A unique milestone, again, serves as a memorial. It stands in the hamlet of Newbold, Gloucestershire, and is surmounted by a cross. On the south side are the directions:-- 6 miles To Shakespeare’s town, whose name Is known throughout the earth; To Shipston 4, whose lesser fame Boasts no such poet’s birth. And on the north face appears a “sermon in stone”:-- Crux mea lux. After darkness, light. From light hope flows, And peace in death, In Christ a sure repose. Spes, 1871. Nothing on the milestone denotes that it is intended to be a memorial, but a local gentleman, it is understood, erected it as such after the death of a member of his family. There are, however, many memorials of conventional form which are much more puzzling than such “freaks.” Above the white horse at Cherhill, Wilts, is one on which not a single letter or figure appears. Several stories are told locally of its origin and purpose. Of the same cryptic character is the Finedon memorial--a pillar standing in a garden at the cross-roads. It is generally supposed to commemorate a mail-coach robbery which took place near the spot in or about the year 1810; but, as it was in existence before this event took place, the popular belief must be erroneous. The most probable theory is that it was set up during the rejoicings at the recovery of George III. from his illness. There was an ebullition of patriotism at that time, and before the fever subsided several memorials sprang up in different parts of the country. [Illustration: WHAT IS IT? AN OBELISK WITHOUT AN INSCRIPTION. _From a Photograph._] Burial-grounds contain numerous “freak” memorials, notwithstanding that clergymen, as a rule, discountenance that form of eccentricity which strives after novelty in post-mortem advertisement. The most curious churchyard memorial in England, perhaps, is at Pinner. It resembles a church tower, and half-way up it a coffin projects on each side. Beneath, and supporting the structure, are arches filled in with ironwork, bearing the words, “Byde-my-Tyme.” The “my” appears to stand for one William London, who was interred (or interned) here in 1809. [Illustration: “’TWIXT EARTH AND SKY”--AN EXTRAORDINARY GRAVE IN PINNER CHURCHYARD. _From a Photograph._] Legends cluster round this strange object. The stone coffin, according to the most circumstantial, contains the remains of a Scotch merchant, whose descendants retain his property as long as he “remains above ground.” Nothing definite, however, is known about the tomb. If its constructor wished to furnish posterity with an insoluble puzzle, he has succeeded to perfection. [Illustration: ANOTHER REMARKABLE MEMORIAL--A LIGHT BURNS IN THE TOWER NIGHT AND DAY. _From a Photograph._]