The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-24
TRIPLE sHEET--THREE CENTS.

the Feast Of the Purifcation, commonly called
Candlemas Day, in which space there were
fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and mum
meries, with playing at cards for oounters'
nsyles, and points in every house, more for
pastimes than for game"
In the University of Cambridge this funo-
tionary, regularly elected from among the
Masters of Art, was termed lmpratOr, or Pro-
JectuS Ludorum, and his duties were not only
to superintend the diversions of Christmas,
but of the annual. representations Of the Latin
plays by the students as well. A similar GUS
tom prevailed at Oxford. In the Inns of Court
in London the Lord Of Misrule reigned in
great splendor, being surrounded by all the
paraphernalia Of royalty, including lord
keeper and treasurer, guard Of honor, and
two chaplains, whe regularly preached before
him in the Temple Church on Sunday. His
sovereignty terminated ON Twelfth Day. In
1885, this rnook-royal parsonage expended
f20O0 out Of his own pocket, and in return
received the honor of hnighthood at the hands
OF Charles |. As an illustration Of the outra-
geous license enjoyed by these functionaries,
we subjoin an extract from the 'sarticles" by
which the Right Worshipful Richard EVELYN,
Esq, constituted Owen Flood, his trumpetsr,
ths "Lord of Misrule Of all good orders during
the twelve dsys:"-
81 give free leave 20 the said owen Flood To
command all and every person or persons
whatsoever, as well servants as others. to be at
trumpet or music, and TO do him good service,
IS ii1e1gh , were pre- p9essen. myse al their peril
stchss 10 fling up hi doors ont q fSH5s Snsss 10
come at those who presume to disobey his lords
ships cornms nds. God save the KingW
The Lord of Misrule commenced his reign
by absolving all his subjects from their wis
dom, commanding them to retain Just enough
sense to know how to conduct themselves like
fools. In Scotland, previous to the Reforma-
ticn, functionary entitled the "Abbet Of Un.
reason" was elected by the monasteries to su-
perintend the Christmas festivities. In France.
likewise, they had an AbJas Stultorum. or
"Pope Of Fools" of similar character. The
Scottish Parliament abolished the custom by
statute in 1855. As might have been ex-
pected, the old Puritans were bitterly opposed
to these practices, and denounced them in un-
measured terms, as relics Of the ''Roman
SoturnaIia and Bacchanalian festivals, which
should cause all pious Christians etsrnally to
abominate them"
From time out of mind, even to our present
day, has descended the sport called ''Snap-
dragon" Both in England and America It is
one of the favorite games Of Christmas.
The operation is very simple, although It
requires considerable amount of nerve and
rapidity of motion. A quantity of plums, or
raisins are deposited in large shallow bowl.
and over these is poured brandy, or some
other liquor, which is then ignited. The by
ISLANDERS then plunge their hands into this
mimic lake of fire and draw forth, if they can,
plum.
1t is quantity sung in the following verses:
.Bere he comes with flaming bowl.
Don't he mean 10 take his toll,
Snip! Snap! Dragon
"Tske care you don't take too much,
Be not greedy In your clutch.
Snip! Snap! Dragon!
with bis blue and tapping tongue
Many OF you will be stung,
Snip! Snapi Dragon!
"For he snaps at all that comes
Snatching at his feast of plums,
Snip! Snap! Dragon"
Among the minor sports in vogue at Christ
mas time may be mentioned ''Blind Mans Buff"
and the game Of "Forfeits, /" both of which are
30 well known az to require no particular
notice. In addition to these there are count
less others-some played here, some there
each locality having its own particular one,
the best and most detailed enumeration Of
which would not only, of necessity, prove in
complete, but run TO no one knows whittier.
Odd Notions and superstitlons.
No other season in the year-no other festi-
val in the calendar-is accompanied by so
many singular fancies and actual supersti-
tions as Christmas. Many of these have an
origin anterior even to the discovery Of our
continent; others again have sprung into ex-
istenee in days comparatively recent. Human
nature ID the same always and everywhere, so
that not only the people Of the Old World, bat
the people Of the New, now retain, and may
hap believe in, many Of these superstitons.
Among them, perhaps one of the most ancient
and singular is that concerning the "crswing
Of the cock" 1t was believed OF yore that
this bird, which of course is silent during the
hours of the night, crowed from the setting OF
the sun on Christmas Eve to its rising on
Christmas morn. Shakespeare has seized upon
this popular tradition, and turned It 10 good
advantage in one Of the ghost scenes in Ham