Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-04-20
HlaH CROSS OF CuEsrrR.

bcofn ana contempt. Tor the master of
the grammar school converted i, into a
block on which TO chastise his refractory
pupils, and it was finally burnt, PERHAPS
by tho very scholars who had suffered
on it.
We need not wonder that in so ancient
and thriving city old customs and
games were kept up. On Easter Day
there might be seen the mayor and his
corporation, with tho twenty guilds cs-
tablished in Chester. with their wardens
at their heads, setting forth in all their
pageantry TO the Roodeye to play at foot
ball. The mayor, with his mace. sword
and cap Of maintenance, stood before the
cross, while the guild of shoemakers, to
whom the right had belonged from time
immemorial, presented him with the ball
OF the value of three and fourpence or
above, and all set to work right merrly.
But, as too often happens in this game,
great strife arose among the Young
people, and hence, in the time of Henry
VIII, this piece Of homage to the MAYOR
was converted into present from the
shocmakers to the drapers of six gleaves
or hand darts of silver to he given
for the best foot race, whlc the saddlers,
who went in procession on horseback,
attired in all their bravery, each carry
ing spear with wooden bali decorated
with flowers and arms, exchanged their
Offering for a silver he'll which should be
'rewarde for that horse which with
speedy runniage should run before the
others"
In the Easter fcstivity the trumpctcr
anu herald usually proceeded in advance
OF the procession, and indeed this was
the custom at all Of the Chester festiv-
tiles.
We may he sure that tho Pace, Pask
or Easter eggs were not forgotten by the
Chester children. Eggs were in such de-
mand at that season that they always
rose considerably in price. They were
boiled very hard in water colorcd with
red, blue and violet dyes, with inscrip-
tions or landscapes traced upon them.
These were offered as presents among the
valentines OF the year, but more fire.
quently played with by the boys as balls,
for bah playing on Easter Monday was
universal in every rank. Even the clergy
could not forego its delight, and made
Bishops and deans took the ball into
the church, and Mt the commencement
of the nntiphone began to dance. throw
ing the ball to the choristcr, who handed
il to each other during the time of dane
ing and the antiphone. All then retired
for refreshment. a CANNON of bacon
was IA standard dish, with tansy
symbolical Of the bitter herbs command
ed at the paschal fcasts An old verse
commentaries these customs:
At stool ball Lucia, let us play,
For sugar, cakes or wine:
Or for a tanSy let us pay,
The loss be tline or uinc
II thou, my dear, a winner DO
At tTIpdlInG OF the bait
Tho wager thou shalt have, and mo
And my misfortuncs all
The churches were adorned at this sea.
son like theatres, and crowds poured in
20 see the sepulchers which were erected
representing the whole scene of tho
Saviours entombment. a general belief
prevailed in those days that our Lords
second coming would be on Easter Eve,
hence the sepulChers were watched
through the night until 8 in tho morn
ing, when two of the oldest monks would
enter and take out beautiful image of
the resurrection, which was elevated be-
fore the wor3hipers during the singing
Of the anthem "ChTi5tus Resurgens. 1t
was then carried to tho high altar, and IA
procession being formed canopy Of vel
vet was borne over it by ancient gentle
men. They proceeded around the ex-
terror of the church by the light of
torches, all singing, rejoicing and pray
ing, until coming again To the high altar
it was there placed, TO remain until AS
cension Day. In many places the monks
personated all the characters connected
with the event they celebrated, and thus
rendered the scene still more theatrical.