The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-28
'rMINsTREBs.
The Growth, Decay and Disappear
Rnce of a VagabOnd Race.


ance of a VagabOnd Race.
From the London Standard.
The historical romance is an obsolete
form of literature, but its spirit Is still
living among us Most people believe in
an age of chivalry, when the brutal hab-
its which prevailed before that blessed
date were softened by a code of honor
and mercy The ages of faith are mourn
fully recalled by the pious and we all
lament that constant service of the an
tique world" which had vanished even in
Shakespeare's day. Among such cherish
ed superstitiOns the minstrel has his place.
We picture him-those who are not better
informed-as an honored guest at castle
and han, even at the abbey, enhancing
knights with gallant song of war, and
ladies' with a sweet but decorous tale of
love. He accompanies them on the harp,
most poetic and at the same time most
dignified of instruments. The fact Is that
minstrels were disreputabe vagabonds
not only in our point of view, but In
that of their contemporaries and of asso-
ciates-who played the fiddle. This de-
scription does not apply to wandering
bards in every era.
There was a date when self-respecting
men, esteemed by ALL performed those Of
fees, singing brave or tender ballads 10
the harp But they were not called min
strels. The change of name tells its own
story, though we need not suggest that
the one class merged into the other. An
interval Of many centuries divides them.
But the singer who was a friend of chiefs
and warriors bore the title Scoop in this
country, "scald" In the north, which has
exactly the same significance as poet
n maker; minstrel is abbreviated from
the medieval Latin ministrellus through
the French, and IL means little servant.
The 6lffarqnpa Z rizaH N 10 fwFD
words. Maker" is perhaps the loftlest
term that can be applied to man; little
servant" is about the meanest. We are
sadly ignorant Of our native Scoops and
their work. When Beowuf was welcomed
at Heorot. after the ale had passed round
the scop sang loftlly IN hall; there was
Joy OF heroes" Alfred the Great made a
collection Of their lays. which, unhappily,
has not survived. A fragment describing
the battle of Brunnenburg is introduced 70
the dry pages OF the Saxon Chronicle"
and its fine spirit assures US that our Eng
llsh sages would have borne comparison
with those OF Scandinavia had they been
preserved. But from the latter we gain
much information about the scald, which
applies no doubt to the gcop So late as
the reign Of 81. Olaf, 1890 he had his place
In the "Shield-burg" among the body
guard OF the king, that he might see with
his own eyes the valiant deeds which he
was 20 celebrate IN song. And bis reward
was great. Harald Fairhair proposed TO
give two ships for a lay which pleased
him: when the treasurer objected. he
gave his own royal clothes, ring and all
famous scald might marry a kings
daughter; warning chieftains were recon
ciled at his mediation. In short. they we're
personages OF the highest distinction.
The gleeman succeeded the scop as the
old martial spirit died away Sometimes
evidently he carried on the ancient tradi-
tons, but he shared the name with aero
bats and Jugglers, men who led bears
sometimes monkeyA, about the country
and obscene stOry-tollers. The minstrel ar
rived after the Conquest, and In the early
days. at least. he disdalned any connec-
ton with these reprobates. And he stil
used the harp. But the law persisted In
CHASING him among lecheurs plato-llck-
ers and rlbalds. There was a change for
the better when Trouveres arose; we are
more familiar with the provincial form OF
the word-troubadour. The profession
looked up somewhat when kings and great
mobiles Joined II. though only as amateurs
But the Improvement ala not last. Men
who live by begging cannot preserve their
dignity. Tho scoops and Hcalda received
Rifts-sometimes asked for them.-but at
ter the lay was done. We are not 20
be persuaded that they stopped IN the
middle Of a noble song and refused 20
chant another line until they got THEN
money or some cast-Off clothes. That was
a common practice with MINISTRIES Of gen.