The Virginia enterprise., 1909-12-31

stipend records his rule that have been
handed down would seem that himself
sadly in need of being regulated and disciplined
Each city had its similar functionary and his jurisdiction
not limited to this festive season. he had the regu
laton 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
government and while there attempt to revive
his ordshp after the restoration of Charles bones
had become dried and the flesh shrtveled uphe
mummy of his former self. In Scotland the Alb
bot of UnreasOn suppressed much earer-1555-by
the legislature but whether such strong action due
to the spread of Puritanism to the unbrded
of disorder is question Under Henry VI (1540) the
procession of children Childermas 1nnocens day.
forbidden in England by proclamation There are,
however, still few traces of the Lord of Msrule. The
English Christmas pantomimes open December 26-
Boxing day-and have now become much of an estab
shed institution the Lord of Misrule In his
palmest days. Of recent the institution has found
favor this side of the Atlantic The masquerading
the of the Lord of Msrule his followers
been merely transferred to the boards of the heate
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 up until Twelfth day,
while in sections the fun does not until
New Years day
These three days specially consecrated
to the of saints and martyrs-st Stephen the
26h, ST. John the Evangelist the 27th and holy nno
cents or Childermas the 28th
The fact that the day next after Christmas ded
Gated to St. Stephen the protomartyr shows with what
veneraon he held by the early church. On this day.
in parts of Ireland and in the Isle of Man, 1t is
still the custom of the boys hunt the The origin
of this curious but cruel custom is hidden in the mist
of and thus offers another difficulty of getting
results from small data One legend in Ireland
and told by Lady Wilde is to the effect that
casion, when the Irish troops approaching to at
tack PARTON of Cromwers army, the wrens 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 is said to have
saved Rome from capture, which the staid Roman
historian Lvy seems to treat with show Of belief The
custom, however, dates back much further than Cron
well and his ronsides In County Leitrm the dead birds
are carried from house to house tied to pole bunch
OF furze covered with ribbons the boys chanting:
The wren. the wren. the king Of all birds.
On ST. Stephens Day he caught in the
Although he is little his family is great,
So rise mistress and give a
The mistress has to turn in few pence the boys
the Jackpot thus created being opened by boys
the end of the day.
In the Isle OF Man the boys give feather
to each good wife who contributes the necessary
and 1t we'll be imagined that by the day
the appearance of the bird is somewhat dapidated
then buried on the shore with certain mock
monies In former the interment made the
churchyard.
1t was and is still the custom in many parts England
to bleed the horses St. Stephens day The efficacy
this treatment this particular day. of
all equine ailments, thought to be undoubted
even old Tusser to have had his doubts on the