Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/82

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. x. JULY 26, 1902.

' COMIC ANNUAL' (9 th S. ix. 188, 338). I can remember the amusement caused by this annual, sparkling with wit, much of which was reproduced in Hood's Own, a monthly periodical issued in shilling parts about 1842. It certainly was the wit that carried off the woodcuts, not their execution. The fancy portraits were most amusing as Capt. Back, Prof. Silliman, natives of the Scilly Isles, Mrs. Trimmer, and Theodore Hook. Much of the poetry may be found in Hood's col- lected poems, 'Comic and Serious.' About that time, or more recently, copies of the Comic Annual could be bought for very small sums at Lacey's in St. Paul's Churchyard. I can also remember large sheets of engravings from Hood's Own hanging in booksellers' windows in order to procure subscribers.

JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.

Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.

CROSSING KNIVES AND FORKS (9 th S. viii. 325, 433 ; ix. 14, 357). At the first reference this superstition is thought to date from the French Revolution, but I think its approxi- mate origin may almost certainly be traced to ultra-Protestant days, when it was the fashion to scent the Pope in the bare sugges- tion of a cross. And what tends to emphasize this probability is the fact that the Italian invention of the fork for ordinary eating purposes does not appear to have been in general use until, the Restoration, while its introduction into this country, according to Thomas Coryat in his ' Crudities,' was owing to his own initiative in the early years of James I.'s reign. " Hereupon I myself," says the "Odcombian leg - stretcher," "thought good to imitate the Italian fashion by this forked cutting of meat, not only while I was in Italy, but also in Germany, and oftentimes in England since I came home." He came home in the year 1608, and the account of his tour was published in 1611. See also Ben Jonson's ' Devil's an Ass,' brought out in 1616, Act V. sc. iv. The objection to a crossed knife and fork seems to have been new to such a keen observer as Addison, whose Spectator, No. 7, on such superstitions as were current in his time, contains, 1 think, sufficient answer to MR. BUTLER'S inquiry as to how far in the past the usage can be traced :

" I despatched my Dinner as soon as I could with my usual Taciturnity ; when to my utter Confusion the Lady seeing me quitting my Knife and Fork, and laying them across one another upon my Plate, desired me that I would humour her so far as to take them out of that Figure, and place them side by side. What the Absurdity was which I had committed I did not know, but I suppose there was some traditionary Superstition in it ; and there- fore, iu obedience to the Lady of the House, I dis-

posed of my Knife and Fork in two parallel Lines, which is the figure I shall always lay them in for the future, though I do not know any Reason for it."

In Southern Russia this objection would not, of course, obtain, so that it is customary there, as ROBIN GOODFELLOW points out, to place the knife and fork, preparatory to a meal, in the form of a Greek cross, without any fear as to what may happen in conse- quence. J. HOLDEN MAcMlCHAEL.

I agree with ST. SWITHIN that neither religion nor superstition had anything to do with the prescription fifty years ago. To leave the knife and fork side by side, in certain grades of provincial society, was an indication to the waiter that no more was required ; on the other hand, a crossed knife and fork was a silent call for another helping. ALFRED F. CURWEN.

See Gay's ' Fables,' l The Farmer's Wife and the Raven ' :

Alas ! you know the cause too well : The salt is spilt, to me it fell. Then to contribute to my loss, My knife and fork were laid across ; On Friday too ! the day I dread ! Would I were safe at home in bed !

F. R. R.

SILHOUETTES OF CHILDREN (9 th S. ii. 307, 353, 396, 436 ; v. 190 ; vi. 255, 356 ; vii. 417). Supplementary to the interesting circular of Mr. Miers, mentioned by MR. WELFORD, there is a silhouette portrait of Lieut. John Blackett Watson (see 9 th S. ix. 388), now in the possession of Mrs. Henry Leighton, of East Boldon, which has pasted on the back of it the following advertisement :

Miers.

Profile-Painter & Jeweller

No. Ill opposite Exchange, Strand,

London.

Continues to execute Likenesses in Profile Shade, in a style peculiarly Striking & elegant whereby the most forcible animation is retained to the minute size for setting in

Rings Lockets Bracelets, &c.

N.B. Mr. Miers preserves all the Original Sketches, so that those who have once sat for him may be supplied with any number of Copies without the trouble of Sitting again.

Flat or Convex Glasses with Burnished Gold Borders to any dimensions for Prints, Drawings, &c.

The portrait is unlike any other silhouette I have ever seen, being beautifully painted in black upon a piece of French chalk 3f in. by 3 in. in size, and about half an inch thick ; the detail in the officer's wig and lace ruffle is very neat.

On the back of the chalk is written in pencil :

Mr. J. Black' Watson.