On a work entitled the “History of the Calves-head Club,” little reliance is to be placed for authenticity. It appears, however, that their toasts were of this description: “The pious memory of Oliver Cromwell.” “Damn——n to the race of the Stuarts.” “The glorious year 1648.” “The man in the mask, &c.” It will be remembered that the executioner of Charles I. wore a mask.
Oranges and Bells.
A literary hand at Newark is so obliging as to send the communication annexed, for which, in behalf of the reader, the editor offers his sincere thanks.
To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.
Sir, Newark, Dec. 10, 1825.
On the 30th of January, the anniversary of king Charles’s martyrdom, and on Shrove Tuesday, we have a custom here, which I believe to be singular, having never heard of it elsewhere. On those days, there are several stalls placed in the market-place, (as if for a regular market,) having nothing but oranges: you may purchase them, but it is rarely the case; but you “raffle” for them, at least that is their expression. You give the owner a halfpenny, which entitles you to one share; if a penny, to two, and so on; and when there is a sufficient sum, you begin the raffle. A ball nearly round, (about the size of a hen’s egg,) yet having twenty-six square sides, each having a number, being one to twenty-six, is given you: (some balls may not have so many, others more, but I never saw them.) You throw the ball down, what I may term, the chimney, (which is so made as to keep turning the ball as it descends,) and it falls on a flat board with a ledge, to keep it from falling off, and when it stops you look at the number. Suppose it was twelve, the owner of the stall uses this expression, “Twelve is the highest, and one gone.” Then another throws; if his is a lesser number, they say, “Twelve is the highest, and two gone;” if a higher number, they call accordingly. The highest number takes oranges to the amount of all the money on the board. When they first begin, a halfpenny is put down, then they call “One, and who makes two?” when another is put down, it is “Two, and who makes three?” and so on. At night the practice is kept up at their own houses till late hours; and others go to the inns and public-houses to see what they can do there.
Also every day, at six in the morning, and night, at eight o’clock, we have a bell rung for about a quarter of an hour: it is termed six o’clock and eight o’clock bell. On saint days, Saturdays, and Sundays, the time is altered to seven o’clock in the morning, and to seven o’clock at night, with an additional ringing at one o’clock at noon. Again, at eight o’clock on Sunday morning, all the bells are tolled round for a quarter of an hour.
I have mentioned the above, that, if they come within the notice of the Every-Day Book, you would give them insertion, and, if possible, account for their origin.