Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/500

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. in. MAY 27,

interest (while on this subject) to say that the 'Era Almanack' for 1873 records that Albert Smith, so well known as an enter- tainer and dramatist, died on 23 May, 1860, at the early age of forty - four ; and the 'Almanack' for 1881 states that he was married to Miss Mary Keeley on 1 August, 1859, his married life thus being comprised within a few months.

Thanks are also due to MR. ABRAHAMS for so kindly supplementing my imperfect list of exhibitions at this place ; and I now desire to say that the late Dr. Lynn was giving his clever conjuring show in the "Egyptian Large Hall " in 1874, while Messrs. Maskelyne & Cooke were in "The Egyptian Hall, Large Dra wing-Room," from which they ultimately removed into the larger and more convenient hall, for in the following year we find them advertising their "permanent settlement" in the Egyptian Large Hall, under the style of "England's Home of Mystery."

When "Fanfare" was introduced the small hall, or " Drawing - Boom," was occu- pied by an entertainment entitled 'Grave and Gay,' given by Mr. Turquand and Mr. Pelham, who described it as being "Shaksperian and mimetic." It was under the management of Mr. W. Morton, and in all respects was decidedly worth seeing, and had a respectable run. Chang the Chinese giant, King-foo his wife, and Chung- mow, the dwarf, reached England on 18 August, 1865, and made their first bow to an English audience on the 2nd of the following October at the Egyptian Hall, where, on 13 November, 1866, Artemus Ward, even then showing evident traces of the disease from which he died, made his first appearance.

The remarks of MR. CECIL CLARKE and MR. G. YARROW BALDOCK are of much interest. I had not come across a notice of the show mentioned by the latter, but saw the one alluded to by MR. CLARKE, but rather incline to the opinion that it was at a some- what later date than that he gives. It was a really clever and taking exhibition, and was fairly well patronized.

Just as I was closing this reply, I was lent two books, one 'Mayfair and Belgravia,' 1892, by George Clinch, of the Department of Printed Books, British Museum. I find that Mr. Clinch gives 1864 as a date for General Tom Thumb's being at this place. I am not quite clear as to the correctness of this, as in the other book, 'Giants and Dwarfs,' 1868, by E. J. Wood, it is stated that " in February, 1865, the General exhibited himself at St. James's Hall." I believe that he was there

only for a short time, and then crossed over to the Egyptian Hall, as I have a strong recollection of seeing him drive up to the latter place in his striking equipage, which created so much sensation when it was seen in London streets.

As MR. ABRAHAMS states, it was hardly to be expected that my note would provide a " complete list " of the entertainments at the hall. I never thought that it would ; I gave a few that seemed the most noteworthy, as my own personal knowledge only extended from the incoming of Col. Stodare until about 1881, and I regret that I took but few notes. May I appeal to those who know anything about this place and its occupants to put their knowledge upon record ? By the time this appears in print but little will remain of it and the adjoining premises, and we shall have only memories to feast on. Pray let them be as perfect as possible.

W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY.

SPENSER'S ' EPITHALAMION ' (10 th S. iii. 246). In stanza 4 every edition to which I have access gives :

And eke, ye lightf oot maids, which keep the dore (sic) that on the hoary mountain used to towre, and the wild wolves, which seek them to devour, with your steel darts do chace from coming near, be also present here

1. "Dore" (1. 12) should plainly be deer. The 'N.E.D.' does not recognize dore as a possible plural or dialect form for deer. The rime - scheme requires deer ; the pronoun " them " requires deer, or else has nothing to which it can refer. The lightfoot maids are presumably the nimble nymphs who "pre- serve" the game for their "queen and hunt- ress" Diana. What they have to make in the matter of a wedding, unless as vouchers for the virginity of the bride, is not too clear, but it does not much matter.

2. I think use (I. 13) should be read for "used." The co-ordinated verb is present ("do chace"), and the time seems to be anterior to the events related in the last two stanzas of the earlier surviving canto of ' Mutability.'

3. Is "towre" to be explained as (1) bear high their stately heads, or (2) ascend to the mountain heights, or (3) roam about, "tour" (cf. tourists) ? H. K. ST. J. S.

[2. The Aldine edition (Bell & Daldy) reads use.']

QUEEN'S SURNAME (10 th S. ii. 529; iii. 114, 174, 351). The present Royal Family of Eng- land do not always appear to have considered Guelph their surname. When the marriage of the Duke of Sussex with the Lady Augusta Murray was declared null and void, having