The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19
CORNISH CURRY DANCE"
Strange Festiyity In Which People Of o Rural
Community Take Part,

Cornwall lie the rugged haunt OF super
stition. In no corner OF England does there
yet linger such a wealth OF picturesque
family and mystic tradition.
The fete which the Lord Mayor OF London
attended at Helston, says the London
Express. furnishes a most OK cellent example
Of that weird lore which permeates the
delectable duchy.
Helston is a slate and drab little town
nesting costly Upon the luxuriant banks of
the little CODE River and within view Of
the blue CLEAN Of the Cornish sea. 1t 10 one
Of those halcyon spots in the backwater Of
life into which a tired man would retire
with the placid conviction hat he had dis
covered perfect peace.
But once O year Helston bursts forth
into a spirit of rustic saturnalia. II Is
this innocently Wild revel which brought
Sir william Treloar and his trusty sherifs
all the way from London.
Flora day in Helston would be little more
than an old world village fair were it not
for the furry dance Tn very name
excites the fancy with q sense OF some
thing wild and strange-a vague vision of
prehistoric %nativesi in their aboriginal CO.'S
tune. or uncanny looking pixies. one is not
quite sure which.
For a long while l cherished a belief.
implanted in me by a worthy Cornishman,
that the term was a corruption Of fury
dance My friend explained to me, with
q degree OF earnestness which left no room
TO question either his sincerity or his knowl-
edg that in byRone ~ages-how long ago
he was sure he could not say-the devil
used once a ear solemnly to visit Hell
ston.
He always came by way OF the Lizard,
and there are barren tracks TO this day
marking his path. on which not a scrap Of
vegetation will grow. The place took it's
name-Hell's Stone-from the fact Of having
such a strange attraction for MN.
"In order to keep the devil out OF their
houses the inhabitants all Joined in a
dance Of fury, singing invocatiens that were
altogether too much for his ears, and 30
drove him away
The Mayor OF this old world Cornish
borough will lead of the dance. leading a
procession Unfortunately formed OF ali
the inhabitants Of the town-and as many
more as like to join in.
At a slow, measured shuttle this struggling
array Of people begins to promenade the
streets. II they carry out the functions
Of the Furry Dance faithfully the whole
crowd ought to dance In at the front door
anu OUT III tllc bdI VI ONCIN bOub0 Ia hli0
place. chanting the Furry Song to exor-
else the devil.
But as such a process would occupy
altogether too long and prove much too
tedious, lt has been agreed 20 give his
Satanic Majesty a chance this year and only
to gambol through a certain number OF
houses.
What is called the Furry Song consists
OF u~nconnected stanEss. irrelevant enough
70 any idea OF the purpose Of the fete. These
have no doubt replaced verses that were
more ancient. The following will serve as
a fair sample Of the whole:
Robin Hood and Little John.
They both are gone 70 fair. o.
And we viii 70 the merry green wood.
To zee what they do there, O;
And for 20 chase, o,
To chase the buck and doe.
With hAlsntoW,
Jolly rumble, o.
And w were up &c soon 40 any day, q,
And for 70 fetch the summer home
The summer and the may, 81
Pore ummef 10 a-o0me, o,
And winter 10 S-rone, Of
There are references 70 the epaniards,
and 70 Psul's ohur Oh IN Mounts Bay, which