Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-02
CURFEw BELL.
Its Origin and Use in Olden Time.

From the London Standard.
The revival of the curfew at Stratford-on-
Avon serves to remind us that one, at least,
Of those old world customs which have
survived down to our times is not declining
in popular favor. Even Shakespeare's birth
place gains an added charm, now that the
bell which Shakespeare heard again "tolls
the knell of parting day" over his grave.
Nor does there seem to be any reason to
question the tradition. The custom, what
ever its origin, was probably almost uni
versal in Shakespeare's day, and the age of the
bell at Stratford can be ascertained to the
satisfaction of even the most ardent Shake
spearian sceptic But to let that pass. the
incident curiously illustrates the strange
fascination which the homely practice
practice which takes us back from these
busy, busting days to the very infancy of
the sleeping world-still possesses for most
people. We doubt whether It is even suspected
how generally the custom is still kept up in
this country. Curfew is, however, a matter
OF fact, still religiously toiled in many hun
round, or-which is still more usual-from
September to April.
1t is almost heresy to question the tradition
that curfew came in with William the Con-
queror. Nursery historians without number
have waxed sentimental over the wrongs of the
conquered Saxon, and have conjured up pic
lures which must still be balmy to the down
trodden Celt. We all know how the revenge
full Norman prince is depicted as having had
the brutality to order the couore feu bell to be
rung as a signal for the Saxons to put out their
dips and go to bed.
But, although incidentally the edict doubt
less helped to put down the Saxon beer clubs,
which were the resort of political conspirators,
there is plenty of evidence that in Williams
time it was, as ii had long been on the CONT
vii into 5ad
precaution against fire. The danger of fire
In those primitive times was SO constant and SO
terrible that the most extraordinary safeguards
were enjoined agains. it; and not without rea-
son in the days of wooden houses. into which
chimneys even were not generally introduced
till about the beginning Of the fourteenth CEN
fury. The prevailing fear lest the squalid hut,
In which people, and even well-to-do people,
lived should be burned down was very real
The old city Of London ordinances abound in
still more stringent fire regulations. Between
Whitsuntide and St. Bartholomew, for example,
when 1t was to be expected that water would
be scarce. every one was required under heavy
penalties, to keep barrel full or large earthen
vessel in front Of his door, in readiness for
emergencies. But none Of these rules had the
sweet simplicity Of the curfew law, which rem
dered compulsory a custom whose origin GER
tainly dated back long before the Conqueror.
A "cover fire bell'' was, for instance, ordered
to be rung at some place in Alfred's time, and
we find plenty Of early traces of the custom or
its counterpart, as at Ripon the blowing Of a
horn at the market cross, all over the CONT
nent. At Vienna the people were required to
put out their fires and hang up lanterns out
side their doors when the bell rang. The latter
bylaw might still be made with advantage in
many rural and suburban neighborhoods which
We could name, where the sparsely scattered gas
lamps hardly serve to make darkness visible.
There is something Of pathos in the conclusion
that supposed tyrannical edict was only a rea-
sonable regulation at the time of almost world
wide application. But IL further proof of this
were needed, we know that the Normans GER
tainly never penetrated Roxburghshire, SO
that the curfew at Kelso, unless a modern inno-
walton, must have been rung in accordance
with immemorial usage, or under some other
and probably earlier enactment. Another
quaint custom which was grated upon il. and
which still survives at, among other places
Melton-Mowbray, Chipping. Camden, Bing-
ham, and Minister, was ringing the day of the
month after the curfew, generally ON the
''tenor," a wholesome, if unwelcome, reminder
Of the fight Of time, while . similar purpose
Is served at Exeter cathedral and some other
churches by the hour being tolled. As for the
significance Of the curfew We need go no fur
Their than Gray's "Elegy." The bell without
doubt was intended from the earliest times TO
.'toll the knen Of parting day." 1t sounded,
in Longfellow's beautiful figure, ssthe requiem
Of the dying day." il was the passing bell Of
the day that is dead"