An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY Some rude people say that it's only a joke That Purdy bas purchased a pig in a poke ; While some silly joker lays on with a trowel Phosphor paint, thus creating a luminous owl. But everyone, postman and bailiff and squire, Round Foulsham has seen this quaint bird all on :fire; And little boys whimper and little girls howl, When they run up at night 'gainst that luminous owl. And I certainly think I should have a bad :fit, If turning a corner, not thinking of it; I found myself stauding alone, cheek by jowl, With that luminous, luminous, luminous owl. I often-time wander by meadow and lea, To see if that curious bird I can see ; Till when I return, rather dazzled, at night, To ring up my wife I feel quite in a fright ; For she'll say as she opens the door with a scowl, '' You've been dining again with your Luminous Owl." Mr. Purdy thought that these luminous birds accounted for the alleged will of the wisp, as to the existence of which there seems no evidence. On the 20th February I made one more attempt to see some jumping to hounds, being driven out to Ashwell– thorpe by Bullard, the horse dealer, whose grandly pictorial language served as a compensation, for the " Staggers " sport was extremely poor, and I saw nothing but road riding and scrambling through gaps. On the 21st February I lectured on the Norwich Guild– hall before a full room at the Y.M.C.A., and the next day had another visit to the Burgh Mound with Mr. W. G. Clarke of the Prehistoric Society, and found more pottery and flints.. Coming back we were chased by a very sudden, and heavy storm, practically a hurricane, which blew down the biggest beech tree in the Rectory Grounds just after we got home. On the 10th March I took Munnings over to Roche's at Ta~burgh to see their pictures and sculptures, and had to walk back in the rain to Swainsthorpe. On Sunday evening, the 29th, I went with Clarke to lecture at the Labour Institute on "Medireval War-time,''. and had a good-tempered, if inimical, audience. On the 4th March I was sorry to see my old friend, Dr. Jessopp, very feeble at East Dereham. All April was cold and cheerless, and Friday, 24th, was the heaviest snow and greatest cold I had experienced in Norfolk, and I had a bad attack of lumbago. The day before I had lectured on "Old Norwich," at Miss Duff's instance, at St. Giles' Church House, to a lot of school-