The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-05-17
MESSAGES IN STRAW
THEY MAY BE FOUND WRITTEN ALL
OVER GREAT BRITAIN

That Are Denoted by the wisps.
There Is Cutie an Extensive Ian
Euagc In These Signs of Straw.
When a farm servant in Pcrthshire
and other parts of Scotland is seeking
new situation he doesn't advertise in
the local newspaper or even apply to
/ farmers in the neigborhood. He just
4 waits for fleeing" day, as the market
| at Lady day and Michaelmas is called.
/ Then, with a wisp of straw either be-
( tween his teeth or in his hat, he strolis
up and down the market place.
/ That piece Of straw serves the pur-
/ pose Of q sandwich board. Without a
word being uttered, it is a sufficient in
timatiOn that its bearer is a plowman,
/ stableman or other farm worker and is
/ seeking employment with Il new mas
ter. \ similar custom still prevails in
the north of England and in some parts
/ of Ireland.
Straw as sign that certain things
are for sale" is frequently used.
Plated into a horses tail, with the end
curlcd up, it has such a meaning. but
when the plat is partly unwound and
| allowed to hang downward it denotes
that the horse has recently changed
/ ownership.
\ wisp of straw fastened to the
mainmast of fishing boat or a pleas
urc yacht in many districts is a sign
that its owner is dcsirous of selling it.
On the Thames watermen place straw
in the sterns of their craft for sale.
Dealers in fowls and eggs in the
north Of Ireland know without any
waste OF time whether farmers have
any of the produce they seek to buy,
| Farmers having these for sale erect a
| pole, with straw tied to its top. on their
grounds - near as possible 10 q public
road. CheCses when sold Mt ChCstcr's
and other cheese fairs can instantly be
detected Iy the handful Of straw on
top Of them.
IA even more popular lisa for straw
is as a warning of danger. When
bridges are being repaired it is custom
airy u hang a bundle Of straw from an
arch 50 that those passing beneath il
shall be warned against falling bricks
and such like debris,
\ few wisDs tied 10 a horses tail do
notes that ii is "kickcr" while straw
Tor the same purpose IS tcd to Its stall
post IN the stable. 10 warn pedestrians
who would cross pathway running
through jhoir Gn,ds that vicious bull
IS grazing there kent farmers tasten
a bundle OF sjla" to the gate leading
10 IL. some farmers also give further
warning by tying straw 10 the hofn5 Oh
the b1d tempered animal
Iramps IN thc-South OF ireland fight
SLY Oh entering IofmyafdS whose gates
are adorned VITA WI5ps OF straw. 1T IS
suHc-enL hotice that H2rce WalchdoSs
are kept ioH lramn5 ANA tr2spasserS
As y Warming 10 skaters IN the Fen dis
rIcjS straw IS StreWn about broken
ana dangerous ice ana should there be
any holes in its otherwise sound sur
face these are marked by straw being
STUCK Ieag'AWisc INTO them.
Loluoher5 frequently meet win
straw as Il sign OF warning. When
WOOD paving IS being repaired or the
pathway IS being dug up for any pur-
pose IRON RODS to which n rope IS at
tached marx OIL the dangerous area
Very often a WiSp Of straw is fastened
TO each rod as further precaution to
pedestrians. Without the straw, if the
background were dark and the day
were dUll, Shortsightod and absent
minded people might not be aware Of
their danger till the ropes were reach
ed. Straw, too, is frequently hung out
side warehouse to denote that the
crane is being used and to so warn
pasSerShy.
Iuntsmcn in the home counties know
directly they see straw tied to the top
of tail red pole to ware barbed
wire. To warn hunting parties off
fields newly sown with wheat or clover
roots it is customary also with farm
crs in central and northern England to
bind bundles Of straw to their fences
and hedges
During the shooting season on the
| big Yorkshire mOors tail sticks are
placed ut intervals along the pathways
that traverse the gorse and ling and
decorated with wisps of straw. 1t is
warning to the peasantry that the