Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 11.djvu/23

 11 8. XL JAN. 2, 1915.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

AUTHOR WANTED (11 S. x. 488). It might assist a reply to GLADSTONIAN'S query if he could state whether it was Samuel Tinsley & Co. or Tinsley Brothers who published the skit, ' Hair -Splitting as a Fine Art.' Both firms were, I believe, in existence at the date named. CECIL CLABKE.

Junior Athenaeum Club.

BORSTAL (11 S. x. 488). 'A Dictionary of the Kentish Dialect,' by W. D. Parish and W. F. Shaw, describes Borstal as "A path- way up a hill, generally a very steep one."

I suggest, however, it is derived from Forstal = a farmyard before a house, a paddock near a farmhouse, a small opening in a street or lane, not large enough to be called a common.

In Kent there are many two near Canterbury and Herne Bay. I know Hicks Forstall and Hunters Forstall.

E. C. BLISS.

Oak Lodge, West Wickham, Kent.

THE HEIGHT OF ST. PAUL'S (11 S. x. 388, 434, 474). According to Longman, ' Three Cathedrals dedicated to St. Paul,' 1873, p. 165 : " The height of the Cathedral from the Street on the South side to the top of the Cross is 365 feet." The capitals are copied from the book. S. L. PETTY.

SHAKESPEARIANA : "HALLOOING" (11 S.

x. 427). Falstaff means shouting. Compare

' Twelfth Night,' I. v. 289-92 : Write loyal cantons of contemned love, And sing them loud even in the dead of night ; Halloo your name to the reverberate hills, And make the babbling gossip of the air.

W. H. PINCHBECK.

ALPHABETICAL NONSENSE : ALLITERATIVE JINGLES (11 S. x. 468). The incomplete set of lines given by your correspondent AITCHO would seem to be one of the variants of a kind of alliterative jingle used in playing forfeit games by children at Christmastime or other suitable occasions. One of the children, who knows the game, commences by giving out the first line, which is repeated by the others in turn (all being seated round the fire). The leader then gives out the second line, followed by the repetition of the first one, which then goes the round as before. The rest of the lines then follow, each in turn going the circuit of the party, followed by a backward repetition of the preceding lines, till the last line has been repeated, in a similar way to the well-known 'House that Jack Built' and 'The Old Woman and her Pig.' I think the proper complement should consist of twelve lines.

By the time that the last line has beem reached some one's memory is sure to become confused, and a mistake is made in the repetition, for which, amidst general laughter, a forfeit is claimed.

The following variant from a Dorset source appears in a paper on ' Dorsetshire Children's Games' which I contributed to- The Folk-Lore Journal in 1889 (p. 243), and which, as that part may not be readily accessible to your correspondent, I here give :

One old ox opening oysters.

Two toads totally tired trying to trot to Tewkes- bury.

Three tame tigers taking tea.

Four fat friars fishing for frogs.

Five fairies finding fireflies.

Six soldiers shooting snipe.

Seven salmon sailing in Solway.

Eight elegant engineers eating excellent eggs.

Nine nimble noblemen nibbling nonpareils- (apples).

Ten tall tinkers tasting tamarinds.

Eleven electors eating early endive.

Twelve tremendous tale-bearers telling truth.

Whilst giving other instances of forfeit jingles, I there referred to a very different variant of this one in Halliwell's ' Nursery Bhymes ' (1846), No. ccxxvii., and I have no doubt that other variants exist in other counties. J. S. UDAL, F.S.A.

The version known to me is as follows : One old ox opening oysters.

Two toads totally tried trying to trot to Tidsbury.. Three thick thumping tigers taking toast to tea. Four finicky fishermen fishing for finny fish. Five fat friars fanning fainting fleas. Six significant swells sailing to Sanika. Seven Severn salmon severally swallowing shrimps.

Eight elephants elegantly eating eels. Nine needy noblemen needing nothing. Ten tinkering tinkers tinkering tinder-boxes.

Derby. F " W '

One old Oxford ox opening oysters.

Two tall tigers totally tired trying to trot to Tenbury.

Three thirsty tailors tickling trout.

Four fat friars fanning fainting flies.

Five frippery Frenchmen foolishly fishing for frogs.

Six sportsmen shooting snipe.

Seven Severn salmon swallowing shrimps.

Eight Englishmen eagerly examining Europe.

Nine nimble noblemen nibbling nonpareils.

Ten tinkers tinkling tinder-boxes with ten ten- penny tacks.

Eleven elephants elegantly equipped.

Twelve typographical topographers typically translating types.

I have never seen this in type, but above is my recollection of sixty years and upwards^

IVEL.