St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-08-15
THE Lovlmo CUP.


According to present indications. the
slowing cup has come to stay. First
class silversmiths are making them by
the score; first-class glassmakers are
blowing them by the hundreds; potter
les have them by thousands; beer mugs
take their name, counters are covered
with them wherever well-bred mortals
are served, and no family with the
slightest pretension of distinction or q
long-winded ancestry il supposed to be
without one.
Societies Of all names and for all
purposes have their slowing cups" on
tap, 20 to speak, and have begun to be-
stow them upon those they delight to
honor, and the ceremonious rite of the
presentation and use of the slowing
cup" is the prodigious fad of the hour
all over America.
The renewal of an ancient custom
originating in Eastern Asia many thou
sand years ago, is due to the poetic fore
thought and enthusiastic ancestor wor-
ship of May Whitney Emerson, Of
Washington, d. c.. who called together
company of her kinfolk in July,
worlds exposition year, in Chicago,
and gave them all drink from flowing
cup" made expressly for her and the
occasion, from a model known to be
over 1000 years old and once belonging
to her (and their) ancestor, Heolf, con-
queror of Normandy.
The original had been used at a GER
tain yuletide festival in s93, when Lief
Ericsson "took a VOW on the cup" that he
would find and colonize "Vineland," al
ready discovered by Bjorri. Heolf's son.
The vow as kept the following year.
This is, however, not the only time
that the loving cup has figured con-
spicuously in American history. Two
hundred and seventy-two years ago a
great silver loving cup, with two
handles, brought to America ON board
the Mayfower from Leyden. was used
by Gov. Carver at Plymouth when Mas
sasoit. the great Indian sachem, made
his first visit of welcome to the white
invaders. In the cup was "posset."
made of Holland gin, sugar, spices and
water.
Gov. Carter first tasted from the cup
and passed it to Massasoit, who, moth
ing daunted, drank courageously,
though such a concoction was unknown
to him as the Greek tongue. The cup
was then passed to each of the red men
of his party and after to all the whites,
who drank in turn.
This was the same 'fealty-vow" use
of the cup of old Morse days revived on
American soil by the Puritans after 700
or more years, and is called by Jane
Austen "the first international treaty"
The loving cup used in Chicago at
the Sancto-C Claro banquet to the Vik-
ings. July 10. 1893. contained one good
California orange wine. and after its use
ther it was taken to Norway by Capt.
Magnus Anderson, to whom it was pre-
sented by Mrs. Emerson. who, lineal de-
scendant to Heoolf through her father.
is also. through her mother. derived di-
rectly from "Pastor John" Robinson. of
Leydcn-Mayflower fame, who sent the
great silver loving cup of 'the first
international treaty" to America.
The loving cup of to-day is in its
symbolism identical with the "Arvel
cup" of Norway. the Holy Kraal, or
Graal. of Africa. the Sacred Arc of Syria.
the covenanting cup of the Jews. the
sangreal of France. the mother cup CT
ancient China and the grail of King Ar
thurs quest.
It is also the same in meaning and der.
ivation as the "cup" of the communion
service of the Christian church. and was
always and everywhere used with a
formula of remembrance" and fealty.
its contents signifying the united
blood" of the drinkers.
It's significance in America, il called
loving cup, means brotherhood and fe-
atty to the gods OF Truth, Justice, Lib
erty and Love.-Washington Times.