during the
fair; and the father of the writer of this article, who attended the
fair during forty years, usually brought away from 1,200_l_. to
1,500_l_. for goods sold and paid for on the spot, exclusive of those
sold on credit to respectable dealers, farmers, and gentry. On the
outside of the inn were temporary stables for baiting the horses
belonging to the visiters. The carriages were drawn up in the fields
in a line with the stables or standings for the horses.
Next was the oyster fair; the oysters from Lynn, called the Lynn
channel, were the size of a horse's hoof, and were opened with a pair of
pincers. At the bottom, in the Mead, next the river, was the coal fair;
opposite which were the pottery and fine Staffordshire wares. Returning
to and opposite the oyster fair was the horse fair, held on the Friday
in the week after the proclamation. The show of beautiful animals here
was, perhaps, unrivalled by any fair in the empire; the choicest hunters
and racers from Yorkshire, muscular and bony draught-horses from Suffolk
and every other breeding county, drew together dealers and gentlemen
from all quarters, so that many hundreds of valuable animals changed
masters in the space of twelve hours. Higher up was Dockrell's
coffee-house and tavern, spacious and well stored with excellent
accommodations. About 200 yards onward was Ironmonger-row, where the
dealers from Sheffield, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and other parts,
kept large stocks of all sorts of iron and tin wares, agricultural
implements, and tools of every description. About 20 yards from them,
westward, and bordering on the road, were slop-sellers, dealers in
haubergs, wagoners' frocks, and other habiliments for ploughmen; and
next, the Hatters'-row. Behind Garlick-row, next the show booths, stood
the basket fair, where were sold rakes for haymakers, scythe-hafts, and
other implements of husbandry, of which one dealer has been known to
sell a wagon-load or two.
Having now made the promenade of the fair, let us step into one of
the suttling booths. The principal booth was the Robin Hood, behind
Garlick-row, which was fitted up with a good sized kitchen, detached
from a long room and parlour. Here were tables covered with baize, and
settles of common boards covered with matting. The roof covering was of
hair cloth, the same as the shops, but not boarded.
When a new-comer or fresh man arrived to keep the fair, he was required
to submit to the ceremony of christening, as it was called, which was
performed as follows:--On the night following the horse-fair day, which
was the principal day of the whole fair, a select party occupied the
parlour of the Robin Hood, or some other suttling booth, to which the
novice was introduced, as desirous of being admitted a member, and of
being initiated. He was then required to choose two of the company as
sponsors, and being placed in an arm-chair, his shoes were taken off,
and his head uncovered. The officiator, vested in a cantab's gown and
cap, with a book in one hand and a bell in the other, with a verger on
each side, robed, and holding staves (alias broomsticks) and candles,
preceded by the suttler, bearing a bowl of punch, entered the parlour,
and demanded "If there was an infidel present?" Being answered, "Yes,"
he asked, "What did he require?" Answer. "To be initiated." _Q._
"Where are the oddfathers?" _R._ "Here we are." He then proceeded
as follows:--
(_Plain chant_.)
"Over thy head I ring this bell,
[_Rings the bell_,
Because thou art an infidel,
And such I know thee by thy smell.
CHORUS.
With a hoccius proxius mandamus,
Let no vengeance light on him,
And so call upon him."
Supper was then served up, at the moderate charge of one shilling
a head, exclusive of beer and liquors. The cloth being cleared, the
smokers ranged themselves round the fire, and kept up the meeting with
mirth and harmony, till all retired and were lulled to anticipating
dreams of the profits of the coming day, to which they woke with the
sun, cheerful and unenvious of each other's success. Such was Stirbitch
fair some sixty years ago, as witnessed by
Your constant reader,
[Greek: Senua]
[3] A church or chapel is generally to be found throughout the whole
Christian world near a ferry, to which the passenger went to
propitiate the Deity before embarking, and to express his
gratitude when safely arrived.
* * * * *
NOTES ON NORTHERN LITERATURE.
(_For the Mirror_.)
Tordenskiold is a name frequently met with in the annals of Denmark.
A singular anecdote is connected with one of the bravest individuals
who ever bore the name--the renowned Admiral Tordenskiold, of the days
of Frederick IV. While he was yet a young and undistinguished naval
officer, he chanced to be in the hall of the royal palace at the time
that the king, wearied with the flatteries of some courtiers, who were
congratulating him on the success of his war with Sweden, exclaimed,
"Ay, I know what you will say, but I should like to know the opinion of
the Swedes themselves." Tordenskiold slipped unobserved from the royal
palace, hurried to his ship, set sail, and was in an hour on the coast
of Sweden. The first sight that caught his eye on landing was a bridal
procession. Hastily seizing bride, bridegroom, minister, peasants, and
all, he hurried them aboard, and returned to Denmark. Two hours had
scarcely elapsed from the moment of the king's expressing his wish,
when Tordenskiold, stepping from the crowd of courtiers who surrounded
his majesty, informed him that he had now an excellent opportunity of
gratifying his wishes, as Swedes of every class of society were in
waiting. The astonished monarch, who had not yet missed the young
captain from the hall, demanded his meaning; and on being informed of
the adventure, summoned the captives to his presence. After gratifying
his curiosity, he dismissed them with a handsome present, and ordered
them to be conveyed back to Sweden. The promptness of young Tordenskiold
was not forgotten, and he speedily rose to the high admiralship of
Denmark, a post which he filled with more glory than any other of his
countrymen, either before or since.
* * * * *
The memoirs of Lewis Holberg, which have lately appeared in English, are
remarkably curious and interesting. It is not generally known, that this
celebrated writer, the Moliere of Denmark, was educated at Oxford,
whither he repaired penniless, to secure a good education.
* * * * *
Holberg, Samsoe, and Oehlenschlager are the three dramatic luminaries of
Denmark. The best production of Samsoe is the play of _Dyveke_,
produced a few days after his death. Such was the enthusiasm it excited,
that the following epitaph was proposed to be inscribed on his tomb, in
the public cemetery of Copenhagen:--
"Here lies Samsoe;
He wrote _Dyveke_ and died."
* * * * *
The best poet that Sweden has ever produced is Esaias Tegner, the bishop
of Wexio, now living. His first production was _Axel_, a short poem
on the adventures of one of those pages of Charles XII. who were sworn
to a single life, to be entirely devoted to the fortunes of war. He has
struck out great interest by plunging this hero in love, and painting
the conflicts between his passion and his reverence for his oath. The
words have been translated into Danish, German, and English. The latter
translation appeared in _Blackwood's Magazine._ Although the Danish
language is so akin to the Swedish, that translation is the worst of
the three. It is said that this poem procured Tegner the bishoprick of
Wexio. A singular circumstance is connected with it. A German literary
gentleman was so delighted with the version of it in his own language,
that he actually studied Swedish for the sole purpose of reading it in
the original.
A compliment like this has rarely been paid, as the poem does not
contain more than about a thousand lines. Since then, Tegner has written
a poem, entitled _Frethioff's Sage_ founded on one of the wild and
singular traditions of the North. It has been more popular than even
_Axel_, and the announcement of a third poem from the same hand,
said to outdo all former efforts, excites the greatest interest in
Stockholm.
* * * * *
Novels have only been introduced within these few years in Denmark.
Ingemann is their most successful manufacturer. His last production is
entitled _Valdemar Seier_, or Waldemar the victorious. The Danes
have translations of Sir Walter Scott and Cooper.
* * * * *
It is supposed there are not above three persons in Copenhagen who
cannot speak German. Oehlenschlager, the best modern author of Denmark,
writes equally well in German and Danish.
ANGLO-SVECUS.
* * * * *
PLEASURES OF SNUFF-TAKING.
Let some the joys of Bacchus praise,
The vast delights which he conveys,
And pride them in their wine;
Let others choose the nice _morceau_,
The piquant joys of feasting know,
But other gifts are mine.
Give me, ye gods, my quantum suff.
Of Grimstone's or Gillespie's snuff--
These are the sorts I crave;
Defend me from the Lundyfoot,
'Tis to my nostrils worse than soot,
And from the Irish save.
Your Prince's Mixture I despise,
It clogs the head and dims the eyes--
The nose rejects such burden;
Sure 'tis the critic's vast delight,
So dull and stupidly they write,
I call for witness ----.
Oh! where shall I for courage fly?
Or what restorative apply?
A pinch be my resource;
Perchance the French are not polite,
And with my country wish to fight,
Then I must grieve perforce;
Or, if with doubt the bosom heaves.
The heart for Grecian sorrows grieves,
And pines to see them fail.
Such critics sometimes court the muse,
And I perchance the rhymes peruse,
Then heaves the breast with pain.
To soothe the mind in such an hour,
A pinch of snuff has ample power--
One pinch--all's well again.
A pinch of snuff delights again,
And makes me view with great disdain,
And soothes my patriot grief.
Thus for the list of human woes,
The pangs each mortal bosom knows,
I find in snuff relief:
It makes me feel less sense of sorrow,
When modern bards their verses borrow,
And soothes my patriot grief.
Then let me sing the praise of snuff--
Give me, ye gods, I pray, enough--
Let others boast their wine;
Let some prefer the nice _morceau_
And piquant joys of feasting know,
The bliss of snuff be mine.
* * * * *
ODE ON A COLLEGE FEAST DAY.
(_For the Mirror._)
Hark! hear ye not yon footsteps dread
That shook the hall with thundering tread?
With eager haste,
The fellows past.
Each intent on direful work.
High lifts the mighty blade and points the deadly fork!
But hark! the portals sound and pacing forth,
With steps, alas! too slow,
The college gips of high illustrious worth
With all the dishes in long order go;
In the midst, a form divine,
Appears the fam'd Sir-loin;
And soon with plums and glory crown'd,
A mighty pudding sheds its sweets around.
Heard ye the din of dinner bray?
Knife to fork, and fork to knife:
Unnumber'd heroes through the glorious strife,
Through fish, flesh, pies, and puddings cut their destin'd way.
See, beneath the mighty blade,
Gor'd with many a ghastly wound,
Low the fam'd Sir-loin is laid,
And sinks in many a gulph profound.
Arise, arise, ye sons of glory,
Pies and puddings stand before ye;
See, the ghosts of hungry bellies
Point at yonder stand of jellies;
While such dainties are beside ye.
Snatch the goods the gods provide ye:
Mighty rulers of this state,
Snatch before it be too late,
For, swift as thought, the puddings, jellies, pies,
Contract their giant bulks, and shrink to pigmy size.
From the table now retreating,
All around the fire they meet,
And, with wine, the sons of eating,
Crown, at length, the mighty treat:
Triumphant plenty's rosy graces
Sparkle in their jolly faces:
And mirth and cheerfulness are seen
In each countenance serene.
Fill high the sparkling glass,
And drink the accustom'd toast;
Drink deep, ye mighty host,
And let the bottle pass.
Begin, begin, the jovial strain,
Fill, fill, the mystic bowl,
And drink, and drink, and drink again,
For drinking fires the soul