The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-24


England. The term mummer," which is syRony.
nous with ''masker," comes from the Danish
Tnumn1e, or the Dutch m0mme. The custom was
probably derived from the Roman Sat,undlid, Of
which masquerading was favorlte feature.
The early Christians, on New Years day, were
accustomed to run about the streets en- Dadeque,
in ridicule of the custom of their Pagan neigh
bors. From these practices, it is supposed,
sprang the mysteries, or miracle-plays,n
which were for many centuries favorite
Amusement of oil the European nations.
The mumming ceremonies of Christmas eve.
were in many respects similar to these popular,
mysteries" although the religious element,
which was prominent in the latter, was almost
entirely wanting in the former. The persons
engaging in them would array themselves in the
most outandish and fantastic costumes COM
binlng all the oddities of men and brutes, and
then make the round of the principal houses
within their reach, to the intense delight of old
and young. The ceremony was not strictly
confined to the Christmas season in old times,
although it is at present, wherever practised in
England. AT Tenby, In South Wales, it Is kept
up for three weeks, every house in the town
being visited. 10 Scotland, mumming, or
guising is performed at New Year. as are all
the other festivities of the winter-solsice.
Next in righteousness TO the mummers came
The Lord of MisruIe
of the olden time. This functionary, in a word,
was the master of the Christmas Revels. We
have the following account of the custom by
Stow:-"In the feast Of Christmas, there was in
the Kings house, wheIesoever he lodged,
Lord OF Misrule,' or Master of Merry Desports,
and the like had ye in the house OF every nobles
man of honor or good worship, were he spiritual
or temporal. The Mayor of London and either
OF the Sher1fls, had their several Lords of Mis-
rule, ever contending, without quarrel or
ohense, who should make the rarest pastime to
| delight the beholders. These lords beginning
| their rule at Allhallond Eve, continued the
| same till the morrow after the Feast of the
| Publication, commonly called Candlemas Day,
| in which space there were fine and subtle dis
| guisingS, Masks and mummeries, with playing
at cards for counters, nayles, and points, in
| every house, more for pastimes than for game.n
In the University of Cambridge this function
| airy, regularly elected from among the Masters of
Arts was termed operator or Ltdoiuin,
| and his duties we're not only to superintend the
diversions of Christmas but of the annual repre-
| sentation OF the Latin plays by the students as
| we'll similar custom prevailed at Oxford
In the Inns of Court in London, the Lord of
| Misrule reigned in great splendor being sur.
| rounded by all the paIaphernalia of royalty in
| cluolng lord-keeper and treasurer, a guard of
| honor, and two chaplams, who regularly
| preached before him in the Temple Church on
| Sunday. His sovereignty terminated on Twelfth
| Day. In 1885, this mock royal parsonage ex.
| pended $4,000 out of his own pocket, and in re-
| turn received the honor of Knighthood at the
| hands of Charles |.
As an illustration OF the outrageous license
enjoyed by these functionaries we suhjoin an
| Worshiptul Richard Evelyn, Esq, constituted
| Owen Flood, his trumpeter the 'Lord of Mis-
rule OF all good orders during the twelve days:n
~ give free leave to the said owen Flood to com.
mand all and every person or persons whatsoever,
as wei servants az Others, to be at his command
whatsoever he shall sound his trumpet or music.
and to do him good service, as though present
myself, at their peril give full power and autho.
rty to his ordship to break up all locks bolts bars
doors, and latches, ana to fling up all do os out OF
hinges to come at those who presume to dlsobey his
| lordship's commands. God save the KingW
The Lord of Misrule commenced his reign by
absolving all his subjects from their wisdom
commanding them TO retain just enough sense
| to know how TO conduct themselves like fools
| In Scotland, previous to the Reformation
iunctionary entitled the Abbot. OF Unreasonn
| was elected by the monasteries to superintend
| the Christmas festivities. In France, likewise,
! they had an -Ab6Gs StuHO170n, or "Pope of
Fools" OF a similar character. The Scottish
Parliament abolished the custom by statute in
1865. As might have been expected, the old
Puiitans were bitterly opposed to these prac-
tices, and denounced them in unmeasured
terms, as relics OF the 'Roman Saturnalia and
bacchanalian festivals, which should cause all
plous Christians eternally to abomrate them,n
One OF the Christmas sports which has come
down from time immemorial, and is still pre-
served, both in England and America, although
almost unknown in Scotland, is the famous
game OF
SnapdragOn.
The operation is very simple, although il re-
quires considerable amount OF nerve and
rapidity OF motion. quantity of plums, or
raisins is deposited in large shallow bowl and
over these is poured brandy, or some other
liquor, which is then ignited. The bystanders
then plunge their hands into this mimic lake
Of fire and draw forth, if they can, plum. As
may well be supposed, the feat is more diificut
than the one performed by ''LittIe johnny Hor-
ner." 1t has thus been done into verse:-
"Here he comes with Il anlng bowl.
Don't he mean to take his toll,
Snipl snap! Dragon!
"Take care you don't take too much
Sup Snap Dragon!