Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-20
ANCIENT BRITISH CUSTOMS
Old and Curious, but Still
ReligiouSly Observed.
MANY QUAINT OLD F0LK-D0lNGS
Still Common to England,
Ireland and Scotland.
Surprising Record of Sturdy Retention
in all Things Holding Fast the Gentier
and Dearer Traditions of the British
People---A Brilliant and Informing
Grouping.

LONDON, July 10.-It is a common and |
pathetic lament of most writers, and par
ticularly of those writer's who shut them
selves up in the shadowy recesses of some
moldy club, with the opposite street facade
for the limit of their horizon Of actual
observation that the good old days and
their good old ways are dead and beautiful |
things of the past. The change in oondi- |
tions of life and living in England, Scot
land and Ireland have certainly been
greater during this century than in all the
five centuries Immediately preceding; and
this has of necessity made obsolete many
ancient customs and observances that are
perhaps Just US we'll TO have survival in
literary "Reminiscences only; but in most Of
those things holding fast the gentler and
dearer traditions of a people in home,
sporting, social and even religious life,
there is surprising record OF ssurdy re-
tention.
Should only those which have come un-
der my personal notice since 1876 be given
the briefest reference so great number
could be grouped as to completely refute
those dolorous plants that the pleasant
olden customs are no more; and am
quite sure that should some friendly and
enthusiastic pen be devoted TO making ar
entire volume on the subject of Famous
British Customs Still in Vogue" treating
| the matter something after the garrulons,
| genial manner of that wonderful old ola
| podrida, Homes Every Day Book, the
English speaking and reading world of to-
day would find in the result a genuine
revelation of pleasure and surprise.
In Ireland the tender custom of Con
voying" the departing emigrant is the
same to-day as during all the sad cycles
since its peasantry were forced to seek
homes in foreign lands; its wakes and
weddings. its fairs and frolics, its child
| rens' hunting of the robin and the wren,
and countless other customs hundreds OF
years old are precisely as they were in the
heart of the better olden days.
Over in the sturdy little Isle of Man
every essential feature of its patriarchal
and representative government. estab-
lished early in the tenth century, exists in
its original simplicity at the present time
Its Tynwald Court is still, as q thousand
years ago, held under the open sky on its
grassy Tynwald Hill. Its sheading coro-
ners, high bailiifs. House of Keys and
sword-bearer, promulgate the laws just as
they did in glorious, King orry's time;
Some of its parish clerks are still elected
by the votes Of only those who "put out
smoke" that is, whose habitations possess
chimney. Its fisher folk put to sea with
, goodly prayers and psalms Its peasant
folk, in dress, customs, superstitions and
/ pious faith live lives of calm indifference
, to the outer world of change; and the
bardic strain of old, held true and firm
down the shining line of thousand years
flashes forth now as then in its weird
exalted Oiel Verre in each succeeding
Christmas tide that comes.
And who shall truly say that the land o
/ cakes has lost its fine old customs anC
tender superstitions altogether? What {
host Of genial customs still cling to thest
e stern and fine folk through the influence
{ of their ''guid neebors'' the beneiicen
litt1a Rrnuniaa alnnat Mnka narry of 1
as you may. the household Scottish
"brownien still holds its helpful place il
the hearts of the people beyond the Esl
Q and the Tweed
" He is never idle in all good office to tn
:. lowly home Of the countryside, where yo,
o never fail of finding him, if you do no
l. enter his realm in the spirit of cayll an
n soothing. There, in each simple home an,
=, heart he sits enthroned with every al
n tribute of benevolence and affection. II
Q not only works with giant might to assis
g in ploughing the land, harvesting tn
. crops, guarding the grain and minding tn
Q herds, but in every little honsehol
4, drudgery of guidwife and BARN he lends
- helping hand. No i'll can come but this
u he has Tended its cruelest touch. N
n sorrow can fall upon the household who's
"a hurt would not be deadlier were it not fc
: his kindly and palliative powers. And
" all the glorious old land o. cakes, his gent
Or influence adds zest to every pleasant 10,
I'd AS the burns, springing from the mist.
crag-rimmed corries of the north, descen
g. and water the welcoming plains of I'll
e. lowlands, the endless streams of Gael
10 superstition descend from the weird an
" misty ceilidhs of the crofters' anciei
as homes and the centuries old clachans an
ar render perennial the lowland growth
rs Scottish folklore and well-beloVed olde
- ways.
Let all doubters of the existence in Sec
land of most ancient customs and pastim
b. step into the great farm Kitchens of Il
ia Lothians at Hallowmas Eve. Let ther
" at Aud Reckless ancient Cross, at mi
night of any New Years eve learn what
ed Scottish Hogmanay truly is. Let them
oh spring and summer and autumn folio
81 the keen.eyed, sure-armed golfer, or kno
OF the thrill Of winter curling joys. Let the
nd visit that most ancient and glorious
=. Scottish fairs, the ST. George cattle fair
40 Kelso, where the Tweed and Teviot minis
IRE their historic waters. Let them wander
he that decaying realm of gypsydom, quai
:. old fetholm, hidden from both Engli
'n- and Scottish eyes in the mazes Of t
ay grewsome Teyiot Hills, and see the Fast
ID Zen" games of Bowmontside, in Februal
"a almost as ancient as Teyiots themsely
'ao and so brave, rough and brawny that t
y spirit Of battle and the strength of gial
In are required TO Withstand them. Or ST
let them wander to old Hawick town q
np- view something that church and ST.
les. could never put down-the annual TO
mon Ridings; and, as the Coriiet
tho mounted. feel the thrill of the hero.d
within them as Hoggs soul-stirring lii
Was Sons OF heroes slain at E'Iodden -
Ugh Met 10 ride aud trace our Common
oop burst from thousands of borderers' thro,
they will know that the Scotia of old
ure tradition, feeling, pastime and yeners
Ugh, custom, is the same to-day as long /,
ory before the solemn league and covenant
"1 Down in SCARED and earth-rent
APP Cornwall little indeed has been any m
sr a ner of change for hundreds OF years.
,;ot is within the memory of those now liy
ny, when old folk were constantly lament
tied in their ancient language, 'Corroack
BE- a all ne eea yer yen poble younk ln--"(
a. nish is all forgot with the young peopl
iiea' but there has been no one to lamen
gans truth the departure OF old customs in
mo. rugged land OF Tres, Pol and Pen.n
what host OF these dear old drolls,
es- these but few out OF hundreds, eve
: the Yankee can find and remember:
"TalIin' Sunday" when all the lads
lasses meet TO select "pairdnersn
Maaard Cherry Fair, that most belc
Guns; and ancient fair at PraZe the grove
yress selling and growder, or scrnbblng,
the the watching over night for the \
wv days coming the blessing of apple
10 be on st. James Day and at Christmas d
pur. 'rook" day on the great estates, when
=, 80 the peasant folk can shoot rocks to
" VI hearts content and luxurate in DO
cord made of the young rocks for forth tn
or Of thereafter; "eoo,,n,ntting, that fero!!
con- wonderful kite. fyinr by srave oid M III,
n by that immemorial CUSTOM Of mother
have slowing gifts to the first person met, '
- ~ returning from christening; the TIA
N tne the New Year. into houses inyarabl,
er see men first, on account OF the ill luck al