The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-22

suppers, which, unfortunately, is dying out
among American farmers is universal in
Cornwall. There is also custom Of very
ancient origin of celebrating the finishing OF
work in any particular harvest field, espe-
cially in completing The labor of stocking"
arrishmows." The custom is called ''cry-
ing the neck" and consists in eleyating
small sheaf of the best heads of grain three
times in the air, among the harvesters, who
thereupon cry at the top of their voices,
ih e, Neck? finally, changing this shout
the harvesting of this field This is followed
by good deal of boisterous though harm
less jollity, 70 which the lips Of maidens
pay tribute in proportion to their lack
all denominations in Cornwall benefit
from a CHEEKY harvest custom of long
standing. The parsons grain is all gath
cred by voluntary offerings of labor. Every
person whom he employs in any capacity
during the year-the butcher. painter, car
penter, cobbler, saddler. sexton and all his
own seryants-come together when desired
and gather the "passOn's" crops. Their
only reward consists in rousing supper in
his Kitchen, where his wife. daughters and
all female members of his domicile hospita-
bly, serve those who have served them
Two other curious and interesting Gus
toms should not be omitted. These are the
annual Furry day" of Helstnn and ''Tak-
Ing Sunday" with its attendant peeuliari-
ties at Clowance Park in Clowan Parish.
The origin of the Cornish Furry Day is un-
queStiOnably found in the "Floralia" an
GENTLY observed by the Romans on the
fourth of the calends of May. 1t is annual
ly celebrated throughout Cornwall py little
home and neighbOrhood parties, and at
Htlston, from time immemOrial as festiy-
ity peculiar to that place, on the eighth day
OF May. Long before daylight happy groups
OF lads and lasSeS start in every direction
Tor the country lanes and he1ges singing:
For were up as soon as any day. o,
And for to fetch the summer home
The summer and the May. o;
Fer summer IS a-cOme, o,
And winter is a-gone, OF
Or dozen other ballads of similar import.
the refrain Of which is:
ON the eighth of May,
We ali set off a-dancingl
And indeed do they. At every farm
house there are mad PUSHES of these merry
ry-mdkers to be first to hang a twig of
sloane" blossoms upon the latch; for such
for centuries have been entitled to portion
OF bread and cream. The blossoms of the
everywhere, with all precious buds and
blooms OF spring. Garanded with these the
floral troopers return to HelstDn, when
THE FESTIVITIES OF THE DAY
Really begin. The old town is fairly en-
bedded in spring blossoms and garlands.
carnival of dancing. Every door in Helston
is thrown open TO the merry marauders.
Arm in arm, and usually four abreast, thou
sands, dancing to sort of quickStep time
and accompanied by May-ddy songs, pass in
the front doors of houses and thence from
rear to front of other houses; and from
dawn to dark weave seTpentine threads Of
blossom, Odor and song through and through
the old Cornish town.
Taking Sunday" in CIowan Parish is
Mt
PraZe, but also of numberlesS lifelong joys
and pathetic miSeries. In Clowance Park,
on the noted st. Aubyn'S estate, is a mag
nifi 'ent mall bOrdered with some of the
noblest beech-trees in all England. On the
afternoon of the Sunday two weeks before
hazard Fair-which derives its name from
the mazard cherry fair annually held
at PIaze in the latter part of June,
disposed of by the farmers of the
surrounding country-ten thousand Corn
ish youths and maidenS may always be
found pTomenading in ClOwance Park
mall They sometimes come from a dis
lance of ten and twenty miles. Cornish
young men resort Eere 10 choose their
'pairdners" or company" for Mazard
Fair; and here the blooming lasses come
to be Taken" that is, pledged for MAJ
ard Fair day. Many an exultant or broken
heart returns home that night. success
full in its secretly cherished hope or
singing from bitter disappointment. But
MaZard Day come, the Cornish lad walks
miles for the girl he has chosen ON Taking
Sunday" and together they tramp away to
PraZe. The experiences of these thousands
of young folk are in the main the same as
at all English country fairs But the mari
tai destinies OF all Cornwall are said to Gen.
ter here, II is glorious thing to the Corn
ish maiden TO be chosen or taken" at Glow
ance Park; but her whole fate hangs upon
a parcel of cookies and almonds at Praze..
These constitute the 'ferin," OF pledge of
betrothal; and It is asserted that half of the
women OF Cornwall have been married
through this curious trOth. II the nIaideu's
''pairduer" buy her one pound of ginger
cookies and half pound of almonds, and
she accept the same, the two are as sacredly
betrOthed as though bands had been read
from the pulpit. The lucky maiden care
fully preserves the "ferin," and triumph
antly divides it with her relatives and
friends. She is now a person Of conse-
quence in her little world, and taxing out"
church and marriage, the blessed haven of
all good. Homen, are .Sequentially but mat
tiers of time. But woe tn the poor Cornish
lass tnat returns from MaZard Fair without
fern" She shuns and is Stunned by
all, until the hard hand of labor or her
workaday duty forces her appearance at
nelghbOr5 or upon the streets. With hope
less defiance she meets the gnssping crones.
Deest Gedn't git aw ferin, dost ee?"
sneers some grooming old wench to further
wount her.
law. s'pose thee's allus been aw lucky
uni" she snaps back with desperate saw
agery. Anc thus with lance for lance sne
battles her way back from positive disgrace
10 sturdy calm and renewed hope; for
Mazard FAIR comes once year.
An FERNS come as cheap as beer