Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/314

 256 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s.ix. SEPT. 24, 1921. HAFOD PRESS (12 S. ix. 211). Thomas Johnes set up his press at Hafod about 1800, and from the dates of his publications it ceased in ten years from that time. From various sources I gather that for the more convenient printing of his books he erected a private printing apparatus in a cottage among the hills at a distance of one mile and a half from the Mansion of Hafod. The first book printed there seems to be ' A Cardigan Landlord's Advice to his Tenants ' (1800), and the last ' The Chronicles of Monstrelet' (1809). In 1801 the well- known edition of the ' Life of Froissart,' and in 1803-5 the translation of ' Froissart' s Chronicles' were issued. For a list of his works see ' D.N.B.' The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1807 and his Welsh MSS. and many of his valuable paintings and the whole of his library with it. Some idea of the extent and importance of the contents can be gathered from the fact that an insurance of 30,000 did not cover the loss. ARCHIBALD SPARKE. THEODORE GORDON, COMPOSER (12 S. ix. 169). : Theodore Gordon was for a long series of years a prominent personality in the music-hall world. His palmiest days were as manager and chairman of the Sun, at Knightsbridge, in his time a popular resort with such stars as Leybourne and Vance in the bill. It was the hall where Vance had a fatal seizure on the stage on Boxing Night, 1888, and died in the wings. Prior to that, Gordon had left the Sim to take up the managerial post at the newly- opened Temple of Varieties, Hammersmith, now the Hammersmith Palace. Finally he went to the Washington, at Battersea, and was there for several years, when G. W. (" Pony ") Moore, of Christy Minstrel fame, was the proprietor. A practical and experienced man, with all-round ability as a musician, Theodore Gordon was not only useful as a manager, but often did yeoman service as vocalist, composer, orchestral conductor and instrumentalist. He died towards the end of the nineties. A. B. MARSHALL. GREENHOUSE (12 S. ix. 149, 213). Kersey's ' Dictionary,' 1721, says " Green- houses, certain houses 'built in gardens to preserve choice greens that will not bear the winter's cold." HENRY W. BUSH. Beckenham. AZTEC CALENDAR (12 S. ix. 212.) I The cryptic circular device is in use to-day as an ornament, being frequently worked on to leather by the natives. I am under the impression, possibly erroneous, that it is not understood by anyone. I have seen innumerable samples of work bearing this device and should MR. BOWES care to see two of them I can send him the cover of a notebook in my possession bearing it and also communicate with my sister who pos- sesses a lady's handbag worked with the same device. 1 may add that I have examined neither of them in detail and do not know if they differ in any degree. j. p. O'HEA. PRINCE LEE Boo (12 S. ix. 207, s.v. ' Statues and Memorials '). I wonder if MR. ARDAGH knows that the Life of Prince Lee Boo, whoso tomb is in Rotherhithe church- yard, was a favourite book for children for many years. It was first published in 1789, and I believe went through many editions in a short time. I have one of 178 pp. : The | History | of | Prince Lee Boo | a native of the | Pelew Islands, | brought to England I by Capt. Wilson. | a new Edition. | London. [ Printed for E. Newberry the Corner of St. Pauls Church Yard. This has a portrait for frontispiece and several copper-plate engravings, and gives the inscription on the tomb on p. 171. This differs from MR. ARDAGH'S version in one or two very small points only. Joseph Cottle, the Bristol bookseller and friend of Southey, wrote a short poem on the Prince. It can be found in ' Malvern Hills, with Minor Poems,' 4th ed., 1829, vol i., p. 121. F. C. MORGAN. GLEANING BY THE POOR (12 S. ix. 70, 112, 136, 157, 216). I remember that the custom at Wellesbourne, near Warwick, in days gone by was for a boy to be engaged at harvest seasons to watch for the last sheaf of corn to be removed from each harvest field, and to give warning to the cottagers by blowing a horn in the streets. He then led the way, followed by young and old, to the field, and a picturesque sight it was. The local miller set apart one day each year for grinding the corn so gleaned, if my" memory does not fail me. I always thought that improved machinery for cutting the crops was the sole reason for the custom to fall into disuse it did not pay. F. C. MORGAN.