THE ORIGINAL ASS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 07, Issue 45, 7 November 1907, Page 37

THE ORIGINAL ASS

One of the last stopping-places of the London and Weymout'h coach was at a Dorset village (writes a correspondent of 'P.T.0.), whose principal hostelry was known as 'The Ass's Head.' So good were the refreshments, so obliging 'the host, and so reasonable the c'haxges,* that the inn did a thriving trade, and was well spoken of throughout the district. In one of George lll.'s visits to Weymout'h the Royal party stayed at this inn and had lunch. This was very gratifying to (the loyal host, who immediately took down the original signboard and erected a full-lengtii painting of the King in its place. Henceforth the inn should be known as

' The Royal George.' The proprietor of the rival hostelry in "the village purchased the Ass's Head for a few shillingSj and had it placed over the door of his house. Now it so happened *hat the coachman and guard of the Weymouth coach had fceen Changed on the day this alteration of the signboards took pkce, and they were both strangers to the district ; but their instructions had been to stop at 'The Ass's Head/ and, seeing the sign orTtlhe rival house, they pulled ,up there. This much annoyed the»original owner, who, foreseeing that his pocket might suffer for his loyalty, had immediately nailed to the bottom of the painting of King George a board with these words in large letters : ' This is the original Ass ! '