The morning call., 1891-12-27

often furnished. They are invariably Of
fered refreshments; dancing and other
amusemeuts are INDUCED in, for there are
always crowds awaiting them at each house,
and they are often given money at their de-
parture. This is kept up through the entire
night, varied by the explosion of fire-crack-
ers and rockets. and the dragging through
the narrow old streets of the quaint Dutch
built town of numberless blazing tar barrels.
Probably nowhere in all the world is
Christmas time more thoroughly observed
and enjoyed than in England. In whatever
else the English people are changing, OF the
peerlessness of this time and hour there
can be no doubt. True, England can no
longer boast of her royal Christmas Mosques
costing often quarter OF million of our
money; and the court Lord of Misrule is
parsonage of the past. But royal AID noble
gluttony, guZZilng and RIGHTEOUSNESS have
given place TO Christian tenderness and al
most regal 0pulenee in help to humankind.
Whatever NAV be the shortcomings in gen.
eral of the English nobility they should be
credited with splendid munifcence at this
time of the year. The whole area of their
dependencies Is blessed and frightened dur
ing the Christmas holiday season. 1t began
away back in ElizabetRs reign. In 1883
there was such crash at the royal masque
that an. order was issued to the gentlemen
OF Suffolk and Norfolk, directing them to
leave London before Christmas and give
their attention TO keeping Christmas in
their respective residences. 1t is an lnylo-
liable social rule of the nobility to this day.
Wherever English gentlemen's or noble
mems families may be during all the rest
of the year, they are at their country seats
and castles at Christmas
This manor house sends its folks and
servants to that one; or the gentlemen from
dozen congregate ut another. With the
gentlemen, shooting, courSing or athletic
games, and with the ladies gracious calls
upon tenants or each other, with most
brilliant intercourse and always a devout
attendance at the little parish churches,
rule the sweet and genial day.
GREAT STATE MARKS
This going and coming over the crisp
country roads, AT the castles it is the same.
save that the retinues are greater. the feasts
more tremendous and more respect is paid
To prophecies and form. But il may truly
be said that there is not a dependent ten
ant or tradesman. and not human being
suffering from sickness or poverty discover
able in the nc.ghborhood OF these people of
quality, who Is not generously remembered,
practically aided and teGderly succored by
this class at Christmas time. Politically we
NAV abuse its members at will; but this
custom makes better Christmas for them
and the world than any olden Yuletide OF
wassaiI and deDauchery that ever was
known.
MANY of the olden English Christm as
customs are truly disappearing, and good
riddauce to them. But there is not one
sweet and good old thing or custom which
has not been retained. Roast beef, plum
pudding Christmas pies and buns, snap
dragons, with the miSt!et0e and holly, are
all cherished with olden Zest and seal. Even
the boar's head, decorated with rosemary or
prickly holly, is still brought in at thousands
of English CHRISTMAS boards. The mum
mers are nearly gone, and only llnEer, a
feeble reminder of their former organisms,
in remote districts of DevouShire aud Corn
wall.
The yue-log may be to-day found in more
English homes than In the Tudor Christmas
times, and no home Is so poor in England
that the glowing Christmas tree we have all
| borrowed from Germany may not be found
| within it, The Christmas bells of Eng
Land chime truer aud sweeter than
| ever. | have sometimes wondered il
! one could fad a spot on English soil
where their tuneful voices could not
| be heard. Much has been written of En-
| gish carols III the vein of their having
disappeared. So they have, those of in.
| expre5si5le grossness and rlbaldry that
| were common from the fourteenth century
to the eighteenth. But in their place, from
| Penrith in Old Cumberland 10 Penzance in
| Cornwall, there may now be heard
| throughout all England, from Christmas eve
| tn Christmas morn, such sweet and tender
! words as these Of, In the East Gray
Light" "Hark, the Herald" "Hark, What
| News" Hail, Smiling Morn" attuned to
noble song.
The Christmas of England, and for thai
matter Of all Britain, aud our own Christ
| mas arc blending into one. Protestant and
| Catholic. puritan and prude, are getting
upon common ground in adapting and pre-
serving all that is best in Christmas in al
lands. Church and home sanctuaries glow
with radiance less and less dimmed by
| ranking wars of creeds; while Christian
| humanity gathers closer with its strong anC
tender clasp tie poor and the desolate a
every recurring and blessed festival of The
| birth of our Lord.
| *Copyri1ht 1891 EDGAR L. WAKEMAS.