fired with a loud explosion, and at least a half-holiday is kept. At Burwash, a few years ago, it was the custom to dress up a figure with a wig and beard and pipe in his mouth, and set it upon the door of the inn where the blacksmiths feasted on S. Clement's day. This figure was called Old Clem."[1]
The rhyme sung on these occasions is thus quoted by Mr. Parish:
In the Clog Almanacks a pot is marked against Nov. 23rd in allusion to this custom of going about to beg drink with which to make merry.
The following notes on the modern observance of the day are furnished by Mr. Thomson:—
"A supper takes place on the 23rd Nov. annually. I have made inquiries of the oldest smith in my shop. From him I gather that it is customary in some places to personate 'Old Clem,' particularly in the Government dockyards.[4] In many private establishments it has also been the custom for the masters to give the smiths a way-goose,[5] that is, a leg of pork with the bone drawn and the pork stuffed with sage and onions, and roasted. This has been the custom in Bristol, Liverpool, and even in Brighton. In all cases it is usual for the oldest blacksmith to take the chair, and the youngest the vice-chair.
- ↑ Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect.
- ↑ S. Catherine, whose day is Nov. 25th.
- ↑ This is of course erroneous. S. Catherine was a virgin saint, and died A.D. 307; S. Clement died A.D. 100.
- ↑ Cf. Brand's Popular Antiquities (edit. Sir Henry Ellis), vol. i. pp. 408-409.
- ↑ The word is thus spelt by Halliwell, who defines it as an entertainment given by an apprentice to his fellow-workmen. It is now generally spelt wayz-goose.
