Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-10-23
Rushas.


A recent celebration of an ancient
festival, the rush-bearing wake" in
Manchester England, has revived
recollections of the important position
which rushes used to occupy in the
houses. AS early as the time of William
the Conqueror, there was set down in the
statute books an act providing that
monarch's favorites with straw for the
floors of their bed chambers in winter,
and with straw and rushes for their
floors in summer. Carpets were, for
centuries after, an unknown luxury; and
in their place the floors of royal pal
aces, of churches, of houses and dwell
ings OF every sort, were strewn with
rushes and straw, occasionally mingled
with sweet herbs. An entry in the
household roll Of Edward III informs us
that certain sum was paid for straw
brought from York to Newcastle for the
Kings chamber. Froissart relates that
the room in which Castor, Count de
Folk, died was strewed with rushes and
green leaves, and had the walls hung
with fresh boughs, for the sake of their
GOODNESS and perfume.
Even Queen Elizabeth, in all her gran
deur, swept her gorgeous robes over a
carpet of rushes as she moved about her
palaces. One Of the old historians in
cidentally remarks that, after Elizabeth
had dined the remains of the feast were
habitually cast from the table on to the
rushes underneath, and the dogs came
in and ate what they would of the refuse.
AS the rushes were not often renewed
the filth that accumulated and festered
among them may be easier imagined
than described. In the earlier part of
the sixteenth century, Erasmus wrote a
letter to his friend, DR.. Francis, physi-
clan to Cardinal Woolsey, in which he
condemned the use of rushes as most
unclean and prolific source of dis
ease. According to his statement, the
lowest layer of rushes often lay undis-
turbed on floor for twenty years, and
the dirt and foul matters concealed
therein (beer, greese, and fragments of
victuals) sent up powerfully-unsavory
odors that offended the nostrils and en-
gendered pestilence. Erasmus recon-
mended the banishment of rushes, and
a better ventilation in houses. as sani-
tary measures demanded for the health
of the people.
The first English theatres were carpet
ed on the stage with rushes. The Globe
Theatre was thatched with the same
light, combustible material; and during
the performance of Henry VIII, in
1913, the wadding from cannon fred in
salute, lodged among the layers, and di-
rectly the building was in flames and
burned down. Rnshes were also strewn
in the way along which pageants and
professions passed. Thus, at the coro.
nation of Henry ", as the cavalcade ap-
proaches, the attendants cry:
More rushes, more rushesl
Henry w.. Act 5. Scene 81
Out of the custom of strewing the
earthern or paved floors of churches
with rushes, grew a religious festival
called the Rush Bearing, or the Rush
Bearing Wake. In remote parts of En-
gland it is still perpetuated. On the top
OF cart laden with evenly cut rushes,
and drawn by gayly-caparisoned horses,
sit number of men holding garlands of
artificial flowers and surrounded with
banners. Preceding the cart is com
pany of norris dancers, fantastically
dressed, one of them having bell at
tached to a belt around his waist, and
carrying a box in which to collect money
from the spectators. The procession
parades the principal streets on its way
to the parish church, stopping to dance
at the prominent places on the route,
Arrived at the church, the rushes are de-
posted and the garlands hung up, to re-
main until they are replaced by others
on the next recurrence of the annual
festival.