Aren't you glad this is a custom that has died out!

Twelfth Day ( Entry for 6th January 1826)

On Twelfth night in London, boys assemble round the inviting shops of the pastrycooks, and dexterously nail the coat-tails of spectators, who venture near enough, to the bottoms of the window frames; or pin them together strongly by their clothes. Sometimes eight or ten persons find themselves thus connected. The dexterity and force of the nail driving is so quick and sure, that a single blow seldom fails of doing the business effectually. Withdrawal of the nail without a proper instrument is out of the question; and, consequently, the person nailed must either leave part of his coat, as a cognizance of his attachment, or quite the spot with a hole in it. At every nailing and pinning shouts of laughter arise from the perpetrators and the spectators. Yet it often happens to one who turns and smiles at the duress of another, that he also finds himself nailed. Efforts at extrication increase mirth, nor is the presence of a constable, who is usually employed to attend and preserve free "ingress, egress, and regress," sufficiently awful to deter the offenders.

It's hard to top this next item for eccentricity.

8th January 1826

A newspaper of January 8, 1821, mentions an extraordinary feat by Mr. Huddy, the postmaster of Lismore, in the 97th year of his age. He travelled, for a wager, from that town to Fermoy in a Dungarvon oyster-tub, drawn by a pig, a badger, two cats, a goose, and a hedgehog; with a large red nightcap on his head, a pig-driver's whip in one hand, and in the other a common cow's horn, which he blew to encourage his team, and give notice of this new mode of posting.

Isn't this entry all too familiar?

14th February 1826

To him that goes to law, nine things are requisite:

1. A good deal of money
2. A good deal of patience
3. A good cause
4. A good attorney
5. Good counsel
6. Good evidence
7. A good jury
8. A good judge
9. Good luck.

Students priorities weren't always studying 200 years ago.

13th April 1826 Parody of a Cambridge University Examination

This appeared in The Times on 25th January, 1816

Utopia University

1 Give a comparative sketch of the principal English theatres, with the dates of their erection, and the names of the most eminent candle-snuffers at each. What were the stage boxes? What were the offices of prompter - ballet-master - and scene-shifter? In what part of the theatre was the one-shilling gallery? Distinguish accurately between operas and puppet-shows.

2. Where was Downing-street? Who was prime-minister when Cribb defeated Molineux - and where did the battle take place? Expain the terms milling - fibbing - cross buttock - neck and crop - bang up - and - prime.

(Cribb and Molineux were famous prize fighters.)

3. Enumerate the principal houses of call in and about London, marking those of te Taylors, Bricklayers, and Shoemakers, and stating from what Brewery each house was supplied with Brown Stout. Who was the tutelary Saint of the Shoemakers? At what time was his feast celebrated? Who was Saint Swithin? Do you remember any remarkable English proverb respecting him?

4. Express the following words in the Lancashire, Derbyshire, London, and Exmoor dialects - Bacon - Poker - You - I - Doctor - and Turnpike-gate.

5. Mention the principal Coach Inns in London, with a correct list of the Coaches which set out from the Bolt-in-tun. Where were the chief stands of Hackney Coaches - and what was the No. of that in which the Princess Charlotte drove to Connaught-house? To what stand do you suppose this removed after it set her down?

As you'd expect, cats haven't changed much.

13th August 1826

Cats neither like to be put out of their way, nor to be kept out of their food:-

In cloisters, wherein people are immured in roman catholic countries, to keep or make them of that religion, it is customary to announce the hours of meals by ringing a bell. In a cloister in France, a cat that was kept there was used never to receive any victuals till the bell rung, and she therefore never failed to be within hearing of it. One day, however, she happened to be shut up in a solitary apartment, and the bell rang in vain, as far as regarded her. Being some hours after liberated from her confinement, she ran, half famished, to the place where a plate of victuals used generally to be set for her, but found none this time. In the afternoon the bell was heard ringing at an unusual hour, and when the people of the cloister came to see what was the cause of it, they found the cat hanging upon the bell-rope, and setting it in motion as well as she was able, in order that she might have her dinner served up to her.

Few who possess the faculty of hearing and have heard the music of cats, would desire the continuance of their "sweet voices," yet a concert was exhibited at Paris, wherein cats were the performers. They were placed in rows, and a monkey beat time to them. According as he beat the time, so the cats mewed; and the historian of the fact relates, that the diversity of the tones which they emitted produced a very ludicrous effect. This exhibition was announced to the Parisian public by the title of Concert Miaulant.