150 JOTTINGS ABOUT OLD DERBY. 
supporters to go. S. Peter’s usually tried to work down Tenant 
Street, and get into the River Derwent as soon as they could. I 
have seen them swimming down the river when it was freezing 
hard and snow lying on the banks, and sometimes snowing all 
the while—one of them having the ball. Some would swim 
down, others walk down the banks, to about what is called “* The 
Dead Waters,” at Osmaston, the holder of the ball in the river. 
This part of the sfors, so-called, was pleasantly enlivened by the 
partizans of each parish going in to seize the ball, when a grand 
ducking performance commenced. If All Saints’ got possession 
of the ball, they got out on the Chaddesden side of the water, 
and the game virtually began de novo ; but if S. Peter’s held their 
own, it was generally carried through Osmaston Park, towards 
where the Arboretum is now, and into Grove Street and goaled. 
Whichever side won, the winner was raised shoulder-high, 
carrying the ball, by his fellow-players, and they proceeded 
through the parish of the winning parties, soliciting pecuniary 
reward, the church bells of the winning parish ringing merrily. 
There is a tradition that on one occasion, when S. Peter’s 
men and lads both won, the joy was so great that both balls 
were hung by blue ribbons on one of the pinnacles of S. Peter’s 
Church tower. 
This game, as you know, has been put down for many years, 
and is almost forgotten; but I have some old parishioners now 
living who were renowned champions for S. Peter’s, and with 
whom I sometimes talk over the old game. 
Taking all things into consideration, it was very desirable that 
it should be put a stop to; at the same time, like fox-hunting, 
athletic exercise, boat-racing, and all sports of the kind, I do 
think it helped to keep up the hardiness, the manliness, and the 
good old pluck and “ Never say die” of Englishmen. 
There is just one more “tradition” I should like to mention, 
though doubtless known to many. It is this: Several years ago, 
it is said, two Englishmen, strangers to each other, met in the 
United States of America, and, in the course of conversation, 
each one told the other that he came from Derby; and, in 
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Eee ee SY eee 
