Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/300

 292 A. Nutt.

tion has been obtained from Mr. Edward Field, of ii, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, who writes as follows : —

" I have on several occasions early in Spring seen children playing a game called ' Tommy on the Tub's Grave' against the wall on the east side of Lincoln's Inn Fields. The 'properties' are grass, flowers, and sand or earth. A square is made on the pavement, sometimes of grass, sometimes of flowers, and inside are little heaps of sand or earth, on the top of which flowers are placed, and these heaps are called the graves. One grave, placed in the middle, is usually larger than the others, and has more flowers on it. The proprietors of this ' show' are usually armed with a shell, in which they hope to collect money from the passers-by. How much money they get, and what they do with it when they get it, I know not. I will keep a particular look-out for this game next spring, and if I can glean any useful informa- tion on it and its origin from the children I will let you have it."

[It is, I think, unnecessary to dwell upon the interest of the foregoing communications. Here we have a game \vhich has escaped the attention of all previous observers noted by three independent witnesses, in the same district of London, within the last three years at the farthest. The conclusion would seem obvious that the game or custom is of recent origin, and has not yet had time to spread beyond its centre of origin. Yet it presents features of an undoubtedly primitive character, and may be, apart from the question of recent origin, as legitimately con- nected with archaic custom as many of the games studied by Mrs. Gomme in her Dictionary of British Folk-lore.

It is very desirable to collect all possible information concerning this game, and communications are asked from all who can throw any light upon the subject. Has the game or custom been noticed elsewhere in London or in the country, at what date, and at what season of the year? Can a more detailed description be given than that of Mr. Schultz and Mr. Field ?— Alfred Nutt.]