The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-01
ODD NAMES FOR HOTELS.
Some Queer old English HosteIries and
Their Remarkable Signs.

= e'eS eouh1Ji 0Eon III bne earliest DAYS
of its existence, were never so fantastic
and varied as those which were in use in
the mother country, says the New York
sun. The number of subjects chosen by
American landlords to stand for their
inns was small. and many of those were
geographical. AS there was no manor
lord whose arms were to be chosen as this
Insignia OF the inn in the neighborhood
OF his supremacy there was monotony
about the designs used here. In England.
ON the ether hand. they were numerous
and diverse, and their origin has never
been satisfactorily explained, although
many traditions about than have bsen
dispelledf by mo1ern investigator. More
than century ago the large signs that
3ormerly stood in the street in front of
she inns were removed by law, but
enough remain to surprise an American
tHyho stumblss across these inexplicahle
names In London. To this day there
stands In London street "The Antigalli-
can, name which would convey little
suggestion nowadays as 10 the character
of hostelry. The name dates from the
when society was formed with the idea
OF keeping always active the English dis
like Of the French. The association
ceased TO exist long ago, but the inn to
which they formerly resorted still keep
their memory little bit alive. Many of
the signs are nearly as much representa-
i've of some especial episode. "The. Bonn.
GFahtg do
comprehensive, and can be appreciated
only with an understanding of the slang
OF the last century. A"grab" was a foot
soldier Mt that time. and this term was
only used to describe him. The original
proprietor was soldier who had served
In Bombay, and SO perpetuated thoss day
OF his career in the name he gave his
motel. Unique in character is the Lon.
don inn with the name 1.-The Case Is
Altered" This stands opposite n osme-
tery but Its name has no connection with
tnAt circumstance. Ths inn has been
known by Its rather positive title since
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when
lawyer had been trapped by his enemies
INTO attending bogus mass performed
by lAyman disguised as priest. This
came out at the trial, and the prisoner,
VINO was likely then to be convicted, got
on by turning to the jury with these
words: "Gentlemen, this case is altered:
no priest, no mass" Since that day
This name has always been ATTACHED 10
some English inn. "The Bell and the
.Anokerel. +" found to this day in London.
rs intended to perpetuate the story of the
man who, when he put fish caught by
MIN back into the water for future use,
Tleu bell on its neck that he might be
able to find it without difficulty
The name of 1.-THE Hole in the Wallr is
applied TO several London inns, and came
from the hole in the wall of Debtors
Prison, through which food and refresh
ment were passed to them. This name
has gained some vogue here, and some
times as term of rather unfavorabls
description.
1.-THE Moonrakers, name still found
in London. recalls the legend of the Wilt,
shire farmer who tried to rake the reflec-
tion OF the moon out of pond, Only one
hotel in London Is known as 1.-The Rent
Hay," which has no other rivals in Eng
land. 1.-THE Primer of Wakefield" is
named after a very famous pinner, or Inn
Of stray cattle, who won his
reputation by taking into confinement the
cattle OF the lords and barons of the
manor as frequently as the cattle of the
peasants. "The Running Footman" took
its nains when the footmen oongregated
in Berkeley square We're In the habit of
stopping here for their refreshments.
"The Ship and Shovel" near the wharses
and granaries, is also tribute to the o.
oupation of its principal clients.
1.-The Sun and Thirteen Cantons" ex.
lists In part of London long occupied by
many OF the swiss residents, and its con-
nection is obvious. "Ihe World Turned
Upside Down" has man walking upside
down as its sign. He is supposed to be
standing on his head. which was thought
to be an attitude made necessary by the
of the South Pole.
Two OF the most interesting OF London
Ill 44eu.
when the inns which bore them finally
went out of existence. They were aOld
Pick My Toe" anu who'd q Thought
It?" The name of the former is believed
to have come from that of the Roman
slave who performed his work before he
even stopped to tnke thorn out of his
toe. The other got its titls from the
strange fact that It's first proprietor made
out OF 1t fortune that ultimately en-
abled him to get into the peerage. His
successor wanted a new name for the
place. and who'd a Thought IT, was
suggested. This explanation is unsatis.
factory only because there are three inns
of the name In England.
Some of the former theories of the
origin OF these names have been shattered
during recent years. The familiar cat
and fiddle sign was said to havea origi-
mated in honor Of "Caton fidele, IA
stanch PROTESTANT. In reality it had been
a popular sign for an inn In England
long before there was any distinction be-
tween Professionals and Catholics to cause
the Notice OF a Protestant who was espeo-
tally Jealous. Efforts TO find significance
for the signs used on inns sproved mis-
leading. The original desire of the land.
lord was to make known in an age which
could not read what his purpose was, and
he, like the modern advertiser, adopted
the symbols he thought likely 20 do that
best. This led to the use Of many signs
without especial signiiicanos, although
some modern students hsve tried to Find
siRnificauos In all Of them. The arms OF
the lord of the manor under whose pro-
lection they lived. the signs of the guilds,
and notifications In ooats-of-arms that
hsd already been used were some Of tie
ways of making the signs really indica-
tive of the character Of the inn.