New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-25
THE DAY OF ST. MICHAEL
A THEORY ABOUT ELECTION DAYS
TIE FEAST IN HONOR OF ALL ANGELs-MlCh'
AELMAS GOOSE.

|
| AELMAS GOOSE.
Tho latter hal, Of tho year is less penfully sup
nrd with DAYS Of peculiar mcrriment and rev"lry thah
/ ,he first half IL might not he easy 10 say why thi'
bould bc but the fact being recognized IL Is not
hard TO devise theories TO account for H. IN Inc SUM
mcr and early autumn Nature Is in constant JOYOUS
mood and all who love her must constantly symm'nHe
With That mood not needing the especial stimulus OF
stated day or occasion for rejoicing Great heat 100
dscouragcs active revery There Is abundant simple
and quiet enjoyment In life itself. in the breath OF the
atmosphere and the face OF the landscape IL may oc
found in walk through the fields when the dew Is on
the grass and the flowers. in rest at noon by a"e OF
n river or on hilltop or In stroll unuer the h"'N'e'
moon. There are many things In such days ana such
evenings Of long twilight that can be enjoyed be''F
with Just the RICH, company and not too much oil H.
The time for pleasures OF prrarrangrd design anu IKEA
traditional character Is the winter when pleasures are
not found but must be made, and when there are long,
dark cold nights 10 be bclcd OF their dulncss THIS
rule has the greatest force In the countries of Europe
which in a northern latitude than MS ana IL Il
| from them chiefly from England, OF course. that
great perhans the greater part OF what few notions
| America has in regard holidays Is derived Then.
| too mon are fond of celebrating the beginnings OF
things the beginning Of the year. OF spring, OF summer
Of the SUMS northern cOrsetbe greatest celebration
Of al-oi his southern COURSE etc. When me harvest
Is over there l. feast. TO be sure, and this latter
half OF the year. III as compares with the other haii
except for Christmas has few other high days, one
| OF which Is Mchaelmas.
Michoelmas comes this week. on Thursday. being
| an immovable feast upon the Goth Of September IL
IA otherwise called the Feast of st. Michael and A.
Angels There Is one OF It's features which gives IL
lust now n peculiar timely interest II Is expressed
| IA the following extract from brands "Popuhr
Antiquities: 1t has long been md sill continues
to be tho custom this time OF the year, or there
abouts. 10 elect Ce governors OF towns ana ches'
the civil guardians Of the peace OF men, perhaps, as
Bourne supposes because the Feast OF Angels natur-
ally enough brings 70 our minds tho old opinion Oh
tutcar spiri,e. who have, thought to have the
peculiar charge OF certain bodies OF men. or districts
Of country as also that every has his guardian
angel who attends him from the cradle to The grave
from tho moment OF his coming IN to his going ONT OF
me-, Now Michael stands the chief and head OF
all the angels. and can IL be that the time" set s"
near the present. for tho choosing of President IS
connected in some way with old custom which
leads straight back 10 What thought n itung ana
appropriate Observance Of 81. Mlchaels day.
The usual character given Michael is that OF an
Archangel. lie Is named five times In the Bible
In the Book OF Daniel he Is spoken Of three times
and s always called a prince. In Jude lie IS called
he Archangel and the reference Is to his disDnung
with satan about the BODY OF Moses. while the most
clear and definite account OF him Is In Eevclauon
XIII. where the words "AnG there was war IN
heaven; Michael aud his angels fought AGAINST The
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. ana
PREY allied rot; neither there place found any
moro in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out
that old serpent called the Devil. and satan. which
dccclvcih the whole world he cast ont into the
earth and his angels were cast out With him
Hence ST. Michael IS always represented In art a.
warrior, usually fighting with Satan or crushing the
Dragon urGer his feet \ bucklcr covered With red
velvet. declared TO have been used by e. Michael IN
his strrglc with Satan for loug time exhibited
In an old castle IN NorTandy
There has been disagreement. about the number OF
the archangcls. Raphael. Gabriel and Urcl are com
monty feohoned among them. as we'll rs Michoe somc
accounts mcuuon seven others nine. and II has been
maintained the other hand that Michael should
enjoy tho distinction clone. ana that Re succeeded
IucIfer In that dignity after the latcrs fall. The
Rev Edward Baruard in 1.-THE Protestant Beadsman'
says that others Imagine that Michael Is the son OF
God Himself
wheauey says that the feast Of 81. Michael and All
Angels Is observed that tho people may know what
benefits derived from the ministry OF angels This
lug Mlchaeimns election day, which was followed
10 such sn Important extent a. making The day for
tho sher!rs But beyond this the day seems 10 have
had at bcs, little serious Observance, except what
ole o. the tor quaricrdays for tho payment OF rents
and aside from these thngs one OF the most ancient
been tho eating OF n goose for dinner. Tho origin Of
his custom has been attributed TO ,hc fact that Queen
Shea ,le heard Of the defeat Of the Armada where
fore IN memory o. that great dclivcrancc she ever
after ate goose on that day.
Unfortunately for this pretty story there IS proof
that Il was common 10 eat goose nj MlchaelmaS lOn-
before this and Queen Elizabeth was merely following
custom. not maMne one. For Instance. John dc Ia
lay was hound. In the reign OF Edward ~ Ia render
70 william Barnaby. Lord Of 1Asrcs. IN the County
he fcast Of st. Michael thc Archangrl. The real
reason probably that geese are In season al this
time and also that tenants accustomed 10 bring
geese as appropriate propliatory gifts % their land
l,.r,. ef
lines dated 1913:
And when the tenants To pac their quarters rem
They br.nc fowle rt midsummer dish Of ish in
Lent.
Al Chrlstniasse a capog AZ Mchaelmasse n soos>.
Ana somewhat az NrwIsges tide for hor l-asc
file
The Ingenious people who at the time q The
change In The calendar hunted out every possible ant
Impossible against N" measure, evolved among
The r.st the complaint that II the calendar WAS
changed goose would not be- AZ Their hiS cot pcrIe,
IN reply that il III" calendar not changed e"c,c
would soon be Altogether ont OF season on this day
on IT. appropriate day. TIE Change seems thus 10
have helped Mictaclmas. {, have done rs best
To- hcp IT, while ii did much 10 destroy the glorcs
has little honor here and now, m spite OF the calendar
II had not the strength In itself Tor self preservation
that scme other holidays had and There will be few
people in New York who Will think H. necessary 10
eat goo'c neat Thursday merely bcau.c IL /, the day
S ST. a the c Af r" "ay be boG S by p c r
IN the autumn Is that the harvest il then saf1y gOJ
IN and there Il good leisure TO devote - political
thought and action, And has may be So. Bu.
there tImc when II believed that he who
alc goose on MicLaelmaS wonld not want Tor money
II may De worth even the unbcllcvcr's while TO Try
the o. pertinent.
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS.