106 RIVERSIDE LETTERS XIII 



has come curiously true, to-day is the only 

 entirely dry day that we have had since the 

 1 5th ult. Next Friday is St. Bartholomew's 

 day. There is an old saying about that day as 

 well, which though in horrible metre runs thus : 



" All the tears St. S within can cry, 

 St. Bartlemy's dusty mantle wipes dry." 



St. Bartlemy's day, however, is the 4Oth 

 after St. Swithin's, so perhaps it is only 

 the natural end of the spell. 



We were visited last week by a strolling 

 company of actors, who had an ingenious 

 method of advertisement. The company were 

 here three days ; the proprietress walked 

 about the town, shopping and distributing 

 hand-bills, followed by a large dog with a 

 coat on, on which was an advertisement of 

 the play ; a young donkey with a collar 

 round his neck also followed his mistress, 

 with the dog, entering all the shops and 

 houses that she did, no doubt getting fed 

 and petted every now and then. It was a 

 very droll and rather pretty sight. 



