Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/230

222 (Note. This custom still prevails, and my good friend, the present professor of Anglo-Saxon, who is vicar of Northmore, tells me that on Easter Sunday last (1822), being ignorant of the usual warfare, and so neglecting to make good his retreat after evening service, he came in contact with a stray shot or two, much to the entertainment of his parishioners, all of whom, old as well as young, religiously take part in the contest.)—Vol. ii. p. 215.

At Sunningwell, near Abbington, in Berks, they have a custom (which I suppose was formerly in other places, tho' I do not know of any else where it is now) every Shrove Tuesday, at night, in the dusk of the evening, for the boys and girls to say these verses about the village:

which they repeat several times, and then throw stones at all people's doors, which makes the people generally to shut up their doors that evening, the custom beginning much about the dusk thereof.—Vol. ii. p. 218.

What we commonly say as merry as a grig, perhaps should be as merry as a Greek. "Levium Græcorum mentio apud antiquos scriptores, et quidem ipse Tullius in oratione pro L. Flacco levitatem Græcorum propriam esse monuit.—Vol. iii. p. 122.

Gipsy Burial Custom.—In accordance with a gipsy custom, all the property belonging to the dead queen of a gipsy band encamping near Elizabeth, N.J. was burnt a few days ago. It comprised silk and satin dresses, jewellery, lace, a valuable waggon, &c. valued in all at nearly 2,500 dols.—Yorkshire Gazette, 21 June, 1884.

Superstition at Chio.—Chio, which is still suffering from the effects of the earthquakes, is now visited by another calamity. A large number of lemon and orange trees, which form one of the chief resources of the island, are attacked by an unknown disease, and specialists are being sent by the Minister of Commerce to make investigations into the matter. Meanwhile, the pious inhabitants