ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 14

ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY

“CHAP-BOOK” LITERATURE At this month’s meeting of the literary section of tho St. Andrew’s Society members devoted the evening to the study of tho chap-book literature. The of the circle, the Rev. Hugh Graham, gave the following interesting talk on this subject:—“ln any consideration of this by-path of Scottish literature _ the first difficulty that confronts us is to define exactly what a ‘ chap-book ’ is. Publications of the chap-book order are defined in 1 Chambers’s Encyclopedia ’ as follows: —‘ A variety of old and scarce tracts of a homely kind, which at one time formed the only popular literature. In the trade of the book-seller they are distinguishable from the ordinary products of the press by their inferior paper and typography, and are reputed to have been sold by chapmen or pedlars.’ This information is hardly accurate, and was evidently written by one who knew little or nothing about the subject. Tho chap-book did not receive its name on account of its size or its contents, but because it was chiefly circulated by pedlars who sought to carry civilisation and soft-goods into hamlets

and farm towns. These men were known as * chap-men.’ The derivation of the word shows that a chap-man was simply a 4 cheapman,’ and chapliterature may therefore bo truthfully sob down as ‘cheap literature.’ “ Tho diffusion of knowledge by means of tho chap-hook practically began with the introduction of printing into Scotland. Down to the middle of last century the chap-man was a travelling publisher of much importance. In crowded market-place and on solitary moor he plied his calling. There he sold his broadsides by the ream, hero he tempted the reading rustic to a judicious selection from his pack. In both cases he did what ho could to spread knowledge—and line his pockets. The chap-man’s life was not all lavcndcs, but in tho 18th and early 19th century he was the indispensable travelling merchant. In tho Scotland of those bygone days the telegraph and tho telephone were undreamt of, and ‘ iron-" horses ’ wore things to discuss with bated breath. 7’he smaller towns and villages of Scotland dwelt in complete isolation from each other. News—oven bad news—travelled slowly. In such times and circumstances tho pedlar was a necessity. Like tho minstrel bards of old, tho chap-man carried tho news to hamlets and farm towns by means of song and story. Tho songs ho sang and tho stories ho told brought him bed and breakfast, and-sometimes helped to

lighten his pack. When newspapers were unknown, the chap-man was a moving ‘ intelligencer ’ who carried tho doings of the outer world into remote parts and extended the horizon of many. As time went on, education became more general, and broad-sides—-or single printed sheets—were the means used by many authors to reach their public. Ballads and songs, old and new, genuine and fictitious, made their appearance in broad-side form and thus ceased to be dependent on oral tradition for their existence. Jt is not too much to suppose that these broadsides circulated among all classes.” “ Chap-book literature may bo considered under tho following headings : Humorous, instructive, romantic, superstitious, songs and ballads.” These sections wore referred to in detail and appropriate extracts read from Scottish, chap-book literature by Wrn. Harvey, and chap-books of the 18th century by Ashton. At tho ?iext meeting it was resolved to study the early periodical literature of Scotland.