a bottle of port wine. A servant in rich livery attended on them, and at their departure, they were offered a shilling each, which of course they declined to accept, and gave the coin to the servant. Thus the legend was fulfilled in this instance. Can any Irish correspondent confirm the statement? I have no doubt of the veracity of the parties alluded to; and I can add that I have passed the door of Howth Castle hundreds of times, but never saw it closed.S. R.
Oak v. Ash (2nd S. x. 374.)—The observations of your correspondent H. J. M. of Holmfirth, relative to the leafing of the oak and ash during the present year exactly agree with what took place in this district, where the oak was most undoubtedly first to unfold its leaves, though not quite to the extent of some preceding seasons. I, too, have for many years observed the leafing of trees, and especially of the two species in question, and have invariably found the oak to precede the ash, corroborating to a certain extent the testimony of the poet: —
"The tender ash delays
To clothe herself when all the woods are green."
The substratum here is magnesian limestone, but my remarks are borne out by the experience of a friend residing at some distance on the new red sandstone, who affirms that, having watched the leafing of these trees during the last twenty years, he has never known the ash foremost in the race, but always the reverse. Older people also in the neighbourhood, who have paid attention to the subject, especially an old woodman, bear witness to the constant earlier leafing of the oak. I may mention that some of the ashes were full of blossom this year at the time when the oaks were just unfolding their buds, and misled another friend of mine, who at a cursory view mistook them for opening leaves. Now in the course of the time over which even my own observations extend there have been all manner of seasons, wet and dry; the correctness, therefore, of the old prognostication (and the adage prevails in this neighbourhood) is here sufficiently refuted. There is, indeed, a greater interval betwixt the leafing of the two in some seasons than others; and as the ash is said by writers on forest trees to affect moisture in a greater degree than the oak, I suppose in a wet spring it will more nearly approach the oak in the development of its foliage; but, as before stated, I have always found it lagging somewhat in the rear.
Since writing the above, a gentleman informs me that he observed the oak to have preceded the Aberford ash in Hyde Park this year.J. W.
Charm for Toothache (2nd S. x. 363.) — To the Query of Δδ, from what legend the charm for the toothache is derived which he quotes, I beg to reply that it is not derived from any. It is one of those unmeaning forms of words which have been so often put together to impose upon the ignorant. There are very many similar ones, which might be adduced for all sorts of maladies; and they all vary in different localities, and frequently as to their application for the cure of maladies. I have often met with the one here quoted, but always with the name of St. Peter the Apostle, instead of Bortron, or Bertron. But in France a similar charm is employed for the cure of fevers, which runs thus: —
"Ante portam Jerusalem sedebat Sanctus Petrus, et ecce supervenit Dominus Jesus, et ait illi, Quid hie jaces, Petre? Cui respondit: Domine jaceo mala febre. Ait illi Jesus: Surge Petre, et dimitte hanc malam febrem. Qui surgens secutus est eum, et Petrus ait: Obsecro te, Domine et bone Jesu, ut quicumque hæc verba devote dixerit, febris ei nocere non possit. Ait illi Jesus: Fiat sicut petisti, etc."
F. C. H.
In the north of Hampshire it is believed that carrying suspended round the neck a molar tooth taken from some grave in the churchyard, is a preservative against toothache. A lad complained to me the other day that in spite of his wearing such a charm he had lately suffered from toothache. Somehow or other the proved invalidity of the charm has not shaken his faith in its efficacy, for he still wears the tooth, with a devout belief in its virtue.W. C.
The Moon and Mushrooms (2nd S. x. 247.)—The opinion that mushrooms are most plentiful at the full of the moon has long been entertained in this country. I know from experience that this opinion is founded on fact. It should not be thought wonderful that vegetables should be affected by the influence of a body which can move the vast ocean.Uneda.
Philadelphia.
Walking round a Church. — Pennant, in his Tour in Scotland, relates the following among the customs of the Highlanders: —
"After marriage, the bride immediately walks round the church alone........
"The parturient woman never sets about her usual avocations till she has been kirked, that is, has gone into the church and walked round it: for no religious ceremony is used in Scotland on this occasion."
Has this custom of walking round the church, whether inside or outside, ever existed in England? I mean, of course, as a religious or effective ceremony.H. C. C.
Dildrum, King of the Cats. — The following tradition is often heard in South Lancashire. A gentleman was one evening sitting cosily in his parlour, reading or meditating, when he was interrupted by the appearance of a cat, which came down the chimney, and called out, "Tell Dildrum Doldrum's dead!" He was naturally startled by the occurrence, and when shortly afterwards his
