The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-26

real sentiment OF tho time appears TO
be that growing out oil ancient Hule, or
lol, which was the great annual gorging
feast OF tho Scandinavians. Our own
Christmas had the same origin, but tho
early Christian missionaries ongrafted
upon tho festival the sacred character
1t should ever possess 10 I'LL Christian
people.
The boys in tho Scottish lowlandsI
have rhyme
On Christmas night ] turned tho spit,
Iburut my fingers, lind It yct;--
but there Is no Christmas, as we know
it, among them. In Fifcshire there Is
also tho quatrain-
Nul Is come, aud Yulc's game,
Q And we ha'e Toasted wecl; ar ,
Sue JncG must 10 his iGil again.;
Aud Jenny 10 her wheel
but there Is rs little Christmas IN Fife
as In any part of Scotland. The entirei
holiday time In Scotland is generally
knowiias the Dot Days, and the only
day Of them all that was over held in
anything like respect was LGi'd&l liom-I
day. This was, and is, the first Mondays
Of tho new year. Is tho Scotch day.
for present making, and III most OF thcs
rural districts, tho day for friendly and.
family gatherings OF tender and genial,
rather than m uproarous nature. Butt
UOgmdnGy is the great chidrons anG
youths day OF the holiday period. In,
olden times it was the lust day OF theA
year. In many localities it Is now tho
day before Christmas Nobody has.
ever discovered what tho word really
means, but H0gmdnay day, whether the
day before Christmas or New Years, is
in Scotland that ono day 1.-THE year in
which all childrcn, i'll fantastic dress,
aro permitted to sing, dance and beg
from door to door. i'll tho most bolster
Gus manner imaginable, and no one is
SO daring MS to refuse them cakes,
sweets" or coin. i
Perhaps this custom is observed with
greatest 'vigor in the 1lebridcs, the
Highlands and in the Shetland Islands.
In the latter, at I.erwicli, the children
and youths prepare for the day for
weeks in advanc.. Tho most fantastic
and outrageous costumes are invented.
The elder ones taking part in the bac-
clanal are called "Guizers" and the lads
and Iasscs "Peerie Guizers." or little dis
Suised ones. They learn somo fine
carols, but most OF their songs are OF
the veriest local doggcral, ALFRED in
their weird costumes they proceed from
house to house, shouting as they enter:
Hogmanay,
TrOllolay,
Give us your white bread,
And none of your gray!
In Lerwick they are accompanied by
musical instruments. and agreeable mt
sic is often furnished. They are invar-
iably offered refreshments; daucingand
other amuscments are INDUCED in, for
there are always. crowds awaiting them
at each house; and they are often given
money ut tbeirdeparture. This is kept
up through the entire night, varied by
the explosion OF fire crackers and rock,
els, and the dragging through the mar
row old streets OF the quaint Dutch
built town OF numberless blazing tar
barrels.
IL ENGLAND.
Probably nowhere. i'll all the world is
Christmas time more thoroughly OBJ
served and enjoyed than in England.
In whatever else the English people are
changing, OF the pcerlcssness 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 4 million OF our
money; and the court lord OF misrule is
parsonage OF tho past. But royal and
noble gluttony, guzzling and licentious-
ness have given place to Christian ten
derness and almost regal opulence in
help to humankind.
Whatever may be the shortcomings
in general OF the English nobility they
should be credited with splendid munif-
icence at this tina OF the year. The
whole area OF their dependencies is
blessed and frightened during the
Christmas holiday season. 1t began
away back in Elizabeth's reign. In 1859
there was such a crush at the royal
masquo that all order was issued to the
gentlemen OF Suffolk and Norfolk, d.
recting them to leave London before
Christmas and give their attention to
keeping Christmas in their respective
residences. 1t is an inviolablc social
rule OF the nobility to this day. Wher-
ever English gentlcmen's ornoblcmen's
families may be during all the rest OF
tho year, they are at their country
seats and castles Mt Christmas.
This manor house sends its folks and
servants 10 that one; or tho gentlemen
from q dozen congregate at 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 devout attendance at the
little parish churches, rule the sweet
and genial day. Great state marks this
going and coming over tho crisp coun-
country roads. At the castles it is the
same, save that the retinucs are great
er, the feasts more tremendous, and
more respect is paid to proprieties and
form. But it may truly be said that
there is not q dependent, tenant or
tradcsman,. and not human being SUI
-