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A bit of history first:
There are two Saint Anthonies in the Catholic religion. The second, Saint Anthony of Padua (Italy), lived from 1195-1231. Born in Portugal, he was a Franciscan monk and lived in Morocco before settling in Padua. He was known as an eloquent speaker. To most Catholics, he is the Patron Saint associated with the return of lost articles and missing persons.
Saint Anthony of Padua is usually depicted in a brown Franciscan robe, holding the infant Jesus in one hand and a lily in the other. Quechua Indian charm vials from Peru containing tiny blue-robed St. Anthony statuettes are carried for the return of a lost lover; they also always contain a piece of the coiled jungle vine called "vuelve vuelve" ("come back, come back" in Spanish).
St. Anthony, St. Anthony
Please come down
Something is lost
And can't be found
Dear St. Anthony
(May I call you Tony?)
This mornign on the tube I was hot, so I took off my cap and pashmina and put them at my feet, as I often do, on top of my bag. I was a bit dozy due to having had very little sleep recently and a 12-hour work day yesterday, and when I changed trains at Euston, I left those things behind.
I understand, St. Anthony, that you wouldn't bother with a cheap pashmina I can get on any stall (although it would be nice to have my genuine one back, the one that I left in a club in Norwich about 10 months ago ... any chance?) - but my cap, oh, my cap ...
It is a grey Kangol wool cap, peaked, just the right size for my head and undoubtedly my favourite article of clothing. I feel naked without it when I'm outside. I've had it for at least three years. I once got followed around Newcastle and offered £100 for it. I left it in a friend's room in Norwich and didn't get it back for a fortnight, and felt uneasy during the whole of that time. Me and that cap have got history, Tony, and I'd really like it back.
I'll do all the right things - go to Lost Property at Baker Street, fill in all the forms, burn candles in your honour or whatever - but please, please, can I have my cap back? I've lost a lot of things on the tube and have never got back a single one.
Yours in hope,
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