New-York tribune., 1882-08-13
THE RURALLIFE OF ENGLAND
BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
ASSOCIATE PASTIMES.

n, England the Harvest Home" may be taken as
a type. This festival old agriculture itself. is
still observed in most parts of tho kingdom. ana
with ceremony eQualling that of ancient days
The clergy lend countenance to and invest 1t with
something of semreligous character; service
in the church being one of its accompaniments by
the clergy and church l. of course mean the Epis-
copalian, as Harvest Homes" are chiefly unuer
their patronage. in districts where Dissen'ers
form large element of the population. lhe Noh-
confo,mist ministers NAV preach harvest OF
THANKSGIVING Sermon" but this is a SUNDAY hiar
and quite apart from the festival ITSELF whch Is
celebrated with sports of class the strict Non
conformist does not approve of. With HIM 1t Is
relic of the old objection to dangerous r'outles
uJged by his ancestors in the time OF the hrst
Charles, and which Charles commanded practice OF
even on the Lords Day. For this reason the
Harvest Home is generally. though tacitly, under
stood as having afiliatiOn with the State Chutch ;
and the incumbent of the parish. be he rector OF
vicar is expected to figure at 1t; which he rarely
fails to do the duty being pleasant, as popular AS
the name implies. IL takes place after harvest
when the cereal crops have been garnered, and, as
already said there is service In tho churcil '
cher. .yman preaching an appropriate sermon INC
sacred ediice will be decorated for the occasioh'
not with evergreens rs at Christmas, but OuhcheS
OF wheat barley and other symbols OF ceres "iso
flowers all more elegantly arranged accoru-
ing TO the taste and talents OF the young ladies VINO
do the decoration
The religious part OF the performance over there
fs adjournment to some nelghborlng helu OF
meadow suitable for the sports to follow These
are of yariuus kinds. mostly of an athletic char
acter and somewhat differing IN dliierent ds-
trcts of the country. The usual list includes ioo-
ball and quots, with foot races, both hat ana
over hurdles. There will be stunning In sacks
too. that is the runners tied mp In sacks legs,
arms and everything, with only the head lett out;
these comcal competitors by their contortions and
tumbles ehciting peas of laughter Aged men are
sometimes pted against one another IN 1901 races
the uriZe being so much tobacco; and even OLD
women occasionally thus contend. pound OF tea
or a piece of printed calico, suiiclent for gown
rewarting the winner. Jumping-the broad
hmm and the "Iong"-is lett to more youthful
athletes as also climbing the creased pole this
last from it's difficulty and the many failures at
tendant afording much amusement 10 the specta-
tors But there is an encouragement 10 success
he who first performs the feat of seansorla agility
becominc entitled to leg of pork shoulder of
mutton OF some such cmolument. KISS In the
ring is another diversion Of the Harvest-Home;
more gentle one and to the young rustics of both
sexes perhaps pleasanter With some at all events
ii is highly popular.
Around tho arena of the sports will be seen
rumber of hucksters, seated or standing behind
their stalls erected for the occasion. They have
come from the neighborng town or village. bringing
their commodities with them. which consist OF
nuts fruits cakes and other kinds of confectionery
These thrifty traffeKers often do profitable stroke
of business at Harvest Homes, when the gathering
chances to be a large So also do the purveyors
OF shooting galleries. and those who set up Aunt
Sally to be knocked down for a cocoanut. Com
monty a conspicuous feature of the field is large
tent OF marquee in which drink is retailed' beer,
cider. wines, with sometimes spirits. as brandy and
whiskey The caterer Of these Is the keeper of some
near public-house who has erected the tent by
leave of him who owns the field. But for the sale
of spirits IN this way be needs other PERMISSION,
that of the district magistrates and this reinsed
rs il often is, and should be, only ginger beer
lemonade and Ike Notwithstanding beverages are
10 DO got upon tho ground. When it is thus there
will be much going and coming between the road
side tavern and the place of sports.
As the shades of evening begin TO darken the out
door diversions are brought to an end and there is
second adjournment this time to the schoolhouse
The desks and benches have been cleared away and
the room made ready for dancing, which will be
carried on till the hour of midnight The band that
has been performing all the day furnishes the music
of the night la many of these rustic dances may be
noted social cummnglinG rarely or never seen else
where; fashionable ladies, az the rectoTs ana
squre's daughters footing it with young farmers
or even sprightly laborer. having for partners
men whom If met next morning they would scarce
deigu to aeknow ledge by nod. Engllsh country
life shows some queer eccentIieltlcs; ana when
asociety" thus mixes with The people it is pnre
condescension, the motive not ai"ays noble one
Witllal. admission 10 the dancing Is not Tree, en-
trance within the scbool-room requiring to be paid
for-usually sxpence The refreshments are tea
with bread and butter, the charge Tor cup oi the
former and a slice OF the latter being threepencc.
Furmerly on the occasion of Harvest-liome the
farmers in most parishes were accustomed to give
their laborers a half-hOlday, as also deiray the
expenses of the entertainment. There Is Htile OF
nothing of that now, agricultural depression ac-
counting for the change; and labO1er who taxes
the balf-hoday will have his days wages docked
in proportion. To him. Therefore, Haryost-Homcs
are no longer as joyous or congenial as they used
to be and likely the coming autumn Will see them
at "a still lower ebb of jOvality
OF a kindred nature 20 the Harvest Home, though
in MANY respects different. is tie Cottage garden
show" 1t is of less common occurrence, ana alto
gether quieter affair, with no sports attendant
the show itself being considered sufficient attrac-
ton. This consists of various garden products
vegetables roots. fruits and howers-set ont on
tables for exhibition under large awning OF tent.
Each article is labelled with the name of the cuti-
vator, especially those that have taken prizes for
itisa prizo competition, with the object of en-
couraging horticulture among the laboring poor.
Promoted by the clergy and resident gentry OF
the neighborhood the cottage garden show is gen
orally held in private grounds, as on the lawn OF
the rectory or vicsrase; and al classes are adj
mitted to it free. Still there is line of demarca-
ton between the tent where the articles are on ex-