Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-08-13

CHURCH ALEs.-In the time of Shake
speare and, indeed, for a century or two
before his day, it appears that the term ale
was Synonymous with festival; and hence
its occurrence in such phrases as Leet-ale,
Whitson-ale, Bride-ale, ETC., numerous ref
erences to which we meet in the literature
of that period. Thus Chaucer uses it in this
sense; and Ben Johnson, in his 'Masque
of Queens" makes one of the hags say ::
GA piper it got at church ale." Shake
speare also employs the expression in "Per-
icles:"
''It has been sung at festivals,
On ember caves and holy-ales."
At these festivals ale seems to have been
the predominant liquor tits highly proba-
BILE that from this circumstance the term
took it's origin. On such an occasion, for
instance, it was the business of the church
wardens to have specially breWed con-
siderable quantity of strong ale, which was
sold to the visitors; a practice which it is
recorded, led to "great pecuniary advan-
tage, for the rich thought it was meritori-
Gus duty, beside paying for their ale, to
offer largely to the church fund" Hence,
it was no uncommon thing in some parishes
to have several Of the ales in the course Of
the year, and sometimes one or more parish
es would agree to hold annually certain
number of them. AS an illustration Of this
usage, we may quote the following curious
stipulation, preserved in the Bodleian IL
brary; "The parishioners Of Elvaston and
Okebrook, in 'Derbyshire, agree jointly to
brew four ales betwiXt this (the time of the
contract and the feast of st. John Baptist
next coming and that every husband and
his wife shall pay two pence, and every
cottager one penny; and all the inhabitants
of Evalston sh. receive all the profits
and advantages coming of the said ales, to
the use and behoof of the said church Of
Evalston. Chambers Journal.
A GOOD GHOST STORY.-There is a GER
tain well-known country house in certain
English county which has the advantage, or
the disadvantage, of being haunted. Late
ly the house was rather full, and visitor,
an eminent London clergyman, was put into
the famous haunGed room. His host did not
tell him of the fact that the room was haunt
ed, thinking, no doubt, that his religious
character would be sufficient guarantee
against any disturbance of his slumbers
through visits from the spirit world. At
the same time he felt a little anxious, and
was greatly relieved the next morning to
find the reverend gentleman at breakfast
with as CHEEKY an air of successful slumber
as possible. The next morning, and the
hearted aspect, which only those who have
enioyed peaceful dreams can wear. AT last
the host thought he might safely mention
to his clerical visitor that he had been sleep
ing in haunted room, and congratulated
him on having seen nothing out Of the COM
mon.
''Seen nothingW replied the visitor. "Oh,
stop a bit, though! | did see something"
There was grave silence round the break
fast table; all clatter was hushed, and every
eye was turned upon the speaker
eyes, yes, of course" the clergyman re-
sumed ION the very first night which l
passed here | was awakened in the middle
of the night by what seemed like touch on
my shoulder, and, on looking up, l saw the
figure of man in the room.'
Here, to the intense horror of the whole
company, the clergyman gave very cor
rect description of the particular apparition
which always honored this room with its
wanderings.
GLOW could you bear it 9" "What did
you do:" were questions which Immediate
ly succeeded upon the awe-struck silence.
"Do?" replied the clergyman, "why, |
asked him for Il subscription to my next
Sunday-schOol picnic, and the spectre van
ished Immediately"
WHAT II HAPPENS TO MAN.-AbOutt the age
of 36 the lean man becomes fatter, and the fat
man leaner. Again between 43 and so, his
appetite fails, his complexion fades, and his
tongue is apt to be furred upon the least eX-
ertion of body or mind. At this period his
muscles become flabby, his joints weak, his
sleep imperfect and unrefreshing After
suffering under these complaints year or
two, he starts afresh, with renewed vigor,
and goes on until Gl or 62, when a similar
change takes place, with aggravated symp-
toms. When these periods have passed, the
gravity ofincumbent years is more strongly
marked, and he begins to boast of his age.