Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/143

12 s. vin. FEB. 5, 1921.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 113 Dec. 21 was observed as "Begging-Day " in North Devon within my recollection. It was customary to solicit from the farmers a penny. BRUCE Me WILLIAM. 38 Gains Road, Southsea. DR. WELLS : PAPER ON ' THE DEW AND SINGLE VISION ' (12 S. viii. 70). The reference is probably to 'Essays on Vision, and on Dew,' by Dr. William Charles Wells, F.R.S. These were published in 1818 and reprinted in 1821. The 'Essay on Dew' was reprinted with annotations in 1866 (Longmans, Green, Reader & Dyer). It is an account of a long series of experiments on the formation of dew. Dr. Wells pub- lished many works on medical, philosophical and biographical subjects. A list of these is given in the 'Essays on Vision, and on Dew.' A. WHTTAKER. Emmanuel College, Cambridge. William Charles Wells (1757-1817), physi- cian, published in 1792 an 'Essay upon Single Vision with two Eyes ' ; in Philoso- phical Transactions, 1811, a paper on 'Vision'; in 1814 'Essay on Dew' (amended by Aitken). Sir John Herschel in his ' Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy,' part 2, chap, vi., pars. 163-9, pp. 159-164, gives a good account of it. J. S. Mill in his 'Logic,' vol. i., bk. iii. 'Of Induction,' chap, ix., sec. 3, reproduces most of Herschel's account interspersed with scientific elaboration based on his own methods or canons of induction. W. DOUGLAS. 31 Sandwich Street, W.C.I. THE GREEN MAN, ASHBOURNE (12 S. viii. 29, 77). The Green Man as the sign of an inn originated from the green costume of game- keepers. It sometimes happened that when the head gamekeeper gave up his legitimate occupation he would take unto himself an inn, and start a new business on his own account, and would adopt as a trade sign the name he was best kncwn by, viz., " The Green Man." The inn at Leytonstone, on the borders of Epping Forest, was probably so called from one of the forest-keepers with their old-time green costume. Originally, no doubt, the sign represented the green-clad morris-dancers of the shows and pageants of medieval times. The Green Man at Leyton is mentioned in the 'Trials of Swan and Jeffries ' in 1752, while the Green Man at Leytonstone is mentioned by Daniel Defoe in his ' Tour through Great Britain, ' first published in 1724, and- both are marked on Roque's 'Map of Ten Miles round London,' published in 1741. Mrs. F. B. Palliser in her 'Historic- Devices, Badges, &c.,' p. 386, says : " Queen Anne bore, as one of the supporters of her arms, one of the savage men, wreathed with ivy and bearing clubs, of Denmark, since desig- nated and adopted for an inn-sign at the Green Man." For further information see 'The Trade Signs of Essex,' by Miller Christy, p. 137,. The Essex Review, vol. xi. p. 142 and vol. xiv. p. 143. GHAS. HALL GROUCH. South Woodford. Anent MR. M. L. R. BRESLAR'S note,, The Ashbourne News tells us in a recent issue how " The Ashbourne Shrovetide Football Com* mittee are making arrangements for this year's celebration to take place on Feb. 8 and 9, and they hope to be able to announce the names of the gentlemen who will have the honour of starting the game on each day." I may mention that the practice of play- ing football in the streets is not confined to this old Derbyshire town. It certainly still, obtains, or at any rate did do so, in the High Street of Dorking, Surrey, and I think, in other places. CECIL CLARKE. Junior Athenaeum Club. This sign probably represents a forester or park-keeper. There is a wayside inn- with this sign near the Broyle, an ancient chase or park at Ringmer, some three miles from Lewes. According to Lower the- Sussex antiquary " This house was formerly kept by the ranger or keeper of that enclosure, and at one time had a sign which represented a stalwart man in bis foresters suit of green." Lewes. JOHN PATCHING. This paragraph was in a local newspaper of March, 1917 : " The historic property known as the Green Man Hotel, Ashbourne, has been sold by auction. Ihe hostelry is more familiar to the older than the pre- sent generation of Burtonians by reason of the fact that prior to the advent of the North- Western line from Ashbourne and beyond visitors to Dovedale made the hotel the jumping-off ground for the famous resort, engaging conveyances for the journey by road, unless they preferred to walk the live miles. Old documents show that the site was originally that of the old Ashbourne Theatre or " playhouse. In time past this was leased by Mr. Stan ton, who during the Ashbourne theatrical season lived at the CJreen Hall, and his stock company comprised many of the leading actors and actresses of the day. Most of the well-known exponents played at the Ashbourne Theatre, and amongst the actresses were