River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-12-23


stipend but from the records of his rule that have been
handed down to would rather that he himself
sadly in need of being regulated and disciplined.
Each city had it's similar funconary and his jurisdiction
not limited to this festive season. he had the
ation of all the festivals of the year The reign of the
Lord of Msrue be said to have ended when Crom-
well and his "cropeared Purtans took charge of the
government and while there was some attempt to revive
his ordshp after the restoration of Charles H. the bones
had dried the flesh shriveled up-he
a mummy of his former self. In Scotland the Alb
bot of Unreason suppressed much earlier-1555by
the legislature whether such strong action due
to the spread of Puritansm to the unbrided
of disorder is question Under Henry VIII, 540) the
procession of children Childermas Innocents day.
forbidden in England by proclamation There are,
however still few traces of the Lord of Misrule The
English Christmas pantomimes open December 90
Boxing day-and have become much of an estab-
lished institution the Lord of Misrule in his
pamies days OF years the institution has found
favor on this side of Atlantic The masqueradng
the streets of the Lord of Msrue and his followers has
merely transferred to the boards of the heater In
many parts of France masquerading by children is still
in during the three days following Christmas and
in countries something analogous is to be found
Sometimes the feature is kept until Twelfth day,
while in sections the fun does not commence until
New Years day.
These first three days have been specially consecrated
to the memory of saints and martyrsSt Stephen the
26th ST. John the Evangelist the 9th, and holy limo
cents or Chidermas on the 28th.
The that the day next after Christmas dedi
Gated to ST. Stephen the protomaryr, shows with what
veneraton held by early church this day.
in many parts of Ireland, and in the Isle of Man. it is
still the custom of the boys to hunt the The origin
of this curious but cruel custom is hidden in the mist
of and thus offers another difficulty of getting great
results from small data" One legend in Ireland,
and told by Lady Wilde, is to the effect that
cason when the Irish troops approaching to at
tack PARTON of Cromwel1s army, the and
perched the Irish drums and by Their tapping and
noise aroused the English soldiers, who fell the Irish
soldiers and killed them ALL This tale is close analogue
to that in which the cackng of geese is said to have
saved Rome from capture which everF*the stad
historian Livy to treat with show of belief The
CUSTOM however, dates back much further than Crom
we'll and his Ironsdes In County Lerim the dead birds
carried from house to house tied to pole bunch
of furze covered with ribbons etc. the boys chanting
The the king of birds.
On st. Stephens Day he caught in the
Although he is little his family great,
So mistress and give treat.
The mistress has to turn in few pence to the boys
the Jackpot thus created being opened by boys
the end of the day.
In the Isle of Man The boys give feather of the
to each good wife who contributes the necessary
and it well be imagined that by the end of the day
the of the bird is somewhat diapidated
then buried the shore with certain cere-
monies In former years the interment the
churchyard.
1t and is still the custom in many parts England
this treatment this particular day, preventive
all equine ailments, thought be undoubted
even old Tusser seems to have had his doubts the