The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-22
The Ancient Drnids..

Unfortunately, but few particulars OF
such rites have come down to Us,
though we learn from the sixth book of
Caesar Commentaries" q good deal
about Druidical privileges. These an
cient Britons of the sacerdotal class
did not pay taxes like the rest of the
community, one reason which might be
urged in favor of revival, objection
able on other grounds. They are said
to have preferred committing to
memory long strings of verses to en-
gaging in the frequent combats of the
period, and. with the exception of q
taste for baking their fellow-creature;
in wicker ovens, were of a mild and
gentle disposition. According to the
great Roman warrior-historian, num-
beers of young men were in the habit
of resorting to them for instruction,
and, it may be, to avoid the unwel.
come attentions of the early British
taX-gatherer. When the arch-Druid
died the most popular of his followers
succeeded him, provided any one in.
dividual had won the hearts both OF
teachers and taught; otherwise the
Office was put up to election, and the
Druid who headed the poll became
President, and marched in front of the
procession of mistletoe-cutters, each
armed with his upright Ratchet oil
brass. According to Stukeley's me
dallic History of Carausias," the "mosi
respectable festival of the Druids was
called Yule-tide, when mistletoe, which
they named all-heal. was carried in
their hands and laid on their sltars As
an emblem of the salutiferous advent
of Messiah" The procession OF
Druids and bards, armed with their
golden sickles, must have been pretty
sight.
In Hitchin's History of CORNWALL
there is the story of farmer who had
the misfortune to lose large number
of cattle by disease and from other
causes. Finding the local farriers un-
able to cope with the malady, he be.
thought him of an ancient tradition, OF
which he had heard in his youth, as
having been handed down from genera.
ton to generation in the district. Con-
sulting with his ignorant neighbors, he
and they agreed that the only way tc
stop the calamity would be by the
burnt-offering of his best beast. This
stupid old rustic gathered his friends
and acquaintances together one day.
They lighted big fire, and laying hold
of the finest calf on the farm, drove il
into the midst of the flames. Armed
with pitchforks, they prodded the poor
tortured beast every time he tried vain
ly to escape from the fire. I'm this
state" writes the historian, ''amidsf
the wounds of pixies, the shouts of IN
feeling ignorance and cruelty, and the
corrosion of flames, the dying victim
poured out its expiring groan, and was
consumed to ashes. 1t is scarcely pos
slble to reflect on this instance of super
stitious barbarity without tracing
kind of resemblance between it and the
ancient sacrifices of the Druids "
The old Halloween bonfire festivities
of Perthshire were clearly derived from
Druidical customs. The people used
to make fagots of heath and broom
tied round with flax. A man would
take one of these torches fixed to pole,
and carry it alight round the village.
When it burned out another would be
in readiness. and sometimes number
of men walked or ran in torch-light
In the same county. on
All Saints eve bonfires were burned il
every village, and the ashes gathered
together aud sprinkled on the ground
in form of \ circle. Then every one
in makingthe bonfire places
u stone in the center of the circle. and
all go home to bed. Next morning they
are up betimes to see if anything has
happened, and should it be found thai
one or more of the stones is injured OF
out of place, he who may be called the
owner of the stone is always surprised
though seldom annoyed. to find him
self alive and well next All Saints eve
To fulfill the superstition properly hi
should be dead and buried. Now every |
one who knows anything about the
and customs of the ancien
Druids-which no one does--will agree
that the custom is manifestly of Druid |
ical descent. Telegraph.