The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
ODD SIGNS on OLD INNS.
Curious survivnls In England of an Ancient
Custom.
NEW YORK. July 80,

Curious survivals In England of an Ancient
Custom.
Tho signs displayed by the innksepers Of
this country. even in the earliest days Of its
existence, were never so fantastic and varied
those which we're In use In the mother
country. The number OF subiects chosen by
American landlords to stand for:their inns.uas
small and many Of these were geographical.
AS there was no manor lord whose arms were
to be chosen as the insignia OF the inn In tho
neEhborhood OF his supremacy. there was q
monotony about the designs used here. In
England. on the other hand they were -nu-
merous and diverse and their origin has
never been satisfactorily explained, although
many traditions about them have been dis
PEELED by modern Investigation. More than
a century ago the large signs that formerly
stood In the street in front of the inns were
removed by law. but enough remain to sur.
prise an American who stumtlas across these
inexplicable pames In London. To this day
there stands in Il London street The Anti
gallican." u name which would convey llttle
Tho d At 20 r ra h III
of the eighteenth century when society was
formed with the idea Of koening always active
citation ceased to exist long ago. but the Inn
to which they formerly resorted still keeps
their memory little bit alive. Many OF the
some especial episode. THE Bombay urao'
SOUNDS nellneT SDLclDR nor com
and can be Appreciated enly with an under
standing Of the slang OF the last century.
grab was foot soldier at that time and this
term was commonly used to describe him;
The original proprietor was a soldier who had
served IN Bombay and so perrotuated those
days OF his career il the name he gave his
hotel. Unique In character is the London i'm
with the name The Case Is Altered This
no connection with that circumstance. The
inn has been known BY its rather positive title
since the reign OF Queen. Elizabeth. when
In had heen framed by liA enpmieS Into
attending boguA.mass performed by lay
man disguised as a priest. This came out at
to be convicted; got of BY cunning to the Jury
with these words: ''Gentlemen. this cass is al
English inn. The Bell and Maokerel." found
ute the n Of the a as a
fish caught by him back into the water for .fu-
1re Use tied sa BEL s6 Hn II: nseS mat he might
The name The Hole in the Wall" l. applied
to several London inns. and came from tho
hole In the, wall OF Debtors Prison. through
which food and refroshment were passed TO
them. This name has gained some vogue here
description. The Moouruker.."' a name still
found In London recalls, the legend OF the the
Wiltshire re, farmer VINO tried 70 rake axe me reles
! in London Is known as, The Rent Day. which
has no other rival in ENGLAND, ." The Primer
dinner. or impounder of stray cattle who won
his reputation By taking into confinement the
! frequently as the cattle Of the peasants. The
| Running Footmau" took its name when the
in the habit of stoupng there Tor their refresh
| meurs. The SHY and shovel. near the
wharvss and Rranaries, IS also tribute t. tho
| occupation OF its principal clients
The Sun and Thirteen rantons" exists in
a part OF London long occupied by many q tho
Swiss residents and its connection Is Obvious.
! The World Turned Upside Down has man
walking upside dom as rs sign lie Is sup,
| thought to be attitude made necessary by
the conditions Of the south Pole,
Two OF the most interesting of London signs
inns which bore the nnaly went out Of eX,
istenes They were oId PICK Ny I9G" Pc ana ana
NOR is believed TO have come, from that Of the
Roman slave who performed his work bel ira
he even stopped to take, thoIn out Of his toe
| The.other got its title from the strange fact
that its first proprietor made out OF 1t a for
tune that ultimately enabled him to get into
name Tor the place, ana Who'd a Thought it,
was suggested. This explanation is unsatis-
factory only because there are three inns OF
Some OF the former theories OF the origin OF
these names have been shattered during re-
| cent years. The familiar cat and tdde sign
was said to have originated in honor Of Cation
fdGe." stanch Protestant. Ia reality It had
before there was any distinction between
! rrotestans and Catholics TO cause the notice
Efforts to lind signifies for the signs used
| on inns rroved misleading, The original de-
sire Of the landlord was to make known in an
nGe!which coud.uot read what his purpose was
and he. like the modern advertiser. adorted
the syIahols he thought likely to do that best.
| This led TO the use Of many signs without cs-
pecia! significance although some modern stu
| dents have tried to find Significance in all Of
| under whose protection they lived, the signs
OF the guilds and notifications In coats OF
arms that had already been used we're some OF
the WAYS OF making the signs really indicative
OF the character OF the inn.