Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-01-16
AN oLp.riMr CHRISTMAS.
THE t"s.tiaH.. 'ism.. ssa rsstis-. q
rhrss asaat.a Ssss. Age.


had prominent part. In
london IN III. fifteenth century the arst
luiN of the Lard Mayor aud curpora-
lion was Ia dine. and then go. ~ .,b.rly
~ might he. 10 the Church of NJ Thomas
Aeon. aud III through the whole service
IN other festival days and sundays
they had habit of skipping out after
Ihc prayers were under way. but on
! hri-inas they were bound to set an
'Namplc ~ perseverance,, s-r,s-c over.
thrlr worShips rode an horseback. by
Iorch.light. through the market of
hep. aud back a. the chur-h. where,
hcing IN literal frame ~ mind un 90.
rouni nf the day aud the good dinner.
they made a money offering 10 the
church Each man contributed the
suin 81 one penny to its
treasury This duty done, they ~
turned lo their own houses. and MADE
more ar less a night of u. after thu Inn.
memorial manner ~ good city fathers.
IN private. the custom not hav-
ing Vet arisen ~ manifesting
happiness by painting the town
rcd B." We read good deal about
the excess ~ the Christmas dinners.
Sir John krrcsby In his memoirs makes
= pcni,cntial note ~ n dinner at Thyr.
bcrg In 1851 The Earl ~ Huntington,
INV Lord Ellrnd and some others dlned
with m". when We ended the year In
more than an ordinary debauch; which.
God forgive me' II being neither my
custom nor inclination much To do co."
The next year there was st table MIR.
Bolton. an ingenious Clergyman. hut too
much good fellow" The good fellows
liked Thyrbcrgl during the holidays -
many ~ foreseor- gentlemen and yeo-
men. with their wives, dined daily st
the hall
Christmas was always q democratic
fc-lival NIL classes mingled In the games
and mcrrimcB,. aud hospitality was
universal. An English gentleman In
the country. on Christmas bay In the
had all his tenants and neigh-
horS enter the hall 10y daybrcsk. The
strong beer was broached, and the
black Jacks went plentifuliy round.
with toast. sugar, nutmeg. and good
Ch"shire cheese. The great sausage
thc llackin) mus, bc boiled at day
break. and u II failed To be- ready. two
,"ung men must take the maiden Il. e.,
the crok) by the arm and run hcr round
the market place ,lll she was ashamed
Il her iazlncss The maids had.
however. some privileges 0
rrtort. Ia some places In OSfordshirs
l, was the custom for tho maid. servant
10 ASK the pan for Ivy 10 drcss the
house. and n the man refused or neg.
lcctrd To fetch the Ivy. the maid stole
pair of hi. breechcs and nailed them up
to the gate In the garden or highway.
During the festival days the tables were
pcrpciually spread, the sirloin of besi.
the mlnced-pie, the plum-porridge. tar-
keys. geese and plum-puddings. wsrs
all brought upoa the board nj once. and
every one ate heartily and was vel.
come. 80 that the proverb originated oe
IT'S merry In hall when boards wag
all. The gentlemen went to early serv.
lee In the church. aud returned %
breakfast on Drawn and mustard and
malmsey. Brawn was q dish of great
antiquity. II was made from the nesh
II large boars which lived In ~ half.
wild state. aud when put to fattcn wers
strapped aud bclicd tight round the
carcass. IN order 10 make the flesh be-
come dense and brawny. Il came 70
market In rolls two feet long BY Ten
inches In diameter. packed In wicker
baskets. A. dinner the first course
served was the boar's head. on Q sllver
platter. adorned with hays and russ-
mary. carried Into the hall with much
state. preceded by the Master Of Rsvsls,
and followed by choristcrs and min-
strcls singing aud playing composltions
In It's honor A ssanxa of . common
carol sung was this,
Then sett downe the swsasysra.
The foe to the -yiusy ord,
isrtt Baechue crown Me fall;
lett this hoarc' head and mustard
stand for pirs. soose aud custard.
And so you src welcome slL"
Another dish, common 10 Shakes.
pcarc's day. which added ai lcas, 10 the
show II the feast. was the stately pye."
tina, Is, n peacock or pheasant pie. In
the days ~ chi,alry the knights took
their vows at q solemn feast. on prsssu-
iaiion III roasted peacock In o golden
Christmas by the bringing In on The
most magnificent dish the house could
afford. 81 q peacock In a pie. preserving
~ much as possible the form of tbs
bird. with the head elevated above the
trust. the bcak richly gilt, ana he
beautiful tail spread out 70 its full e.
tent. II was from this superb dish that
The oath came. by cock and pye. STR"
At tho supper two servants attended.
bearing fair torches of wax next before
The musicians and the trumpsssrs. end
they stood above the fire (thc fire Of go
coal being originally In the middle q
the room) with the musicians I'LL the
iirs, course was served. when they ~
tired. with the music. 10 the buteery.
After supper. as we'll NJ before. there
we're rcvel- anu dancing during tho
twelve days 81 Christmas. aud games In
" ahich all GLASSES Ibined. One % the fa-
vorite games was known ~ snapsiragua.
Brandy was set on nre and rnkios
thrown into 1t. The diversion coaslGoed
IL adventures 20 pluck out the saislus
The Master of the Rcvcls saRg . soag q
carol. In which the gentlemen took pars
~ his command.
The requisites Tor good Christmas
fare were plenty II good drink. bias
ing tire In ihe hall. Drawn, padding and
sousc, and mustard with al (snustard
is your great provoker of . noble thirss).
beef. mutton and pork. shred os mines
pies Of the best, pig. veal. goose. capon.
turkey. cheese, apples and nuts. with
jolly carols. When the company tirsd
Of games and romplng sports. u gath
erred about the ruddy Gre. ond had talss
IL Legendary lore. adventures of kniRhss
and ladies and friar.. Of strange appars-
tons aud ghosts, of coaches ON Ioaely
mo"rs drawn by team II headless
horses driven by a beadlcss coachmsn.
with graveyard passengers. of wonder
ful porieBts IN nature. stories of true
love wrapped In mystery aud ending In
grief. and all sorts ~ rho.ily rvmlnis-
ccncca. which seemed ns real O. The
dancing shadows which the light VI The
fulc-log east upon the dusk, ilrsbsrs Al
ih" hail ."'H ttr -. We ra'i. torsnesl
principal part "i ih" rural conversation
Mt all such asssmhli"- as this NJ Christ
mas.time 'hori,s Dadlsy N'arHsy. 10
Harpsr's Nagailse.
A.. ..g A.