Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 11.djvu/345

 9*8. XL APRIL 25, 1903.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

337

BACON ON MECHANICAL INVENTIONS (9 th S. xi. 267). If H. G. will turn to the 'Essayes' he will find the last paragraph of Iviii., entitled 'Of Vicissitude of Things,' runs as follows :

" In the Youth of a State, Armes doe flourish : In the Middle Age of a State, Learning ; And then both of them together for a time : In the Declining Age of a State, Mechanicall Arts and Merchandize. Learning hath his Infancy, when it is but beginning, and almost Childish : Then his Youth, when it is Luxuriant and Juvenile : Then his Strength of yeares, when it is Solide and Reduced : And lastly, his old Age, when it waxeth Dry and Exhaust. But it is not good, to looke too long, upon these turning Wheeles of Vicissitude, lest we become Giddy. As for the Philology of them, that is but a Circle of Tales, and therefore not fit for this Writing."

A. R. BAYLEY.

[Numerous replies are acknowledged.]

SIMPSON'S IN THE STRAND (9 th S. xi. 185). Now attention has been drawn to the passing away of this once famous restaurant, old chess players will probably like a somewhat fuller note of its history as a chess resort preserved in the pages of ' N. & Q.'

In the very early fifties, when I played there, and for many years afterwards, it was the place before all others where an amateur chess player who could spare an hour was certain to find a fairly strong professional player Elijah Williams I recall for one, and Bird, I think, in later years who was ready to play an instructive game for the very moderate stake of one shilling, and such a cup of coffee as was then rarely obtainable elsewhere.

Dwelling in the country since those remote days, I cannot speak of Simpson's chess history in later years, but I hope some one of your correspondents may be able to do so.

Concerning its fame as a restaurant, I was told only the other day that Simpson's was the last place in London where the joint generally a saddle of mutton was brought round to the customer on a roller and carved under his nose. Alas that to Simpson's also has at last come the inevitable finis rerum ! C. T. SAUNDERS.

Birmingham.

FRENCH PHRASE (9 th S. xi. 128, 255). The idea in the phrase "II faut souffrir pour 6tre beau (belle) " is not peculiar to French litera- ture alone ; it is common to nearly all litera- tures. Compare, for instance, Riehl's 'Der Fluch der Schonheit' and Margaret's words in Goethe's 'Faust': "Schon war ich auch, und das war mein Verderben." Prof. Thomas, in his edition of Riehl's novelette, draws attention also to the myth of Achilles, who

was supremely strong, swift, and beautiful, but doomed to an early death, and to the similar myth of Siegfried.

CHARLES BUNDY WILSON. Iowa City, Iowa.

THE CENTRIFUGAL RAILWAY (9 th S. x. 366 ; xi. 174). The date of the first exhibition of this scientific novelty is 1842. A copy of the handbill distributed is in the Granger Collection at the Guildhall Library. As it contains some interesting particulars, I give it verbatim :

" Extraordinary Novelty. Grand Centrifugal Railway. 200 Feet Long Vertical Circle Upwards of 40 feet in circumference. On which a Carriage of nearly 200 Ibs., containing a Lady or Gentleman, descends an inclined plane parssing [sic] round a vertical circle of 40 feet, turning the head of the individual downwards and feet in the air, the car- riage then descends the circle, rises a second in- clined plane, and lands the individual safe, at the rate of 100 miles an hour. Which is just added to the Splendid Exhibition of Wax Work, consisting of an Entirely New Collection of Groups, Great Windmill Street, Hay market. Without any extra charge. The Car will Descend Every Hour. Saloon and Boxes Is., Gallery Gd., Children Half Price. Open Daily from 11 to 11 at night."

The advertisement in the Times, 8 July, 1842, announcing the opening of this exhibition, also informs us that "the Patent Signal Telegraph or Writing Machine" will be shown. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

According to a paragraph on miscellaneous tea-gardens in the ' Era Almanack,' 1871, p. 6, the St. Helena Gardens were opened in 1770, and disappeared in 1869. Walford's 'Old and New London,' vi. 138, says 1881, which is nearer the truth. I recollect advertise- ments of much later date than 1869, which show the gardens were latterly used for boxing, running, and athletic sports, and I have heard that the tavern was kept by a Mr. Leftwich, but cannot learn what has become of the railway.

ADRIAN WHEELER.

ADELPHI SOCIETY OF LONDON (9 th S. xi. 110). Surely this is a not inappropriate name for the Society of Arts, whose existence at their quarters in the Adelphi dates from 1774. Rawthmell's Coffee-house, where the society was first established in 1754, was in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, as appears from an advertisement in the Daily Advertiser of 25 September, 1741.

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

" PILLOW-BER " (9 th S. xi. 145). Not being certain as to the etymology of this word, I have adopted the form assigned at the above reference, nor am I sure what the use and