23 DECEMBER 1916, Page 15

(To Tra Erases or TBZ "Seem/amt.") Sur, — The song, "The Bells

of Hell," &c., quoted by Mr. E. V. Lucas, is not a product of the war. I heard it twe or three years before the war from a medical friend. To the best of my remembrance he declared that he had heard it some years before sung by Salvationists. The same friend also used to sing the soldiers version of " Old King Cole "—he was then M.O. of a yeomanry regiment, and had picked it up in camp. In his version the sergeant said, " Move to the right in fours," a cavalry variant, I •suppose. There was also an intrusive person called the painter, who came between the private and the sergeant. His contribution to the chorus was, " Slap it up and down the

wall! "—I am, Sir, &c., M. [The original version of the "tine-a-ling-a-ling " song was popular in the music-halls some years ago. It had nothing to do with Hell. The " " part was an inane but haunting refrain. "Move to the right in fours " is also an -infantry command.—En. Spectator.]