Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/142

 112 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vm. FEB. 5, 1921. No mention has yet been made of the collection of Lancashire books which will be found in the Chetham's Hospital Library, Manchester, and the Reference Library in that city. This county is so congested with towns of considerable size that most of them are content to specialize in the bibliography of their own district, and mention should be made of the collection of Liverpool literature in the Public Library there. Bolton has gathered together a big collection, and ' Bibliographia Boltoniensis,' compiled by your correspondent Mr. Sparke, and published by the Manchester University Press, 1913, is a bibliography with bio- graphical details of local authors from 1550 to 1912, and books printed and published in the town from 1785. It is a quarto publication of 206 pages, and would serve as an excellent model for anyone who contem- plates such a compilation. Most of the Lancashire towns give special attention to the collection of local literature. J. W. SINGLETON. Accrington. ST. THOMAS'S DAY CUSTOM (12 S. viii. 50). My maternal grandmother, who came to live here before 1828, and died in 1854, used to give sixpence a piece to poor widows who called for it on St. Thomas's day, or had it sent to them. A writer in Hone's 'Every Day Book ' vol. ii, p. 1627, calls it Doleing Day, and describes doles of wheat, flannel, loaves, and money, at Loose, Linton, and Banning, all near Maidstone, in 1825. Winterton, Lines. J - T - F - In the mid- Victorian age, impecunious old women in Kesteven, used to go about begging, or, as they said, "mumping" on Dec. 21, which was popularly known as Mumping Day. I do not know why the festival was devoted to such an observance ; nearness to Christmas may have suggested the choice, and the fact that St. Thomas is commemorated on the shortest day of three hundred and sixty-five, may have conduced to the patience of donors. ST. SWITHIN. The custom of "going a Thomasing," as it is called, still survives in parts of Lincoln- shire. In the lele of Axhobne, at any rate, it is not confined to widows, and I never heard of any division of the spoils. The old women go round in groups ; at private houses they will, I suppose, usually have money given them, but at the shops they receive small very small doles of goods a candle from a grocer or chandler, for instance. I have so frequently heard a "St. Thomas's candle" asked for that I was once led to suppose it a relic of the Catholic custom of presenting a candle at the Saint's shrine, but I could never find any confirmation of this. A local news- paper had a paragraph on St. Thomas in December last, telling the story of his- legendary adventures in India and con- necting this custom with them. If struck me as a rather cheap way of building "mansions in the skies " to give a few old people a candle apiece. C. C. B. Hone in his ' Every Day Book ' gives soma information which may be useful to your correspondent. A custom at tl;e village of Loose, near Maidstone, in 1825 is described of the poor receiving quantities of wheat,, and widows a new flannel petticoat each ; in addition donations in money are solicited,, and it is " no uncommon thing for a family to get in this way six or seven shillings." A similar custom was prevalent (c. 1825) in Linton where the richer inhabitants gaver their alms in the way they thought best. The custom was known as "Doleing " and the day was called " Doleing-day. " In some parts of the country the day is marked by a custom among poor persons of going- a gooding that is to say (Chambers 's ' Book of Days ') calling at houses of richer neigh- bours and begging a supply either of money or provisions. It is also known as "Mumping (begging) day." In Warwickshire the- custom is known as going a corning, and here particularly corn was solicited. 'N. & Q.' for 1857 contains some further information, and also Hazlitt in ' Dictionary of Faiths and Folklore,' 1905, vol. i. On St. Thomas's Day, at Chipping, Lancashire,, "Dole-sermons," are preached, and doles of money given to the poor of the parish. ARCHIBALD SPARKE. This is an ancient custom in several counties. In Kent it is called "going a- gooding " and elsewhere " a-Thomassin," or "a mumping," when poor people beg for money or provisions for Christmas. Some- times in return for the charity bestowed a- sprig of holly or mistletoe was given. This custom and many others in most countries ; in Europe took place chiefly on St. Thomas's ! Eye (see Clement E. Miles's 'Christmas in i Ritual and Tradition ' and authorities there ! quoted). H. HANNEN. West Farleigh.