The World's Encyclopedia of Wonders and Curiosities

Everything a Victorian found astonishing, gathered into one enormous volume — burning springs and buried cities, freaks of storm and flood, the habits of bees and the manners of nations, filed under headings like “Curiosities Respecting Man.”

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Chapter Lxiii

CURIOSITIES RESPECTING THE CUSTOMS OF MANKIND-(Continued). Shrovetide-Candlemas Day-Passion or Holy Week-Origin of Valentine's Day-Origin of Plough Monday-New Year's Gifts-Chiltern Hundreds-Origin of the term "John Bull"-Origin of the Old Adage, "If it rains on St. Swithin's Day, it will rain Forty Days afterwards"-Curfew Bell........

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