The Elbert County tribune., 1909-12-23

stipend but from the records of his rule that have been
handed down it would rather that he himself
sadly in need of being regulated and disciplined.
Each city had its similar functionary and his Jurisdiction
not limited to this festive he had the
ation of all the festivals of the The reign of the
Lord of Misrule be said to have ended when Crom
well and his "cropeared" Puritans took charge of the
and while there attempt to revive
his ordshp after the restoration of Charles H. the bones
had dried the flesh shriveled up-he
mummy of his former self In Scotland the Alb
bot of Unreason suppressed much earier-1555-by
the legislature but whether such strong action due
to the spread of Puritanism to the unbrided
OF disorder is question Under Henry VlIl 540) the
procession of children Chdermas, Innocents day.
forbidden in England by proclamation. There
however still few traces of the Lord Of Msrue. The
English Christmas pantommes open December &C.
Boxing day-and have now become much of estab-
shed institution as Msrule was n his
pamiest days years the institution
favor this side of the Atlantic. The masquerading
the streets of the Lord of Misre and his followers has
been merely transferred to the boards of the theater In
parts of France masquerading by children is still
in during the three days following Christmas and
in most countries something analogous is be found.
Sometimes the feature is kept up until Twelfth day.
while in sections the fun does until
New Years day.
These three days specially consecrated
to the memory of saints and martyrsSt Stephen
26th ST. John the Evangelist the 27th holy
cents Childermas the 2Sth.
The fact that the day after Christmas
Gated to St Stephen, the protomartyr, shows with
veneraon he held by the early church On this
in parts of Ireland, and in the Isle of Man. it
still the custom of the boys hunt the The origin
this cruel custom is hidden in the mist
of and thus offers another difficulty getting great
results from small data" One legend Ireland
and told by Lady Wilde is to the effect that
casion when the Irish troops We're approaching
tack PARTON of Cromwe's army. the
perched the Irish drums, and by their tapping
noise aroused the English soldiers the Irish
soldiers and killed them ALL This tale is close analogue
to that in which the cackling of is said
saved Rome from capture. which the staid
historian, Livy to treat with show
custom, however, dates back than Crom.
well and his ronsdes In County Leitrm the birds
carried from house house tied a pole or bunch
of urze, covered with ribbons etc. the boys chanting
The wren the the king OF all birds
On St Stephens Day he
Although he is little his 8
So rise mistress and give
The mistress has to turn in few pence boys.
the Jackpot thus created being opened by the boys
the end of the day
In the Isle of Man the boys give feather of
to each good wife who contributes necessary COIN
and it we'll be imagined that by the end day
the appearance of the bird is somewhat dapidated
then buried the shore with certain cere-
monies In former the nterment made in the
churchyard.
was and is still the custom in of England
to bleed the horses St. Stephens day The efficacy
this treatment this particular preventive
all equine ailments, thought be undoubted but
even old Tusser seems to have had his doubts