The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-26
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Howit is Observed in tho Countries
OF Groat britain. .s.
THE STRANGE SUPERSTI7IONS
Observation-Disclosures Christmas Times
" Scarcely Known III scotland...New
Xcar's IS Thoir Day TO Celebrate.
Tho Day In England.
tcopvriga., lsol.I


its least pleasing aspect. But natures
hand is loving one oven in tho Irish
winter, and tho blessed hold thut Christ
mas time has taken upon tho universal.
Christian world heart, blended with
that marvellous compcnsatiyo power OF
utilizing tho most trilling possibilities
for human Joy which tho Irish nature
possesses, permits and provides quail
ity OF Christmas timc cheer which is
often surprising to those whose lives are
mcasurably filed with bounteousness
and content. OF tho Irish Christmas
tide itself there is little in tho lilo and
customs OF the great and powerful, bet
tor than an echo OF English Christmas
cheer. At tho country manor houses
and castles there tho same icasting and
almsGlving us in England. In the cities
throngs surge and crowd with citation
and despair III their faces us with u.s.
But nowhere else OH this earth does
Christmas timo bring such shuddoring,
pallitl, piteous poverty to stand, stare
and i uEger for the glories OF home win
dowa open, or the wonders OF shop
windo VS. Hblazo with what these des-
peratel forsaken humans have never
owned .or known.
While there is undoubtedly all al
most TN iversal reverence for the moro
sacred sh lie OF the Christmastidc-and |
truly kno W that at least tho Irish peas.
antry haW m innate reverence Tor all
that is sau rcd and good-Christma is,
not genera lly observed in its high and
Z holy sense in Ireland. II is time for
much thas is tender and worthy, but
also one ior doplorable excess. In dec
Grafton tho ivy and holly arc every
where seen and procurablc, aud tiny
sprigsof mi,stletoe conspicuously APP
pears in all, the homes OF the more
favored classa9. Rich or poor, Catholic
or Protestant, every family will possess
n "Christmas block" OF ash, which is
the favorite, or OF "bog DEAL" ioundlin
9hc Irish peatlbanks or Dogs. This is
to Ireland rs til C .yulo log &c England,
and it burns brightly for tho homo
coming OF every heart the home may
own. ss.a
Passng'C Christmas at home is 4 sealti-
ment and determination more impress
sive and Wnvarying, save with the Irish
nobility, than in any other land l know.
And on christina eve itself there can
not be found among the lowly classes. q
human soul not q lost one, that IS not
there or sometime there. Within the
glow and warmth. With the humber
villagers eve anywhere, and alwnyE with
the peasantr,y OF the south and west,
the "Christmas mold" or huge, long
candle, weighing from one to two
pounds, if its price needs be begged or
J stolen, is an Invaluable requisite for
Christmas eve. 1t will simply Irrevo-
cably be bad. The bog deal block Is
fired: the doors are flung wide open for
friend, mendicanu or enemy to enter
with ccad mile fasle Ia thousand times
welcome; the mammoth candle is
lighted to burn out, but never be cxtin-
guishcd; and while there is constant
going and coming, tits softly done, rs il
tho Nativity were still universal Pres
encc.
A sTEANGE'sUpERsT1TIoS.
There is always circle OF eager faces
about the fireplace, where strange,
weird, ever old and ever new tales,
Astounding in religious sentiment,
are told, while the half lights dance
fairylikc among the blackened old thatch
rafters above. TO midnight mass near
" all repair; then the "tea breakfast"
is had; those who have saved enough
brew great bowls OF punch; those who
have not get along quite as well upon
the stirring poteen, and as the day
comes in Irish registering with all its
liberality begins.
But Christmas time in ireland is one
OF unspcakable>loss to the bird families
OF tiny wrens. This tragedy OF the wren
should have q luminous place i'll litera-
ture.. Half million OF Irish children
with kippens and clubs are beating
about the hedges Tor victims. Sacredly
protected during every other day OF the
year, the wren is now sought with fcro-
cious yelling OF
Come huniin' the wren, says Roblu'to DobDin:
4 Como huntin' the wren, says Richard TO Robin;
Come huntin. the wren, says Jack Tilaone;
Come huntin' the wren, says every one!
The wren is hunted, for, according to
the superstition, it must be found; its
mangled little body is be-ribboned and
dangled in rush-cagc, or hung from 4
I holly branch: and with this strange
hint to alms-giving swaying aloft,
hordcs OF youngsters shrieking;
Wc hunted the wren through frost and snow:
We hunted the wren seven miles or more:
We knocked him down and he could not see,
And we brought him homo in holly tree.-
4 crowd tho streets in Irish Christmas
days; knock at homes and are given
coins; and when the night comes hold
such wakes over the dead wrers as only
:, master could paint or describe. The
origin OF this strange custom cannot be
found. Its lost even in the rare and
fccund birth-spot for SO much that gives
Ireland surprising intorest-that wild,
weird, whimsical, loveable phantasy
called "Irish tradition"
Tho genuine Clristmas-tide which the
people OF England and America know,
and which has ever been such 4 season
OF 10y in all Catholic countries, has
scarcely been known in Scotland since
tho domination OF tho Presbyterian
church in the land O. cakes. Tho clergy
Z have ever been interchangeable liz their
efforts TO stamp out any manner OF cele.
hration OF the nativity; and there was a
time, happily long past, when ministers
visited every house i'll their parishes to
dotcct if possible any "superstitious
Christmas observances on the part OF
people.
Even to this dayany sacredand rever
4 cntial observance OF Christmas in Scot.
land is made by Episcopaiian families
and among tho highlanders and island!
ers; who still retain, strong afiinitics
with that ancient religion forwhose re-
establishment SO many OF their ances-