An antiquary lights on many a curiosity whilst overhauling the dusty tomes of ancient writers. This little book is a small museum in which I have preserved some of the quaintest relics which have attracted my notice during my labours. The majority of the articles were published in 1869. I have now added some others.
Lew Trenchard,
September 1895.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| The Meaning of Mourning | [1] | |
| Curiosities of Cypher | [17] | |
| Strange Wills | [39] | |
| Queer Culprits | [57] | |
| Ghosts in Court | [74] | |
| Strange Pains and Penalties | [89] | |
| What are Women made of? | [102] | |
| “Flagellum Salutis” | [119] | |
| “Hermippus Redivivus” | [135] | |
| The Baroness de Beausoleil | [153] | |
| Some Crazy Saints | [167] | |
| The Jackass of Vanvres | [207] | |
| A Mysterious Vale | [217] | |
| King Robert of Sicily | [237] | |
| Sortes Sacræ | [256] | |
| Chiapa Chocolate | [268] | |
| The Philosopher’s Stone | [280] |
CURIOSITIES OF OLDEN TIMES
THE MEANING OF MOURNING
A strip of black cloth an inch and a half in width stitched round the sleeve—that is the final, or perhaps penultimate expression (for it may dwindle further to a black thread) of the usage of wearing mourning on the decease of a relative.