The Penn's Grove record., 1888-01-14
GUY FAWKES' DAY.
Celebrating the Filth bay of Novem-
Der in England.

When James l came to the throne
the Catholics Hoped he would repeal
many harsh laws then pressing on them.
This he failed to do, and in consequence
a secret plot was formed to blow up the
houses of parliament on the day he
went to open the session, and so destroy
the governing power of the nation.
The fifth of November, 1905, was fixed
upon for the date. Shortly prior to
that date it occurred TO some Of the
c~onspiratorS that i'll destroying all the
nobility many, per force, Of the Cath
Ole peers would perish. So, by way of
trying to avoid this, an anonymous let
ter was forwarded to Il of the mobiles
warning him to absent himself from
the ceremony. Part of the text waS as
follows: ''They shall receive IA terrible
blow this parliament These words
seem to have puzzled many to whom
the epistle was shown, but they event.
ually led to the suggestion OF gun-pow-
der being used to blow up he houses,
and a thorough search of the vaults un-
derneath the parliament building was
ordered. This was done, and resulted
in finding thlrty-sIx barrels of powder
covered with fagots of wood, 80 as to
hide them. They were in charge of a
man named Gay or Guilds Fawkcs, frJn
whose person were taken a watch, a
finder box and some touch wood, This
Guy Fawkes, was a man OF some 30
years of age, Of COOL family and of a
bold and veutuIesOne spirit. He had
been engaged to tire the train and then
make his escape to France in a ship
provided for that purpose.
In consequence of the failure Of this
conspiracy, the 9Th of November was
ordered to he kept as a day of thanks
giving forever by an act OF parliament,
which was not repealed for over two
centuries. In many-indeed in most
of the large English cities the celebra-
ton is a mere tizZle. A few fireworks
in out of the way spots, a bonfire where
one can be lighted without fear of in
terruption, a lame attempt at burning
a badly manufactured etfigy of Guy
Fawkes, and by 9 p. IN. all is over.
Most of this, too, is the work o. boys,
very few of the more sedate members
of society taking any part IN it. Occa-
sionally a paterfamiliaS Will let oil a
few squibs and crackers for the amuse-
ment of the small fry of the family, but
! that Is all. There are, however, Que or
two smaller towns which are true to
the traditions of their ancestors.
| Bridgewater is n OF these, an ancient
| CITY of some 1000 inhabitants, stu
ated in the county of Somerset, and in
| the west country.
1t has long been the custom there to
keep November 5 in a way that is now
| almost unique. For several weeks
| prior to that date the inhabitants begin
their preparations. These consist in
| manufacturing fireworks, organizing
bands of participants. arranging COS
| TUNES, selecting places to store their
| ammunition aud various other details.
The fireworks are principally squibs
-sauibs of all sizes, but all made thus:
A round piece of wood, say a part OF a
| broom handle about fifteen or eighteen
inches In length, is sawed in two, an
inch and a half from Die end A hole
is then bored in both pieces and an iron
pin inserted in the layer so the smaller
can be replaced to appear as if the
whole had not been cut. but at the
same time allowing it to be removed at
will. AT this joint each end is pointed
as il one sharpened a pencil and the
stick is ready for use. Round this roll
er Is wrapped a layer of thickish paper
= copy books are often employed-and
gummed together. A piece of string is
then wound about the joint in the wood
and drawn tight, and by so doing the
paper is contracted and a kind of neck
formed. Several more sheets of paper
having been treated in a like manner
and the whole being thoroughly dry,
the top of the roller is removed, the
! larger end taken out and there is the
case complete. A composition OF hall
gunpowder and steel filings, with a
chang" of plain powder at the end,
forms the material for loading, all OF
which is rammed tightly and the end
of the case is closed. The head is COW
cred with touch paper and then all is
ready for action. 1t will be pretty evil
dent to most people that 1t would not
do to hold such a iirework as the n
have described in the hand and a holder
is therefore a necessity. That is made
of a long stick with a mallet shaped
head grooved the proper size and the
squib 1t is to hold is tied on with string.
Having manufactured a good supply
of these weapons. the next thing to dc
is to find a place where they can be
stored on the evening of the eventful
day, and some small shop away from
the scene of the festivities is usually Sc
lected. Then comes the last of the
preparations-namely, what band to
Join and what costume to wear. II
none be worn it is only necessary to Sc
lect the Oldest possible clothes in ones
wardrobe. And now for glorious 5 tn
BY the afternoon trains many strangers
arrive to see the sport, and o o after 9
O'Clock all traffic In the main thorough
fares is suspended. Little by little up
to 1880 O'Clock the number of people in
the streets increases, and when at tina!
time the bonfire is lightedin the market