The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26

"Growder to-day, mawther"
do"n't sellen' I'm to-day, my SOM" is
her as ancient answer.
Inc reply forever has been the same as to
ne
Same old drug;
Happy a tub
which is both fine sense and poetv in Corn
wall For, by drug is meant task, labor
drag or burden; and "hap'ny,n or a half
penny, tub, which holds abont a peck, has
been the price Of growder since ''20. 600
Cornish men" started for London singing
And Shall Trelawney DieW A hand
mi OF growder is scattered upon the soiled
table and sprinkled with water. There is a
"swishW Of the housewives brush, and in
an instant more The whole top is foaming
with lather. Once each week every square
Incn of the Cornish house Is so "scroobedn
with growder that for the time the entire
interior foams and fathers like a turbulent
geyser.
One of the most fascinating pleasures of
the road in Cornwall will be found in
lettering alongside groups of Cornish bows
engaged in their various games. Chief Of
these are "toe-ssonesn and ''cob-nuttinR"
Both are played wherever the spirit of
emulous battle overtakes these sturdy little
embryo miners and fishermen; and their
pluck, perslstency and pertinacity are IN
surpassed.
In 'toe-stones," diagram, similar to the
one chalked on deck for ship billiards"
with rounded end like that of bagatelle
board, Is drawn in the road; and the game
consists In kicking with the left foot, the
right foot being always held in the right
hand, round fiat stone from the approach
ing line from one space to another, but
never over but one line, clear around the
entire thirteen spaces and out again, with
out ever once having dropped the right foot.
The little fellows become wonderfully ex-
pert in this difficult feat
''Coo-nutting" IL an all-the-year-round
sport. Much of its zest comes from the
dangers in securing the nuts necessary for
the years supply. Common hazsl nuts are
used. These are got at great risks from the
demesne copses and forest edges. The
prizes, with the "shucks" still on, are stored
away in the attic and dried with the great
est care, so that the nut fiber becomes hard
and horny. The hazel nuts are allowed to
literally fall out Of their sheaths. ALI the
round, smooth, ripe, shiny nuts are pre-
served sacredly for 'cob-nuttlng.n 1t is
often Cornish boys entire winter employ
ment and diversion to prepare the cob-nuts
for the rest Of the years battle for supe-
rlority with his fellows. The sport takes its
name from the 'oob" or shell of the nut.
The cob-nuts are prepared by boring a
hole through each side Of the nut, removing
the kernel and filing the hollow shell with
lead or shoemaker's wax, the latter being
preferred. The shoemaker of the village is
consequently an almost revered parsonage
with all Cornish boys. A "waxed-end"
drawn through the loaded ''cob' or shell,
and held by a strong knot, completes the
cob-nut; and you cannot find boy in all
Cornwall who has not one ready strung for
contest, and a pocketful ready for strlnging
for reserve contingencies.
Ties are drawn for first "crack" The
loser throws his hat upon the ground, and
lays his cob-nut in little hollow upon its
top. Then the "oobber," or striker, hold
ing his cob between the ends of his figners Of
his left hand and the end Of the attached
waxed-end in his right after many feints,
motions and sights brings his cob with
almost the force of a bullet upon his OPP
ponent's One or the other is "scatedn or
broken. 1t is turn and turn about. Gen
orally one of the lads has his entire stock OF
reserve cObs destroyed. Nor will he then
yield. He borroWs and begs OF his COM
panions to the limit of his power, until per-
haps superior cob is found, and by his
spirited I"cracklng" he at last triumphs
over his adversary.
Yesterday was Taking Sunday" In this
parish, and most interesting and ancient
Cornish custom was observable in Clowancs
park, on the noted St. Aubyn estate. The
park and gardens are open to all on Taking
Sunday" One of the glories of this park
is magnificent mall, bordered with some of
the noblest beech trees in all England.
On the afternoon of the Sunday two
weeks before Mazard fair-which derives
its name from the mazard cherry fair au-
nually held at Praze in the latter part of
June, when tuns of this luscious fruit are
disposed of by the farmers of the surround
ing country-thousands of Cornish youths
and maidens may be found prornenading in
this Clowance park mall. They sometimes
come from distance Of ten ana twenty
miles. Cornish young men resort here to
choose their "pairdners" Or company"
for Mazard air; and here the blooming
lasses come to be taken" that is. pledged
for Mazard fair day.
Many all exultant or broken heart re-
turns home that night, successful In its &C.
cretly cherished hope, or singing from
bitter disappointment. But Mazard day
come, the lad walks miles for the girl he has
chosen on Taking Sunday" and together
they tramp away to Praze. 1t ia a glorious
thing to be chosen or "takenn at Clowanos
park; but her whole fate hangs upon par
eel of cookies and almonds at Praze.
These constitute the 'fairin" or pledge
of bstrothal and IL is asserted that half Of
the women of Cornwall have been married
through this curious troth. If the maiden's
"pairdiner" buy her one pound Of ginger
COOKIES anu "a HAIL pOuu0 "a hiulSdoe, nAAO
she accepts the same, the two are as
sacreily betrothed as though bans had been
read from she pulpit The lucky maiden
carefully preserves the "fairin" and tri-
umphantly divides it with her relatives and
friends, In token of her new relations to,
and consequence in, her own curious little
world of affairs.
A few weeks ego ran down from London
to witness Furry day" at Helston. This
festival, undoubtedly having its origin In
the "Floralian of the Romans, is annually
celebrated throughout Cornwall by little
home and neighborhood parties, and at
Helston, from time immemorial, as fes~
tivity peculiar to that place, on May s,
Long before daylight happy groups OF lads
and lasses start in every direction for the
country lanes and hedges singing:
For we were up as soon as any day, Q,
And for to fetch the summer home,
The summer and the May, Q,
For summer is a-come, .,
And winter Is a-gone, o.
or a dozen other ballads of similar import,
the refrain Of which is.
On the eighth OF May,
The Flora day,
We all set Off adancingW
And indeed do they. At every farm house
there are mad rushes of these merry-makers
to be first to hang twig of sloane" blos-
SONS upon the latch; for such for centuries
have been entitled to portion Of bread and
cream. The blossoms of the ''sloane,"
/, kind of cherry. are gathered
very where, with all precious buds
nd blooms Of early summer. Gar
lnded with these the floral troopers
sturn to Heston, when the festivities OF
he day really begin. The old town Is
a