The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-05-30
THE TICHBORNE DINNER.
England That Had Very
Pretty Origin,

The pilgrim along the pathway of
curious customs, the searcher after sim
gular observances, finds many things
to interest him. Some are great ma
tional festivals with odd rites injected
into their ceremonies, others are
bizarre municipal affairs, others have
lived their life in the past and exist
but as memory to-day, others are vii
lage or parish customs scarce known
beyond the borders of the brief dis
trict of their observance, but none have
prettier legend for their origin and al
more rational cele brati in the pres
ent day than the annual charity offer
ing and charity dinner held at Itch
borne, Hampshire, England, on St.
Cronan's day. January &c, says the St.
Louis Globe-Democrat.
Many years ago, at time not par
ticularly set forth in the legend, the
story runs, there lived in the manor
house of Tichborne the rough, bear
like and uGcharitable Sir Roger Itch
borne. He was fond of riotous living,
card playing, hunting and rough
sports, but had not the saving grace
possessed by so many of his kipd-oc-
casionai CLEANS of kindness, charity
and arge-heartedness Mean, crafty,
cunning and brutal, he took particular
delight in inficting misery upon the
poor and those over whom he exercised
authority, aSld he was heartily hated
throughout the length and breadth of
Hampshire. His wife, the Lady Ma
bella, was his opposite in every respect,
and was as much loved by the people as
her husband vas loathed. Kind and
gentle in disposition. her charitable
acts had been many. but the one in
which she took the keenest delight was
the giving of a dole or portion of bread
to the poor of Tichborne from the steps
of the village church on St. Cronan's
day. During the closing years of her
life, however, she lost her estates, her
private fortune was swept away, and
her acts of charity were thus brought
to an untimely end. She begged her
husband for the means to at least con-
tinue her ST. Cronan day charity. but
he only Knocked her tears and prayers.
During her last illness, in moment of
rare compassion, however. Sir Roger
agreed to accede to her request. but
hesitated when she insisted that he
give her enough to endow it and thus
make the festival an annual occur
renee. At last he told her that he
would give her for the purpose Just so
much land as she could compass in a
walk while knot of wood was burning.
The Lady Ma LA was so i'll she could
scarce stand on her feet. and Sir Roger
must have chuckled when he named the
condition, but she accepted it, and was
at once carried in her bed to large
field, determined to fulfill the conGi-
tions of the proposition. Despite her
spirit she found she could not actually
walk, and therefore asked her husband
to permit her to crawl. This was
agreed to; the brand was lighted and
the courageous lady started to per-
form her task Though the bit of wood
selected by the husband was apparent
ly perfectly dry. an old chonicle states,
it smoldered as if it were damp. and be-
fore it had finally been reduced to ashes
the wife had comprised % acres of
good land-a tract which is still known
as the Crawl" and is pointed out with
great reverence to all visitors at Itch
borne. Fearing that the agreement
might later be violated Lady Mabella
laid curse on the family just before
she expired chat # such thing should
ever come to pass the immortal home
would crumble away. the lord of the
day would have seven daughters. and
the family na:~e I.2rome extinct But
Sir Roger faithfully kept his agree
ment. The proceeds from the crops
raised on the % acres were donated to
the parish. and the dis 'ribution of the
bread purchased with 1t made every
St. Cronan's day. In the year 1896 the
custom was so much abused that the
Tichborne of the day detlled to dis
continue ~ When he marriS his CHI
dren were all daughters. and the name
became extinct. as he was the last male
of the line. In 1903 the house was
blown down, ard the daughter who
was then in possession of the estate
she had married man named Doughty,
was moved by this occurrence to estab-
lish the endowment again, but in the
form of dinner to the poor of the par
ish instead of a general distribution
of bread to all who might apply, and in
this form the custom is still observed
every January &c. Collections of
money are also made on this day by the
church authorities for the further re-
lief of the needy living in the parish.