Morning journal and courier., 1892-11-12
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancies.
Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIKR.l
ST. MARTINS SUMNER

Some of Its Facts and Fancies.
Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIKR.l
ST. MARTINS SUMMER.
Martinmas, the 11th of November, just
passed, was as bright and lovely day as
the good old St. Martin himself could have
desired.
The holy Bishop of Tours and Poitiers
was being of the most exalted piety, and
so marvellous was his power of curing dis
eases that crowds of the sick and poor
hocked to him, until at last, SO the story
in order that he might find time for his
devotions and preparation for death. There
are numerous legends of his faith and his
loving ministrations to the needy. One of
the most beautiful of these is of Martin
when a soldier in the army of Constantine.
AS the troops neared city shivering
beggar approached and asked for aims.
All repulsed and refused him-all but Mar
tin, who, seeing that he was perishing with
cold, took off his cloak, drew his sword and
cut it in two and wrapped half of it around
the beggar. That night he had wondrous
vision. The beggar appeared still wrapped
in the parted cloak, but changing, ever
changing before his enraptured eyes, until
the Savior stood revealed before him,
gracious and sweet, and robed in garments
| of celestial splendor.
| Some of the old superstitions concerning
| St. Martins day are still in force. In Eng
land they eat roast goose at Michaelmss 30
| as to insure good luck in money matters
| for the rest of the year; in Scotland and
in some other countries Martinmas Is
quarterly rent day, and the feast of roast
goose is then in order. Geese are common
property on that day and no one dares drive
them to pasture lest his neighbor should
capture them all. In France the new wine
| ia tasted first at Martinmas, and often over
tasted, headaches and other painful disor-
ders of the following day being called, un-
kindly enough, "Mal de Saint Martin" A
happier custom is that of school children
Offering gifts to the school-master on Mar
tinmas day. The planning and collecting
goes on for a week, then on the saints day
the gay little procession marches to the
school house, driving the ribbon decked
goose, and bearing gifts of corn, grapes,
cake, and wine.
Old saws as to the weather are these: II
st. Martins day is bright and sunshiny
there will be cold winter. If the leaves
SILL cling 10 the trees the same result Will
follow. If there is frost before Martin
mas the winter will be mild, and if the
goose steps on ice that day she will sticl
in the mud at Christmas. Now we know
exactly what to expect.
Our Indian summer Is sometimes called
"St. Martins summer" and the nam,
seems peculiarly appropriate, as the year
it's active ministIations over, smilingly, be
nignantly, slips away, as St. Martin did, t.
rest awhile before it leaves us forever. I
has given us all it had flowers of spring
= fruitage of summer and grain of autumn
1t has grown weary in our service but i
gives us this wonderful look of brightness
' to prove that it is not vexed with our in
3 gratitude.
Like spirit glorified
The angel of the year departs, lays down
| His robes oncs green in spring,
4 Or bright with summers blue;
t And having done his mission on the earth
. Filling ten thousand Wales with golden corn,
Orchards with rosy fruit,
Q And scattering flowers around,
b He fingers for moment in the west,
With the declining sun sheds over all
q pleasant farewell smile
v And SO returns to God"
= One of the most charming of Whittier
later poems is est. Martins Summer" i,
spired by one delightful eleventh of N,
's vember. It will repay reading at tn