um and the bells. It
was formerly the custom for butchers' assistants to provide
themselves with marrow-bones and cleavers for musical effects.
Each cleaver was ground so that when it was struck with the
bone it emitted a certain note.[12] A complete band would
consist of eight men, with their cleavers so tuned as to give
an octave of notes. After more or less practice they would
offer their services as bandsmen on the occasion of marriage
ceremonies, which they had a wonderful faculty for locating,
and they would provide music (of a kind) _ad libitum_ until the
requisite fee was forthcoming. If their services were declined
the butchers would turn up all the same, and make things very
unpleasant for the marriage party. The custom dates from the
eighteenth century, and though it has gradually fallen into
disuse a marrow-bone and cleaver band is still available in
London for those who want it. A band took part in a wedding
ceremony at Clapham as recently as the autumn of 1911.

The following extract, referring to the second marriage of
Mr. Dombey, shows what bridal parties had to put up with in
the good old days:

The men who play the bells have got scent of the
marriage; and the marrow-bones and cleavers too;
and a brass band too. The first are practising in
a back settlement near Battle-bridge[13]; the second
put themselves in communication, through their chief,
with Mr. Tomlinson, to whom they offer terms to be
bought off; and the third, in the person of an artful
trombone, lurks and dodges round the corner, waiting
for some traitor-tradesman to reveal the place and
hour of breakfast, for a bribe.

Other instruments casually referred to are the Pan's pipes,
which in one place is also called a mouth-organ (_S.B.S._ 20),
the flageolet, and the triangle. It is difficult to classify
the walking-stick on which Mr. Jennings Rudolph played tunes
before he went behind the parlour door and gave his celebrated
imitations of actors, edgetools, and animals (_S.B.C._ 8).

[11] Forster, _Life of Charles Dickens._

[12] This is rather a modern development.

[13] Near King's Cross Station (G.N.R.).

CHAPTER V

CHURCH MUSIC

Dickens has not much to say about church music as such, but the
references are interesting, inasmuch as they throw some light
upon it during the earlier years of his life. In _Our Parish_
(_S.B._) we read about the old naval officer who

finds