The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-19

until it was restored. \ primitive cerc-
mony wound up the evening, which the
old border historian thus describes
when the bride and groom were bed
ded the Young people were admitted
into the room. \ stocking rolled into
a ball was given to the Young females.
who, one after the other, would 90 to
the foot OF the bed. stand with their
h-cks toward it, and throw the stock
ing over their shoulders at the bride S
head and the first that succeeded in
touching her cap or head was the HeNt
to be married. The young men then
threw the stocking at the groom's head
in like manner. with the like motive.
Hence the utmost eagerneSS and deX-
terity were used in throwing the stock
Ing. This practice, as we'll as that of
stealing the brides shoe, was common
to all the Germans. y
These good father-land customs are
pleasant to read OF, but at times the
fell demon of contention intruded on
the peaceful scene. One would scarcely
suppose that the grave and serious
Scotch Irish Presbvterians would en-
gage in these scenes full of the most
grotcsque comedy, or rather say farce.
The stage was the little border capital
Of Winchester, where the population
largely consisted of Dutch and Irish.
Let worthy old Samuel keicheral, the
historian Of the valley, describe what
he actually Witnessed: 1T was custo-
mary for the Dutch on st. Patrick Day
to exhibit the ctfigy of the saint with a
string of Irish potatoes around his neck,
and his wife, Shelley. with her apron
loaded also with potatoes. This was
always followed by riot. The Irish
resented the indignity offered to their
saint and his holy spouse, and battle
followed. On St. NIichael's Day the
Irish would retCrt. and exhibit the saint
with rope of sour-krout about his
neck. Then at it they went pell-mell,
and many Il black eye. bloody nose,
and broken head was the result. The
author recollects seeing one of these
riots since the war of the Revolution.
Coming back to the tide-water. we
find the same traits of comedy every
where and in all classes of society. The
life of the old manor-houses habtually
assumed humorous phase, and the
planters were fond of their jests. Even
the gravest statesmen OF the Revolution
had this spirit Of fun, which blazed out
in bonmots. That practical man Of
genius, Thomas Jefferson, was full of
it his published letters will show it :;
and Benjamin Harrison tested. as he
was signing the Declaration of indie
pendencc. as to his and E.lbridge Ger
rvs chances when they came to be
hung Even George Mason, the grave
author OF the Virginia Bill Of Rights,
one of the '.saddest and severest' of
men. had his humorous moments. When
he Wa an old man he offered FOR Con-
gress in Stafford. and Dick --, one
OF his ncighbors, said that Colonel Ma
son was acting prudently; he was not
offering himself in the county where he
resided. as the people knew there his
mind was failing Mason's retort was
trenchant 1t was true he was old. he
said, and his mind might not be as
strong as in former DAYS. but Dick
- has one consolation he added
when his mind fails him. nobody will
ever discover it"
The parsons" and New Light
preachers" of the time play parts
in the comedy. They satirize and
Jest at each other, and thump their
pulpits or declaim in the fields, in a
manner more amusing than devout.
As the persons were the more numer-
Gus and prominent, we know more Of
them, and they appear in many odd
scenes. Even that grave and holy man
Parson James Blair, the first president
Of William and Mary College, had
great deal Of the humorously comh2
tive spirit of Luther. He laughed at
as well IS stoutly fought his adyersarieS.
One of these was Governor Nicholson.
who fell wildly N love with Miss Bur
well, of Williamsburg. prosecuted her
with his urwclcome attentions. and
swore hs would put to death three per-
sons-hi5 favored rival, the Justice who
granted the license, and the parson
who married them. Good Parson
Blair laughed him to scorn. He pre-
terred charges against him in London,
had him dcposed, and returned to Viz
ginia in triumph. OF other parsons
many amusing stories are told. One
OF them made person al assault on
his assembled vcstry, pulled the hair of
one of the astounded old nabobs in
rutflfs and powder, received a "black
eye" himself, but appeared in his pull
pit on the next Sunday with a patch
over his eye. and preached from the
text, And | Contcnded with theEl. and
smotc certain of them, and plucked
out their hair
Bishop Meade is authority for this
queer incident, and others of similar
character are found in the old records.
The worthy parsons acted and express
ed themselves without ceremony. One
of them wrote to England in favor of a
Virginia bishop, which was greatly
needed. If none was sent, he added,
it would make hell tremble." An OK