New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-20
THE RURAL LIFE OF ENGLAND.
BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
OTHER ASSOCIATE PASTlMES.

Ill
having them as well, though in these less noticeable
by reason of the surroundings In rural districts
they are more conspicuous, especially at that time
of the year when they hold their anniversaries
or fe;cs" as sometimes called. These take place
throughout the summer season, each LoOge'
Court" Branch" or whatever the!snbdyision De-
having its own dinner is the usual form oi on
tertainment followed by outdoor sports and' as
with the Harvest Home, preceded 10y rehsious ser
vice IN the parish church; for in most places Epsco
pahanism affects to taAe these purely secular "SSo
Citations under its protecting wing.
Foresiers' fete' may be regarded rs typical
of all the Others though rather more dcmonstratve
than they. and with some features additional On
tbe morning of The day set apart for it, the men,
bers of a particular C0ugt assemble
AT an appointed place, dressed gala fashion,
aud wearing the insignia of their order But there
will he a number of them costumed unlike the rest
Cae as the famed archer OF Sherwood forest, IN
tuIic If Lincoln green plumcd hat'ghJs and russell
boots a second got up 10 represent Lttle Johh "
third VIII Scarlet a fourth. frar lucR' WIN
Others of tne oltiawed baud, whie not 'mireqnent-
" the Sheriff OF Nottingham and Maid Marian
figure in the picturesque group. Often these cos
tuu,.d characters appear horseback, ana so
mako tine spectacle more imposing. The process
sion Ior.ucd with hand of music at ITS head they
Y ak, t.i,m to Size parish church Wore they are
mel h, the clergyman, who breaches them ser
mon from ,omr appropriate text admonishihg 10
vor.s of caIriiy. After tnat reio:nng ranks they
man. around IA, roads; then proceed To dinner
which j. usullly q. s0mc roadside lAn or pibIc-
hon, 5,V,us room enough To hold them. The re-
ma, alI..ag bespoke and provided. IS OF III" sub
.antiai order. and plenty OF il fairly well got mp,
az. IN. laniiorl3 o. such nos clrics having some
..inr ..oie t,,an mere p@.lc in prcparing-a char
a.rrrto .lstliu. which may affect aitcr-patronage
& a ,l,. az sort. At dinner the clergyman presdes,
miles, . son -randcr dignity, the Squire be pres
ems wtcn the latter would DC expected TO occupy
t. chair tne former being wee. Iost general y,
however. the parSon himself performs the
duties of Chairman haGkcd by the more dlstln-
e4.scl OF IL, brethren, while the vice-chair VIII
h. filled Iva ,p,is of squiredOm. some retired
officer of the Army or Navy resident in the neigh
hor, ocd There are speeches. proposing and second
jng the usual round Of loyal and patriotic toaSts,
ending with thai Of the day, Prosperity to Court
Bia,k Of the Ancient Order of For,scrs" Then adj
iorrument oat of doors 10 some field where sports
and games succeed, very much the same as AT
Harvest Home. though often Oh giander scaIe.
Where il is "a wealthy and numerous Court OF the
n. O. f. under bg patronage there "il Do a large
crowd assembled: and III addition TO . climbing
the creased pole with other athletics there may be
a Morris dance around pole wIcathed with
many-colorcd ribbons. At night comes another adj
journment indoors again, for dancing OF the common
kind which will he kept up till the small hours oil
morning. But If the ballroom be III the inn where
dinner was eaten it generally is. then special
Incense" for its keeping open such hours FAUST be
obtained from the magistrate. Tins is rarely. II
ever refused; the object being charitable, and
therefore praiscworthy.
As already said. very similar TO the Foresters
fetes, though perhaps neither so picturesque
nor popular are the anniversaries of odd Fellows.
Ancient Shepherds and Druids. And still more
soberly conducted the celebrations OF the oldest
order of all-the Freemasons As most Of the above
named associations with their forms andsiestlvals'
are no doubt known in the United States Will not
further dwell upon them but pass on to one more
characteristic Of rural England-the Climb Feast "
1t is a dinner, too, the diners being members OF a
club. Not a club of the fashionable world how
ever; instead. one chiefly composed Of working
men, some of them the poorest and lowest IN The
social scale. Friendly" or Mutual Benefit" So
cieties they are also inditferently termed; then
oliect being OF n kindred nature with those Of the
Foresters or Odd Fellows. But unlike the Courts
and Lodges of these, the clubs unconnected
with one another each standing Gil its own basis
and acting independently. They exist all over the
land no village nor parish, being without one OF
more of them, for Their rdiSOa Gehc and necessity
of existence are everywhere keeny felt. To the
English laboringman the motives for belong
ing 10 such associations are manifold; comprising
fear of want in times of continued sickness dread
of the workhouse when old age overtakes him, anx
iety about the dear 10 be left behind al
death with the same for himself receiving
decent burial. To guard against these
dangers. and allay apprehension be becomes a mem
Der of Friendly Society, aud contributes his share
to it's fund, from year to year accumulatng. The
whole amount rarely reaches high figure, $500, OF
81 800. being above the average. quote this from
the latest audited accounts OF club III my OWL
neighborhOod known TO be one of the most pros
porous IN the country. 1t numbers one hundred
contributing members; and as out of tins modes
sum has to come many payments for support II
cases OF sickness with funeral expenses should Tho
sickness end in death 1T needs not pointing out
what mite will remain for distribution otherwise
and how little the dead mans widow orphans
can receive Less still-aye, sometimes nothing
where there has been default. For although the
law takes cognizance of these societies-Goyenment
recurring them TO be registered and 10 some extent
TO be looked after-still. and then, a dishonest
treasurer fches from their fund, or makes away
with il altogether, himself going along. The ac-
cumulatiOn of years-often halt llietlme-th Us
euuandered and lost, is to the poor men more than
discouragement--n fact a real calamity and t.
nrevent the occurrence of such. bill is now before
Parliament for the periodical inspection, and
auditing of friendly Societies accounts by Govern
Inent officials to be appointed for this special pur
pose.
Disinissng these dry and rather cherries de-
tails. | return to the brighter side OF
the picture - the Club Feast. As witt
the festivals Of the other combined assO
Citations above referred to, it is of annual occur
renee and like them also takes the shape of din
ner Ia England there are few celebrations worthy