Recent Books, Pamphlets, Articles, on Wiltshire Blatters. 201 



Market Cross, Town from Railway Station ; Castle Combe Church, Cross. 



Noticed, Devizes Gazette, Nov. 12th, 1896 ; St. James' Budget, March 

 5th, 1897. 



4 



A Parish on Wheels, by Eev. J. Howard Swinstead, M.A., of the 

 Society of St. Andrew, Salisbury ; with Introduction by the 

 Lord Bishop of Salisbury. London : Gardner, Darton, & Co. 1st and 

 2nd editions. 1897. Post 8vo. Cloth, pp. xviii., 233. 30 illustrations. 



Mr. Swinstead was for some time Itinerant Missioner for the Diocese of 

 Salisbury, a part of his duty being to visit as far as possible all the chief 

 fairs in the counties of Wilts and Dorset and to minister to the floating 

 population of " Van-dwellers " assembled thereat, living amongst them 

 during the fair like one of themselves in his own van. He speaks therefore 

 with authority on the life and characteristics of a class, numbering about two 

 thousand in the Diocese of Salisbury, which is too often assumed to be com- 

 posed of social Ishmaels unworthy of an honest man's acquaintance. Mr. 

 Swinstead has much to say in their favour, and gives many instances of 

 conscientiousness and fair dealing that would be rather astonishing even in 

 people who do not dwell in vans or own roundabouts or swing-boats. In 

 fact he stands up manfully both for the fairs themselves and for the fair 

 people. His illustrations, from photos of incidents in the lives of his 

 " parishioners," are most of them good and characteristic, and he has a power 

 of observation and a keen sense of humour which enable him not only to 

 tell a good story but to tell it with strict regard to local colouring— a not 

 too common accomplishment. He writes the van-dwellers' language well, 

 the language, that is to say, of the South Wilts and Dorset " Travellers," 

 with whom he came most in contact. His chapter on superstitions mentions 

 several interesting points, e.g., a baby may be as clean as a new pin elsewhere 

 but the palms of its hands should not be washed, in order that the marking 

 of the " birth lines " may remain clear and distinct ; again, you must on no 

 account point at a rainbow— and if you can find a filbert with two points 

 preserve it carefully in your waistcoat pocket and you will never suffer from 

 toothache. Altogether the book is both entertaining and interesting. The 

 least satisfactory thing about it is the cover, which quite unnecessarily 

 suggests that the book is of the Sunday school prize order. Noticed 

 favourably in Salisbury Times, Jan. 22nd, Salisbury Journal, Jan. 23rd, 

 Devizes Gazette, March 4th, Spectator, May 15th, 1897. 



Wilton Garden. Hortus Penbrochianus. Le Jardin de Vuilton. 

 Construit par le tres noble et tres puissant Seigneur Philippe 

 Compte de Penbrooke et Mongomeri Baron harbert de Cardif 

 Seigneur parr et Ralle de Candall, Marmion St. Quentin et 

 Churland, gardien de lestanerie aux Contez de Cornvall et devon 

 Chamberlain de la Maison du Roy, Chevalier du tres noble 

 ordre de la Jartiere, Lieutenant-general pour le Roy auz 

 provinces de Vuilts, Somersett et Kent, Conseiller du Conceill 



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