FOUND IN COTTAGES 177 



The pretty pair of candlesticks must have been origin- 

 ally in a good house. When I bought them at a cottage sale 

 for eigh teen-pence (tho lot including other articles) it was plain 

 to see that they had had some hard wear in their day. The 

 plating was nearly all gone, and the surface was dirty copper ; 

 but after passing through the silversmith's hands they came 



Pair op Plated Candlesticks 



out as nice a pair as one would wish to see, though less 

 ornate than many of their time. 



Among the many articles of diverse origin that have 

 drifted into cottages and that have come to light at sales, or 

 by the spontaneous offer on the part of the cottager of a 

 thing that was to him useless and might bring in a shilling 

 or two, is a group of objects relating to defence and pro- 

 tection. A special constable's staff of some heavy, close- 

 grained wood is handsomely painted with the Royal Arms 

 on a red ground that covers all but the handle. From the 

 presence of the White Horse of Hanover, borne on the 



middle base of an inescutcheon, its date would be from 



z 



