San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-08
THE FAIR ROWENA.
CUSTOMS THAT WE'RE INTRO.
DUCED BY THE FAIR
SAXON.
How She Won a PrinceIy Husband
and Provided for a New
Dynasty.

Written for the LIGHT
In the interesting article on kissing
that appears in your issue of the fifth
instant, the writer says:
"Though the Saxon statistics are
not probably exact, it is historical
that in England not many years
ago it would have been the
imperative duty of a visitor to have
kissed all the ladies of the household,
even without previous acquain lance.
Such was the experience of many
surprised literary foreigners, notably
Erasmus."
This statement might be true in q
few isolated cases for there Is no
boundary to human vagaries but as
q rule at is not historically correct
either in the past or in the present.
My reading in past lore assures me Of
that fact and my personal experience
when young man alas showed that
kissing was far more special than
general. The fact is no gentleman
except blood relative or perhaps
still dearer onen would ever think
of kissing an English lady nor would
she submit to such an indignity
without q resentment that would
teach him that to use the vernacle, he
was mot in it," At Christmas time
the dear old misletoe gives little
more laxity, but only in restricted
sense. The fact that English ladies,
like their fair American cousins, are
not liberal i'm their kisses, except TO
the proper party and are tenacious Of
their honor.
Rowena has the credit Of introduc.
ing kissing between the sexes in Eng
land, but there are reasons to believe
that the osculatory was known and
practiced in that country long before.
Giving her, however, credit tor that,
she at the same time introduced an
other pleasant custom, drinking the
wassail bowl. and the incident
deserves rather more than
mere passing notice. When
the Romans abandoned Britain
the Poets and Scots worried the Brit
ishers so badly that Chief Vortigern
appealed to the Saxon Chief, Hepgest
DOr Hengst) and Horsa for aid in re-
polling the invasion. These chiefs
were big men and legend says that
they were the grandson of Wooden.
There was no field for them in their
ow n country but Britain offered new
honors and territory for them so
they came with their legions and
were victorious. Henqist realised the
power OF women, so he brought with
him his daughter Rowena, who is de-
scribed as beaut full and voluptuous
lady. When she was introduced TO
Vortigern she saluted him with s
kiss and presenting him with large
goblet of spiced wines she drank,
crying "W9s hel ~ (which means
water of healthy and gave the
deeply of it's contents. Whether it
| was the beauty of the lady or strengths
| of the cup, or both, none know, but IL
seems that there was soon liking
full, " and Rowena raked in big
Jack pot" in the form of matri-
monial prize, for Vortigern, as antici-
psted, made the beautiful Saxon q
bride. Hengist, as a percent
age" got the kingdom of
Kent. Soon after the Saxons
played their cards so we'll that the
British were "enchored" and the
Heptarchy was established. There
was then seven kings in the deck
ana one Dy one Cnese were discarded
until only one king remained who es-
tablished the Saxon dynasty and
held it although he lost several rub
Ders with the Danes until at last a
bigger rObber Billy the Norman
broke the Saxon bank and run his
own game.
From the goblet presented by
Rowena came the famous Wassail
bowl, which figures so conspicously
in all prominent Christmas and New
Year festivals in England. Only
those who has drank of that flowing
bowl in all it's natural beauty can ap-
preciate the am brosial fluid. Some of
your readers have done busipes
with Messrs. Thomas and Jeremiah,
others.are acquain ted with mond de
Ia egg-nog, and not ~ few have listen
ed TO the sophistries OF DR.. Punch.
All these, properly made are good
but they are in no way to compare
with the wassail.
Thus Rowena gave us the elysium
custom of kissing (if the story rs told
is true) and the divine nectar of the
wsssail, and lives IN history and
song. In other words she is immor-