28 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. Ul. 



pression almost identical with "bosom multiplied." 

 There are few disjiuted phrases of Shakspeare to 

 ■wliicli so happy a parallel, from his own text, could 

 be cited. 



" the old and miserable king — 



Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, 

 To pluck the common bjsom on his side. 

 And turn our impressed lances in our eyes 

 Which do command them." 



King Lear, Act V. Sc. 3. 



BUBY GLASS. 



Many of your readers and writers Tseing earnest 

 admirers of ancient painted glass, and interested 

 in the revival of the art, it is much to be desired 

 that some method should be devised, through the 

 medium of your publication, for its encouragement. 

 The reform must commence at tiie glass-house, 

 and ha[)pily a movement in the right direction has 

 been already made. The grand desideratum is a 

 good ruby ; for perhaps there is little or no infe- 

 riority in other colours, the difference of effect 

 being attributable to corrosion, lichens, texture, 

 dust, and other causes. Early ruby is of exquisite 

 brilliancy, and can only be represented in drawings 

 by vermilion. The intensity was well described 

 »y the remark on a fragment, that " it was like a 

 soldier's jacket ! " The later ruby generally bears 

 more resemblance to the gem, and is co[)ied on 

 paper by carmine. The best of both sorts is 

 usually streaked or mottled, sometimes showing a 

 large portion of the white, on which it forms a thin 

 coating, this glass being, as it is technically called, 

 *' flashed " or " overlaid." This appearance has 

 been lately well imitated ; but the colour contains 

 a fatal degree of orange, although the manufac- 

 turers unfortunately protest that it equals the 

 finest of mediaeval times. 



The modern ruby in comparison is commonly, in 

 the opinion of connoisseurs, more or less heavy, 

 dull, and muddy, with an injurious tinge of yellow. 

 So long as it is assumed that perfection is already 

 attained, there is a bar to all improvement; and I 

 •would therefore propose that some plan be adopted 

 for the exhibition of specimens, and the award of 

 prizes. Probably the authorities at the Museum 

 of Practical Geology, or at the Polytechnic Insti- 

 tution, wouhl obligingly consent to admit the 

 Bpecimens, a competent jury being appointed. If 

 some patriotic persons would present or lend pieces 

 of the finest old ruby as a challenge to the manu- 

 facturers, the object would be facilitated ; for it is 

 only by juxtaposition that the comparative merits 

 can be ascertained. Another difficulty to be sur- 

 mounted, is to convince the public, as well as the 

 makers and glass painters, that uniformity of tint 

 and thickness, purity, and transparency, are not 

 qualities which reader the material most suitable 



for ecclesiastical windows ; and that uneven, streaky^ 

 clouded ruby is the most to bi- admired. Such 

 assurances are requisite, for instances are known 

 of the employer insisting ui)on the removal of such 

 " imperfect ami offensive j^lass!" Strange, indeed, 

 must it be if, with our superior scientific know- 

 ledge, " with all a[)plian(;es and me-ans to boot," 

 modern skill sliould long fail in reaching the depth, 

 richness, and splendour of the ancient reds. 



Surely if there was an eager demand for the 

 most appropriate sort, if its excellence was duly- 

 appreciated, and if emulaticm was exci'ed, che- 

 mistry would be brought to bear more effectually 

 upon the subject, exertions would be redoubled, 

 and success fully achieved. 



The important Query, as a preparatory step, Js 

 this. Will some public spirited individuals present 

 specimens of the best old ruby to the Museum of 

 Geology (Jermyn Street), where modern potmetal 

 is already displayed, or to another similar insti- 

 tution ? And it is hoped that it will receive a 

 satisfactory practical answer. C. T. 



rOI-K LORE. 



Springs and Wells. — Near to Waaler, In Nor- 

 thumberland, on the flanks of the Cheviots, there 

 Is a spring of water locally known as Pin WelL 

 The country maids, in passing this spring, drop" 

 a crooked pin into the water. 



In Westmoreland there is also a Pin Wellf 

 Into the waters of which rich and poor drop a pin 

 In passing. 



The superstition. In both cases, consists in a 

 belief that the well is imder the charge of a fairy, 

 and that It is necessary to propitiate the little- 

 lady by a present of some sort; hence the pin as 

 most convenient. The crooked pin of Northum- 

 berland may be explained upon the received 

 hypothesis, in folk-lore, that crooked things are 

 lucky things, as a "crooked sixpence," &c. 



There are many interesting sui)erstitions con- 

 nected with springs and wells, and. like most of 

 superstition, there is a basis of truth when under- 

 stood. There were sacred wells In ancient days, 

 and there are numerous holy wells in Christian 

 times. One well is reputed as "good for sprains," 

 another spring is "gond for sore eyes." There Is 

 a spring about five miles from Alnwick in Nor- 

 thumberland, known as Senna Well, and many 

 other medicinal springs and wells may be enu- 

 merated. Tiiere are the world renovvne<l waters 

 of Bath, of Buxum, of Matlock, of Ilarrowgate, of 

 Cheltenham, of Malvern, &<•., in Entdand ; but tiiere 

 are also springs and wells in the by-way.s, having old 

 legends connected with them, and it is to these I 

 wish to draw attention thnrngli the paizes of " N. 

 & Q." The larger wells on the hiuh ways may ber 

 left to the puffing guide books, and to their day- 



