Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-22

SO the story goes, when they found this
inscription cut in the cornerstone of
very old building in Banbury, England.
These gentlemen We're on the lookout for
just such quaint old bits, and you can
lima CINE how excited they were over this
when they discovered it.
This is certainly prehistoric Welsh"
said they, and took it straightway to the
president Of the archaeological society to
which they belonged. He rubbed his hands
softly and smiled. This discovery is some
thing quite worth while he said; and all
these wise gentlemen felt very vlrtuous as
they wrinkled their brows and wondered
what story or what great secret the queer
old words would unfold.
But they puzzled in vain. They could
not read it. So then they telegraphed to
widely known professor of dead Ian
guages. asking him to translate it for them.
Very soon the return message arrived,
and all clustered around the president to
hear the telegram.
Read backward" It suggested; land
when 1t is deciphered, 1t will be found to
be a well-known rhyme
So 1t Is, as you may see for yourselves,
and these wise gentlemen found that
fine hoax had been played upon them. You
all know how it goes:
Ride cock horse to Banbury Cross
j 10 see a hne lady lady upon gray horse;
She shall have music wherever she goes
Banbury is best known, the English
speaking world over, by this nursery
rhyme, although, as matter of fact, this
famous little town is in the heart of
country that has seen many stirring times
in English history. 1t Is in Oxfordshre,
seventy-seven miles from London.
One of the first conflicts known to have
taken place there was that in $50 between
Cymric, king of the West Saxons and the
Britons. Later. during the wars of the
Roses C1442-1444}. it was besfeged; and
again in 1914 and in 1916, during the strug-
gle between the parliamentary troops and
the royal arms. 1t was here that the
leaders of Cromwell's forces discussed and
perfected many of their plans, and 1t was
here that some of the fiercest conflicts were
waged.
Battlef1elds are shown In many places
near by, and every village for miles around
can display something OF h storical inter-
est, either in Roman relics or mementos of
the civil wars. The hundreds of dramatic
or tragic stories that are told by the peo-
pie would fill many volumes.
Mother Goose has, however been quite
as valuable as history In keeping green
the name of Banbury; and to student of
the immortal nursery rhymes, 1t is inter
esting to observe how many of them are
founded on fact, record quaint customs,
or mention real places or people, even
though not absolutely accurate historically.
The procession of the fine lady of the
rings and bells mentioned in the rhyme
takes place each year in Banbury with
considerable ceremony. The lady is usu-
ally mounted on a white horse, however.
The present cross, which stands at the
top of High street, is a wide. open space
at the junction of four crossroads, is an
ornate affair, with steeple point, erected
in 1859 near the site of the old Banbury
Cross. 1t commentaries the marriage OF
the late Emperor Frederick III of Ger.
many to the Princess Royal of England on
January 25 1858, and is decorated with
the arms of Banbury. those of the German
emperor, of Queen Victoria and of several
other sovereigns. earls. knights, bishops
and Wears.
One more thing makes Banbury famous.
and that Is It's cakes, which are known
throughout the kingdom. They are sad
TO have been introduced in zoos. Banbury
cakes are undeniably delicious titbits of
pastry. They must be eaten when quite
fresh, preferably at Banbury town itself
They are like extremely rich turnovers
filled with mince of fruits, which rnelts
delectably down ones throat and causes
q pronounced sensatio NOT desire for more
There is a rivalry in the bakeshops as
TO which is the really true original one
Who knows? Perhaps the cakes are after
all. the real Queen of Hearts tartsi