The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-06-25

started for London singing, And shall
Irelawney die?" A handful of growder
is scattered upon the soiled table and
sprinkled with water. There is a ''swish"
OF the housewives brush, and in an in
slant the whole top is foaming with
lather. Once each week every square
inch of the Cornish home is so ''scroobed"
with growder that for the time the entire
interior foams and fathers like turbu-
lent geyser.
One Of the most fascinating pleasures
of the road in Cornwall will be found in
lettering alongside groups of Cornish
boys engaged IN their various games.
Chief Of these are ''toe-stones" and 'cob-
nutting." Both are played wherever the
spirit OF emulous battle overtakes these
sturdy little embryo miners and fisher
men, and their pluck, persistency and
Fortunately are unsurpassed.
In 'toe-stones" diagram, similar to
the one chalked OH deck for ''ship bill
iards," 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 HAT stone
from the approaching line from one space
TO another, but never over but one line
clear around the entire thirteen spaces,
ans out again. without ever once having
dropped the right foot. The little fellows
become wonderfully expert in this dill
cult feat.
'Cob-nutting is an all-the-year-roun
sport Much of its zest comes from the
dangers in securing the nuts necessary
Tor the years supply. Common hazel
nuts are used. These are got at great
risks from the demesne copses and forest
edges. The prizes, with the "shucks"
still on, are slowed away in the attic and
dried with the greatest care, SO that the
nut-hber becomes hard and horny. The
haZelnutS are allowed to literally fall out
of their sheaths. All the round, smoo,h
ripe, shiny nuts are preserved sacredIy
for ''cob-nutting. 1t is often Cornish
boys entire winter employment and di-
version to prepare the cobnuts for the
rest OF the years battle for superiority
with his fellows. The sport takes its name
from the ''cob'' or shell OF the nut.
The cobnuts are prepared by boring a
hole through each side Of the nut, re-
moving the kernel and filling the hollow
shell with lead or Shoemaker's wax, the
latter being preferred. The shoemak er
of the village is consequently an almost
reyered parsonage with all Cornish boys.
A "waxed end" drawn through the
loaded ''cob" or shell, and held by a
strong knot, completes the cobnut, and
you cannot find a boy in all Cornwall
who has not one ready strung for contest
and pocketful ready for stringing for
reserve contingencies.
Ties are drawn for first "crack." The
loser throws his hat upon the ground,
and lays his cobnut in little hollow
upon it's top. Then the 'cobber," or
striker, holding his cob between the ends
of the fingers of his left hand and the end
of the attached wax end in his right, after
many felnts, motions and sights"
brings his cob with almost the force of a
bullet upon his opponents. One or the
other is 'scated'' or broken. 1t is turn
and turn about. Generally one of the
lads has his entire stock of reserve cobS
destroyed. Nor will he then yield. He
borrows and begs of his companions to
superior cob IS found, and by his spirited
cracking" he at last triumphs over his
adversary.
Yesterday was "Taking Sunday" in
this parish, and most interesting and
ancient Cornish custom was observable
in Clowance Park on the noted st. Au-
byn estate. The park and gardens are
open to all on Taking Sunday" One of
the glories of this park is a 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,
annually held at Praze in the latter part
OF June, when tons of this luscious fruit
rounding cOuntry-thouSand of Cornish
youths and maidens may be found prom
enading in this CloWance Park mall.
They sometimes come from q distance
of ten and twenty miles. Cornish young
men resort here to choose their ''paird-
ners," or company" for Mazard Fair;
and here blooming lasses come to be
taken" that is, pledged for Mazard Fair
Day.
Many an eXultant or broken heart re-
turns home that night, successful in its
Secretly-cherlShed hope, or singing from
bitter disappointment. But Mazard Day
comes, the lad walks miles for the girl
he has chosen on Taking Sunday" and
together they tramp away to Praze. 1t is
glorious thing to be chosen or taken"
at Clowance Park, but her whole fate
hangs upon parcel Of cookies and alnl-
onds at PraZe.
These constitute the "fairin'" or pledge
of betrothal, and it is asserted that half of
the women of Cornwall have been mar
ried through this curious troth. Ii the
maiden's ''pairdner' buy her one pound
of ginger cookies and half pound of
almonds, andfshe accepts the same, the
two are as sacredly betrothed as though
bans had been read from the pulpit.
The lucky maiden carefully preserves
the ''fairin' and triumphantly divides it
with her relatives and friends, in token
VI u6I new ISldtiOuS 10, anu cOlSS iu6nce
III, her own curious little world of affairs.
a few weeks ago l ran down from Lon
don to witness Furry Day. at Helston.
This festival, undoubtedly, having its
origin in the ''Floralia' of the Romans,
is annually celebrated throughout Corn
wall by little home and neighborhood
parties and at Helston, from time i'm
memorial, as testivity peculiar to that
place, on the Sth day OF May. Long be-
fore daylight happy groups of lads and
lasses start in every direction for the
country lanes ana hedges singing
For we were up as soon as any day, o,
And for to fetch the summer home,
The summer and the May, O;
For summer is a-come, q,
And winter is a-gone, OIL
Or dozen other ballads of similar i'm
port, the refrain of which is
On the eighth OF May,
The Floral Day
We all set OF a-dancingn
And indeed do they. At every farm
house there are mad ruShes of these mer-
ry-makers to be first to hang twip of
sloane" blossoms upon the latch, for
such for centuries have been entitled to a
portion Of bread and cream. The BIOS
SONS of the sloane" kind of cherry.
are gathered everywhere with all preci-
Gus buds and blossoms of early summer.
Garlanded with these the floral troopers
return TO Helston, when the festivities of
the day really begin. The old town is
fairly embedded lin spring blossoms and
garlands. This completed. all classes
join in universal carnival of dancing.
Every house in Helston is thrown open
TO the merry marauders. Arm in arm,
and usually four abreast, thousands dane
ing to sort of quickstep time and accom-
panied by May Day songs, pass in the
front doors OF houses, and thence from
rear to front of other houses, and from
dawn to dark weave serpentine threads
of blossom, odor and song through and
through the old Cornish town.