Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-24

panions to the limit of his power, until
perhaps a superior cob is found, and by
his spirited Cracking" he at last triumpha
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 TAX
ing Sunday" One of the glories of this
park is magnificent mall, bordered with
some of the noblest beech trees in all Eng
land.
Taking Sunday With the Girls.
On the afternoon of the Sunday two
weeks before Mazard Fair-which derives
its name from the mazard-cherry fair annu-
ally held at Praze in the latter part of June,
when tons of this luscious fruit are disposed
of by the farmers of the surrounding coun-
try-thousands of Cornish Youths and maid
ems may be found promenading in this Glow
ance Park mall They sometimes come from
a distance of ten and 20 miles Cornish
young men resort here to choose their
''pairdners" or company" for Mazard Fair;
and here the blooming lassies 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 Sc
cretly-cherished hope, or singing from bit
ter disappointment But Mazard Day come,
the lad walks miles for the girl he has chosen
on Taking Sunday" and together they
to be chosen or taken" at Clowance Park;
but her whole fate hangs upon parcel of
cookies and almonds at Praze.
These constitute the "fairin' or pledge
of betrothal: and it is asserted that half Of
the women of Cornwall have been married
through thlscurious troth. If the malden's
'pairdner,.' buy her one pound OF ginger
cookies and half pound of almonds, and
she accept the same, the two are as sacredly
betrothed as though bans had been read
from the pulpit The lucky maiden care
fully preserves the "fairin' " and triumph
antly divides it with her relatives and
friends, in token of her new relations to,
and consequence in, her own curious little
world of affairs.
Furry Day Festival at Helston.
A few weeks ago ran do wn from Lon
don to witness Curry Day" at Helston.
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, o,
And for to fetch the summer home,
The summer and the May, o,
For summer is a-come, o,
And winter in a-gone, o!
Or dozen other ballads of similar i'm
port, the refrain of which is:
On the eighth of May,
The Flora day,
We all set off a-dancing,
And indeed do they. At every farm
house there are mad rushes of these merry
makers to be first to hang twig of SLOANE"
blossoms upon the latch; for such for GEN.
turies have been entitled to a portion of
bread and cream. The blossoms of the
sloane" kind of cherry are gathered
everywhere, with all precious bulbs and
blooms 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 in 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,
dancing to a sort of quickstep time and ac-
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. EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.