New-York tribune., 1891-12-25

captain think that he can suppress an institution
that has existed for more than 1000 years?
The mummers, sometimes did more at Christ
mas than simply masquerade. They used 70
the Dragon; which probably dates from the time line
the Csater or anrate5 tte5 from Ise se
called ihe Hook OF Christmas published Ia
London in 1887. The book deserves credit here here
as it has already been quoted once or twice with
out credit. Mr. Hervey himself quotes this play
| from Mr. Sandys.
| The mummefs are usually headed by Father
Christmas, but Turkish knight now appears
FIRST and announces that st. George 10 coming ana
| that he is terribly afraid of what the champion
will do TO himself if he catches him. lie calls
on Father Christmas to corroborate his words ana
| Father Christmas appears. He frankly announces
the purpose Of his visit thus:
am not come here to laugh or to ,eer -, ..o,
II you do not believe what do say.
| Come in the King Of Egypt-cear the way
Then comes the King Of Egypt who In turn
challenges the Dragon, saying:
Here come /, St. George-frcm Britain a dld a spring
III III @ ght tn the Dragon bold sl my MY wonders Ty t" oes
| pll cut him down. or else die
Enter the Dragon, who defes ST. George, and
With my long teeth and scurvy jaw,
OF such I'd break up halt aii "A z score score
He soon pays for his rash brag with bis life,
and then Father Christmas calls Ia doctor 70
give il back TO him After some parley about
the doctors skill and his price, the doctor says:
| carry little bottle OF aicumpane,
| Here, Jack, take a little OF my hip hop,
Rise up and hsiit atan.
| The Dragon rises accordingly, and st. George
| kills him again. St. George then challenges the
world and the Turkish knight, with a sudden
| accession Of courage, comes back To light him.
| Ho is promptly killed, is restored again, as the
Dragon WAS, by the good Offices OF Father Christ
mas and the doctor, and Is killed again as the
Dragon was The Giant Turpin also dares and
meets the fate. Finally, Father Christmas
| says:
Now, ladies and gentlemen, your sport Is most ended
80 prepare for the hat, which is highly commended
The hat it would speak, If it had but tongue,
Come throw In y0ur money aud think II no wrong
After performing this play at one house, the
mummers would go to another and ask admission
| and permission to entertain the company, and SO
to another, taking up collection at each. This
| play is said to have been done in Cornwall, and
TO he much like one done in Lancashire; Cham
which was performed at Ienby, in south Wales.
| only few years ago, and may perhaps be
seen there still Another OF the kind was known
| in Ireland, but here, as might be expected, all
the knightly deeds were done by 81 Patrick.
while 81 George, it is explained, was 81 Patricks
boy, and fed his horses these mummers had no
fear of apachronisms, and they did not hesitate
if they saw anything 10 be gained by IT, to in
troduce in play about ST. George such characters
AexSnder st. Pster st. t9S H J%dds o
| and Beelzebub. go
! IL seems a lsng way from these Ltpmmers with
their Father Christmas and ST. George, TO the
Twelve Night characters and their King. Yet
there Is some analogy between them. The
| Twelfth Night King is perhaps a closer relation
Of the Lord Of Siisrue, but the ruler of
| Twelfth Night frolic must be a king OF a queen.
! Tue twelfth day after Christmas, called
| Epiphany, commentaries the visit to the
infant Christ of the Magi, the Wise
! Men of the East, or the Three Kings Of Cologne.
II is the last Of the Christmas holidays, and as 10
is sacred TO Kings u King must preside over
! it, He is chosen for his place by some sort OF
that the Greeks and Romans also drew lots for
KINGDOMS at this season, and that the King of
the Saturnalia was chosen by beans, so that here
agsin is a connection between the modern celebra-
tion and the most ancient ones.
Laree and Handsomely decorated cakes are proper
adiunciS of tie Twelfth Night festivals, and
favorite way OF choosing the Ming Is by placing
bean in the cake and the guest who secures IL in
his slice assumes the crown Sometimes a pea is
added and then the two guests VINO secure the
bean and the pea become TIE King and Queen.
Other characters also assigned by lot, are assumed
by the remaining guests, TO he sustained through
the evening and the whole entertainment may al
most take the form of an imprOmptu play
But the most familiar form OF Christmas dra-
matte nonsense is the pantOlnme of the theatres.
Because IL 10 90 familiar little need lie said OF il
here but IL must be added 10 complete the list.
Yet Ii in in England that IL Is chiefly known.
The fairy spectacle and the harequinade not
strangers 10 the local stage, but they are not
fixed and established occurrences OF Boxing Night.
December 26. as they are in London Again the
seeker for examples and piccedents IL carried back