28 



OUR COLUMNS. 



June 20, 1891. 



hundred yards west of it, — the historical Watling-street. The " Vallum " which defines 

 the boundary of Maidenbower is some 10 or 12 feet in height, and encloses an area of 

 eight or ten acres. Although it probably dates from before the Christian era, it still 

 remains in a fair state of preservation. It is, however, threatened with destruction within 

 a measurable period, as the site is about to be excavated for chalk — a circumstance much 

 to be regretted, because as regards size and completeness it is an almost unique example 

 of a British earthwork, and for this reason should have been scheduled in the " Act for 

 the Preservation of Ancient Monuments." From Maidenbower the party went on to 

 " Totternhoe Castle," — so called, though there is not, and never Avas, anything resembling 

 what is usually understood by the term " castle " at this place. Totternhoe is said to be 

 a corruption of the Celtic word " Teotan," a burning, and the Saxon term " hoe," or 

 " hou," a hill, — thus it would mean the burning hill. No one can stand on the highest 

 part of this magnificent earthwork, commanding a view of a wide expanse of country, 

 without admitting the admirable suitability of the site for a beacon. The existing 

 hollow on the summit doubtless represents the place where the fires were lighted. Adjoin- 

 ing, and partially including, this Celtic stronghold, is a well-developed Roman camp of the 

 usual rectangular form. The vallum and ditch are very distinct on the north-west side 

 and in some other places, but are entirely wanting on the south-west, where a steep natural 

 declivity of the ground rendered such a protection unnecessary. The 2:)arty next 

 adjourned to an inn in the neighbouring village of Totternhoe for tea, of which they 

 partook in a damson-orchard adjoining. Here Mr. J. Saunders, of Luton, gave an 

 interesting account of the Geology and Natural History of the neighbourhood. On the 

 motion of Mr. Elger, hearty votes of thanks Avere accorded Mr. Saunders and Mr. 

 Worthington Smith for doing so much to render the excursion instructive and pleasurable. 

 The party returned to Bedford at 7h. 45m. 



Committee meetings were held on March 26 and April 30, the principal business 

 transacted relating to the forthcoming excursions. At a meeting held on May the 28th, 

 it was decided, after some discussion respecting the visit to Dunstable on May 13, in 

 which only four members took part, not to have any more excursions during the 

 present season. 



Carre0pontience» 



To The P^ditors of " Our Columns." 



Dear Sirs, — I think you will agree with me that the practice indulged in by some of 

 the subscribers to every circulating library of disfiguring the margins of the books they 

 borrow by pencilled criticisms, cannot be too greatly censured. 



A writer in Chambers' Journal on the subject of book destruction, after mentioning 

 several of the many "enemies of books," says: — "There is a feebler, but still more 

 irritating, form of outrage upon books in public libraries, which consists in scrawling 

 on the margins the vapid and frivolous criticisms or opinions of the reader, who often, 

 unconsciously, gives evidence that he is incapable of appreciating what he reads. We 

 have a book before us now, the collected poems of the greatest poetess of our century, 

 and there is hardly a page not disfigured by some trumpery cavil about the words, or 

 the sense, or the rhythm. Through all her sweet thoughts, this pestls chartarum follows 

 her, until we take up the poker and strike a blow at an imaginary skull too thick to 

 break, and too empty to be susceptible of concussion of the brain." 



