The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-18
ANSWERS RECEIVED.

THE Republic wishes to thank the following
persons for responses to requests for poems:
F. Walter Fix. Granite City. H.. Drifting
Away" and 1.-THE Blind Child: Mrs. NJ. f.
White, Hamden Post Office. Mo. THE
Careful Messenger. or Going on an Errand":
Mrs. Phoebe Elliott, New Harmony. Ind.
THE Careful Messenger: Mrs. Fl. H. Tar
tar, Sulphur Springs. Tex. Lady Bryon's
Answer and Hard Times: Lilly C.
Schiief. Westphalia. Mo-. "A Dying Nun;
Miss Edna Johnson. Fairfield. ILL.,. THE
Careful Messenger: Miss Eliza Todd. New
Lewisville, Ark, 1.-The Careful Messenger: !:
Frank NJ. Kephart. 1.-THE Careful Messeu-
GER; W. T. Mcdowell. Wilburton. I. T.
The Sign Board; Mrs. NJ. Strauss, Shreve-
port. La. 1.-The Careful Messenger: NJ. NJ.
c.. st. Louis. THE Rumseller's Sign
Board; Miss Alice E. Watson, Mount Ver-
Carroll, California, Mo-. "The Careful Mes
senger": Mrs. McC,ain. Hannibal. No..
Drifting Apart and "1f Should Die To-
Night; Ed Lee Jonesboro. ILL.,. "The
Careful Messenger; Miss Bonsall. Nogales.
Arz., Ben Kings "If I Should Die To-
on ". Vail. st. Louis Strong as Death;
Miss Laura Herold, st. Louis. 1.-The Sign
Board: Miss Maude A. Sprague, The Dy
ing Nun; Mrs. r. ]. Dyas. st. Louis, 'If I
Should Die Tonight; Mrs H. Hermann,
St. Louis, 1.-The Blind Child"
& 4 4
WHAT'S IN A NAME.
MRS. g.: IAN heirloom. Tommy. is some
thing handed down from father to SON."
Tommy: Huh! That's funny name for
Fitch OF BACON.
From the Youths Companion.
IN the days OF King john 80 the story
Ifrt.D De-
sleepy little town Of Dunmow in Essex.
where. in the disguise Of a country bump
kin. he woed and won peasant girl. For
q year and day they lived a frugal, iii
dustrious life. and then, having proved her
worthy, the young husband declared his
wealth and noble birth.
Leading his wife to the old priory. Sir
Robert F!tzwalter craved the ahbot's for
Eiveness for his little ruse, and his blessing
for all the years to come. The abbot
gladly bestowed the blessing. and gave Sir
Robert in addition a fitch of bacon.
Sir Robert was so delighted that in true
medieval style he exclaimed by his haldom
to present nitches Of bacon to every couple
who lived happily together for year and
q day. Thereupon he endowed the abbey
with broad acres Of fair Essex land.
For several centuries the quaint Fitch
OF Bacon trials thus traditionally estab-
lished we're occasionally observed. Then,
like other old customs. this one fell into dis
use. In the middle Of this century a young
writer introduced the Fitch trial into a
novel, aroused public interest thereby and
succeeded in getting the trials re-estab-
lished.
England has supplemented its religious
holidays with several others which are
known as Bank Holidays. That which
falls in August Is observed as Fitch day In
Dunmow. and there hundreds of visitors
lately repaired to see two couples claim
the prize. Six girls and six bachelors
formed the Jury. Judge and opposing
counsel completing the court
After the humorous procedure. the couples
were carried in chairs to the traditional
spot where Sir Robert and his comely bride
received their anniversary gift. There they
renewed their protestations of mutual love
and fidelity. and received the ancient SEN
tence:
Since to these conditions. without any fear,
OF your own accord you do freely swear.
A whole CANNON of bacon You do receive,
And bear It away with love and good leave;
For this is the custom Of Dunmow Well
known.
Though the pleasure be ours, the bacon's
your own.