The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
OLD ENGLISH TAVERN SIGNS.
And the Insight Into Their Meaning which
Woman Traveller Obtained.


The tastes of collectors are varied.
Among the things not dutiable recently
brought over from England by woman
was collection of old English tavern
signs stored in her notebook. They were
obtained by various excursions In rural
England and by a carefully cultivated
acquaintance with publicans.
Many publicans, like the rural vicar have
antiquarian tastes as respects their calling
and take pleasure in interested inquiry.
The dialect they used was frequently diff
cult, but the matter always entertaining
Probably the deepest impression made
by these signs on the American was the
sense of perpetuty of time. OF the messy
iucrustation Of the years on words Inc
information she gathered also included the
history of beliefs, religions, politics, customs
and prejudices which had entrenched them
selves on fading creaking signs, unlettered
legends and perversions Of language
The collection easily falls into categories
and periods. Thus the Blue Lions" and
Green Dragons" frequently encountered
date from the days Of ohivalry, when
more interesting than these are the examples
filtered through the popular speech.
Thus the pelican and her young, belonging
to an ancient coat Of arms, are Familiarity
known az "The Hen and Chickens And
the swan and portcullis OF another family
masquerade as "The Goose and Gridiron'
at Spitalflelols, -The Leopard's Head"
of ancient days is now "The Lubber's Head
and the Red Lettuce" Is not OF curious
vegetable origin, but was formerly the
"Red Lattice"
From the days OF Popery comes -The
Cat and Wheel which ia to be referred
back to st. Catherine and her wheel. "The
Pig and Whistle" has longer lineage
deriving its significance from riga" a
cup, and -wassail. to which the cup invites.
The Rising Suns" and Half Moons"
are long forgotten reminders Of Apollo
and Diana, but who shall say whence comes
the Drum and Monkey" and the Sow and
Shutters" both of Spitalfields; tho Cat
and Mutton" Of Hackney; the Lamb and
Lark" near Bath, and such combinations
as the Hen and Razor?'
Following the heraldic signs are the
painted refuses. The dominant family
Of the country. as we know, is usually i'm
mortaliaed in the name of the inn. With
the Marks OF CRANKY" and his like we are
all familiar. But the reading was not
always 80 obvious.
The painted Hare and Bottle" was to be
understood as referring to the Farbottle
family. 1.-The Hand and Cock" stood for
the Hancocks. 1.-Two Cocks" minated
the Cox family. "The Magrie and Goat"
is to be translated into Pigot. lords of the
manor
THE Bolt ard Ton discloses the promi-
nence of the Bottoms Many Of these
families are efTaced in the counties, but the
echo of their greatness remains in the
tavern signs.
The most amusing OF these old signs are
those corrupted from the French signs in
troduced at the time Of the Conquest. Thus
The Iron Devil" must be translated back
to "L'Hirondeile' and THE Bag o. Tails
into Bagatelle.'
"The Cat and Fiddle comes down from
lie Chat Fid le.r THE Cat and Bottle
indicates la Coquine Bouteille" filtered
through the rustic speech of the time.
"The Pig and Carrots is the perversion
of "Le Pique ct Carreau." The grotesque
Hog in Amor" comes down from the thrill
ing La Hogue en- Arnes,' while the ia
miliar Bull and Gate is corrupted from
Boulogne gate, dating from Henry Wis
conquest in France. notable instance
of this perverson of the French tongue is
Savage's Tavern, in Oxford street, London
which start ing out from La Belle Savage"
In transit became Bells Savage" and Is
now Savage's Tavern.
From the period OF William and Mary
comes 1.-The Goat and Boots in Fulham
road, London. This legend accompanies,
strangely enough, the figure of Mercury.
The knowledge that originally the sign was
Der GoCen Bode"-the messenger of the
gods makes plain sailing for the under
standing.
Another interesting perversion is The
Goat and Compasses. which is the later
rendering of God encompasses us"-the
Puritan watchword of Cromwells days.
Other of these signs undoubtedly refer
to some peculiar virtue which the public
house desires to make known. That of
"A Hare and Three Women" is said to mean
despatch, while that of seaside inn, "The
Paddock and Anchor" indicates tr,istworthi-
ness, defense against smuggling.
THE Pack Horse and Talbot" is n re-
minder of the country carrier and his tall
boots" for treading the mire of bad roads.
-Thc Green Man" was the resort of the
ForcSters. possibly of Robin Hood
The Up and Down Post" indicates the
inn where the mail carriers met and ex-
changed mail bags. -The Hole in the Wall"
in London is supposed to relate to days
when food was secretly conveyed to pris-
oners 10y removing bricks in the wall. But
who can translate or deduce the meaning
of The Sugar Loaf and the Coffin. or the
story of "The Miller and the Dove?'
The Pigeon Pie Hotel in Derbyshire
doubtless celebrates its specially, as does
-The Shoulder of Mutton and Cucumbers,
at Yapton in Sussex. The Old Spot"
seems to have some reminiscent message
for those who have been there
Such are those signs prefSed by Jolly.
as The Jolly Waterman. the Jolly Fisher
man." But who shall account for The Case
l. Altered on Willesden Gieen2"
A sign seen in various parts OF England
is "'The Dogs Head in a Pot. accompany
ing the painting of a dog eating out OF
three legged pot, which may seem to mean
that the host is kind and his viands good.
Another significant sign is Five Miles
from Anywhere, No Hurry seen in Hamp-
shire, pleasant reminder that 1t is an
agreeable place to linger
Dl-l.. a.~l