Page:Curious myths of the Middle Ages (1876).djvu/157



WELL remember having it impressed upon me by a Devonshire nurse, as a little child, that all Cornishmen were born with tails; and it was long before I could overcome the prejudice thus early implanted in my breast against my Cornubian neighbors. I looked upon those who dwelt across the Tamar as “uncanny,” as being scarcely to be classed with Christian people, and certainly not to be freely associated with by tailless Devonians. I think my eyes were first opened to the fact that I had been deceived by a worthy bookseller of L, with whom I had contracted a warm friendship, he having at sundry times contributed pictures to my scrap-book. I remember one day resolving to broach the delicate subject