Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 2.djvu/183

 12 s. ii. A, ao, i9i6.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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of the church was published by T. Lester about 1820. This local printer and pub- lisher was also responsible for ' Lester's Ancient Buildings, Monuments, &c., of London,' a series of sixty illustrations, with texts, issued in shilling parts. Some interest- ing notes on the parish are provided in Hughson's ' Walks through London,' ii. 300- 303. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

ST. PETER AS THE GATE-KEEPER OF HEAVEN (12 S. ii. 90). There are several stories relating to St. Peter in this con- nexion which I have heard at one time and another, none very elevating, and some decidedly blasphemous. I think, however, the following may be excused. Toole, the actor, is said to have been the originator of the first. (It should be premised that Toole and Irving were friends, and there have always been playgoers who have pooh- poohed the latter' s histrionic abilities.)

Toole, so the story goes, had a dream. He dreamed he went to Paradise. The gates were opened by St. Peter. "I am John L. Toole, the actor, of Toole's Theatre, London," said the merry little gentleman. " That's enough," came the blunt reply; "no actors admitted." " But," expostulated Toole, " my dear sir, be consistent. You do admit actors. There was my friend Henry

Irving " " Irving," replied St. Peter,

" he's no actor," and the gates were forthwith slammed in TooJe's face.

In Paris some years ago there was a cabaret called Le Ciel. The saints were represented in grotesque attire, including St. Peter as the Gate-Keeper, who, if I remember rightly, stood at the entrance and took the money. The whole thing was as stupid as it was blasphemous, and a disgrace to the authorities who permitted it. It is to be hoped that it has long since been dis- continued. REGINALD ATKINSON.

Forest Hill, S.E.

I have met with the following version of B. L. R. C.'s story in the west of Ireland. Nicholas and John were two renowned fishermen, and the latter particularly fancied himself. This is their conversation as re- ported to me:

"Good morning, Nicholas I" "Oh! good morn- ing, sir ! " " By the way. Nicholas, I had a great dream last night." " Musha, had you, John ? What were you dreaming about?" "I was dreaming I was dead, and that I went to heaven, and, when I reached the gate, St. Peter asked me who I was ; and. when I replied that I was a fisherman, he said, 'Come inside, you are welcome.' It was not long before I heard a great row outside the gate. Of course, I was curious, and I went over, and who

should be outside but Nicholas ? St. Peter asked who was there, and to be sure Nicholas replied, ' A fisherman,' giving his own name. St. Peter- then said, 'You are no fisherman,' and when Nicholas argued that he was, St. Peter again said, ' No ! ' and he added, ' Here, Nicholas, you go to another place.' "

LEES KNOWLES, Bt. Westwood, Pendlebury.

Stories about St. Peter are usually con- nected with his office of Gate-Keeper. They are, I fancy, generally transmitted by word of mouth, and perhaps I may be permitted to quote one.

It is said that a notable thief once applied for admittance to heaven, but St. Peter, looking out at the wicket, ordered him sternly away, saying that heaven was not for such as he. The thief, however, not to be denied, put his mouth to the keyhole, saying, " Cock - a - doodle - doo - oo " ; whereupon St. Peter, hastily opening the door, said : " Come in, come in, and let bygones be bygones." G. H. P.

There are, I think, widely retailed a very large number of (more or less) facetious anecdotes which introduce St. Peter claviger. I have also heard many stories of this type in Italy. Really witty specimens (translated) may be found in ' In His Own Image,' by Frederick, Baron Corvo. See 'About Beata Beatrice and the Mamma of Sampietro ' ; also the conclusion of ' About the Preface of Fra Cherabino,' and the following tale ' About the Insistence of Sangiuseppe.'

MONTAGUE SUMMERS.

"FEis" (12 S. ii. 71). The meaning of this word is given in the ' New Standard Dictionary,' published by Messrs. Funk & Wagnalls, as follows :

" Feis [t'eise-anna] [Ir.l A festival ; a gathering at which contests and exhibitions in singing, reciting, acting, dancing, playing various instruments, and displaying examples or handicraft are held. feitt ceotl, a musical festival ; specif., the annual national musical festival and competition, held usually in Dublin in the spring."

E. B. S.

PERPETUATION OP PRINTED ERRORS (12 S. ii. 87). The following extract from The Law Times of July 29, 1916, is, perhaps, pertinent to the note of PENITENT at the above reference :

" Mistakes in Acts of Parliament. The state- ment was made in the House of Commons on the 19th inst. by Mr. Forster, the Financial Secretary to the War Office, that, owing to a misprint by which the word ' prisoner ' in the Criminal I .M M.-I tics Act, 1884, became 'person,' a mistake which was copied into the Irish Lunacy Act, 1901, soldiers committed as dangerous lunatics to