The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-12-25

stipend but from the records of his rule that been
handed down to us it would rather that he himself
was sadly in need of being regulated and disciplined
Each city had its similar funconary and his jurisdiction
was not limited to this festive season. he had the regu
laon of all the festivals of the year The reign the
Lord of Msrule may be said to have ended when
well and his "cropeared" Purans took charge of the
government, and while there attempt revive
his ordshp after the restoration of Charles H. the bones
had become too dried the flesh shrveled uphe was
a mere mummy of his former self. In Scotland the Alb.
bot of Unrcason suppressed much earer-1555-by
the legislature, but whether such strong action
to the spread of Purtansm the unbrided scenes
of disorder Is question Under Henry WILL Q540) the
procession of children Chldermas Innocens day,
was forbidden in England by proclamation There are,
however still few traces of the Lord of Msrue The
EhSilSh CHRISTMAS pantomlmes open on December 20
Boxing day-and have become much of an estab-
lished institution the Lord Msrue was in his
palmiest days OF recent years the institution has
favor on this side of the Atlantic The masquerading
the streets of the Lord of Misrue and his followers has
been merely transferred the of the theater In
many parts of France incorporating by children is still
In during the three days following Christmas and
In most countries something analogous is to be found
Sometimes the feature is kept up until Twelfth day
while in some sections the fun does commence until
New Years day
These three days have been specially consec-,ted
to the memory of saints and mayrs-S Stephen on the
Goth, ST John the Evangelist the 27h, and holy limo
cents or Childermas on the @Sth.
The fact that the day next after Christmas was dedi
Gated to St stephen the protomartyr. shows with what
veneraon he held by the early church On this day
In many parts of Ireland. and In the Isle of Man 1t Is
stu the custom of the boys to hunt the The origin
OF this curious but cruel hidden in the mist
OF ages and thus offers another difficulty of getting great
results from small data one legend current in Ireland
and told by Lady Wilde is to the effect that on one oc
caSion when the Irish troops approaching to at.
tack PARTON of Cromwclls army the wrens came and
perched on the Irish drums and by their tapping and
noise aroused the English soldiers who fell on the Irish
soldiers and killed them all This tale close analogue
TO that In which the cackg Of geese said TO have
saved Rome from capture which the 5taid Roman
historian lVY seems to treat with show of belief The
custom however dates back much further than Crom.
well and his lronsides In County Lerim the dead birds
are carried from house to house tied to pole or bunch
OF furze covered with ribbons ETC. the BOYS chanting
The wren the wren, the King OF an birds.
ON st Stephens Day he WAS caught in the e.rzs.
Although be is little his family $ great.
So rise MP mistress and a treat
The mistress mas to turn a few pence to the boys
ne jackpot thus created beuG opened by the BOYS at
the end OF the day.
In the Isle of Man the boys give feather of the wren
e each good wife who contributes the necessary coin
ana can well be imagined that by the end Of the dav
the appearance of the bird Is somewhat illuminated n Is
then buried ON the shore with certain mock cere.
monies In former the utermcnt was made in the
churchyard. " ~
Il was and is still the custom in many parts or ENGLAND
"a bleed the horses st STEPHENS day The efficacy Of
his treatment ON this particular day as preventty O.
I'll equine ailments thought 10 be undoubted hut
even old Tusser have had his doubts on the