Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-26

known as the poculum caritatis. The
loving cup" of the London corpora
| ton banquets seems to have been sug.
gested by the wassail custom.
Ages before the Christmas tree idea
had been borrowed from Germany
during Victoria's reign the custom of
exchanging presents was peculiar to
| New Years day, as it is now in France
and many other parts OF Europe. The
Romans were in the habit of inter-
changing gifts at the time of the Sat-
urnalia, and here again Christianity
has to thank paganism for one of the
most delightful observances of the
holiday season. After January and
February were added to the ten
months of the Roman calendar it was
especially decreed by Tiberius that
no exchange of gifts should take place
in the calends of January. Senators
were expected to bring handsome pres
ents 10 the palace.
AS early as the reign of Henry III.
we read of the handsome purses of
gold annually given by the cOurtiers,
etc, to their royal master. Queen
Elizabeth was accustomed to receiv-
ing gifts of fabulous value besides
money. Mobiles and ladies of high de-
gree, bishops and officers of state, not
&c mention the menials of the house
hold, all contributed the best they
could afford to their luxurious and eX-
acting mistress. 1t is recorded on the
annual roll that in 1571-72 the Earl
of Leicester gave an exquisite brace
! let of gold richly incrusted with dia-
monds, rubies and pearls, and the
archbishOps of Canterbury and York
purse of gold of the value of 6 40 and
$50 respectively. The master cooks
offering consisted of confectionery;
that of the cutler was a meat knife
with a conceit in the haft, while
Smyth, the dustman, presented two
i bolts Of cambria. DIR. Drake says that
Elizabeth made some return, usually
of gilt plate, but the balance was al
ways in her favor. This tipping" of
royalty continued until the time OF
Charles I.
In the Banquet of Jests'' Qo34) oc
ours the pathetic tale Of Archee, the
kings jester: Meeting certain
wealthy nobleman on New Years
morning, the privileged person babe
him a most elaborate good morrow"
and soon had the pleasure of seeing
20 gold pieces iingling in his palm.
| o-ria
wanted more, saying that the 20 pieces
were lacking in weight. The noble
man remarked: "Prithee, let me see
them again, for there is one I would
be loath to part with, methinks." Ar
chez, confidently expecting an in
crease, gave the coins back His lord
ship proceeded quietly on his way, re-
marking: Il once gave money into
FOOLS hands who had not the wit to
keep it,
Families exchanged gifts among
themselves, and masters always re
membered servants. The Elton boys
usually gave purses of money to the
provost and masters.
An old writer of nearly two centu
ries ago expressed the New Years
sentiment of his time in the follow
ing amiable manner: eff I send a
New Years gift to my friend, it shall
be token of my friendship; if to my
Ibenefactor, token Of my gratitude:
if to the poor, which at this season
must never be forgot, it shall be 70
make their hearts sing for joy and
give praise and alteration to the giver
Of all good gifts
Among the ancient and curious New
Years customs was one observed in
WesUmoreland and Cumberland.
Crowds would assemble in marke:
places in the morning provided with
"stangs" (long staffs) and baskets
Whoever refused to join the throng
was hailed to the public house without
ceremony. The men were forced to
straddle the stangs, and the women
were placed in baskets. Nothing less
than a sixpence served to 1iberate the