Who would read a poem entitled Going to St. Ives? The world of nursery rhyme readers, of course! This delightful riddle has entertained millions over generations by provoking a multitude of thoughtful solutions to the riddle. Its origin is believed to date as early as 1730. Records state that the riddle of unknown authorship describes a math problem from the historical Rhind Papyrus of Mathematics, while the actual location of St. Ives is said to be a marketplace near England.
The theme highlights the journey of a man to the St. Ives marketplace and his encounter with another man, who has 7 wives, each carrying 7 sacks with 7 cats and kits. Hence, a lesson of the multiplicity of 7’s and accurate deduction begins to answer the riddle of how many were going to St. Ives. While riddle solvers dig in deeply with multiple digit computation and varied answers, scholarly authorities are certain that the correct answer is simply the number 1. Yes, 1! It is assumed that the man going to St. Ives does meet others on the way. However, if they are coming toward him or heading in the same direction, we don’t know. There is also the possibility that this family of 7 wives lived by the roadside and were met as the traveler passed by. This is all speculation based on the information given. What is absolutely certain and factual is that 1 man was going to St. Ives, and for this reason scholars declare the poem as a teachable lesson of certainty. It relates to precision and accuracy which have no place for guesswork in the final analysis.
The fun of discussion and surmising with numbers and theories all play a part of this poem’s longevity and viability. It helps us to think, evaluate and learn. Although the author’s intention will never be known for certain, Going to St. Ives maintains a worthy place in nursery rhyme history as a poem that makes reading fun for any age.