The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-12-24


stipend the records of his rule that have been
handed down to it would rather that he himself
sadly in need of being regulated and disciplined.
Each city had its similar functonary and his Jurisdiction
not limited to this festive he had the
laton of all the festivals of the The reign of the
Lord of Misrule may said have ended when Crom
well and his "cropeared" Purtans took charge of the
government and while there attempt to revive
his lorshp after the restoration of Charles H. the bones
hid dried the flesh shriveled up-he
mummy of his former self. In Scotland the Alb
BOT of Unreason suppressed much earler-1555-by
the legislature but whether such strong action was due
to the spread of Purianism to the unbrded
disorder question. Under Henry WILL (154O) the
procession of children Childermas Innocens day,
forbidden in England by proclamation There are,
however, still few traces of the Lord OF Msrue. The
English Christmas pantomimes open on December 20
Boxing day-and have become much of an estab-
lished institution the Lord of Msrule in his
palmest days Of recent the institution has found
this side of the Atlantic The masquerading
the Lord of Msrue and his followers has
merely transferred to the boards of the heate In
parts of France masquerading by children is still
in during the three days following Christmas and
in most countries something analogous found.
Sometimes the feature is kept up until Twelfth day,
while in sections the fun does not commence until
New Years day.
These first three days have been specially
memory of saints and martyrs Stephen the
26th ST. John the Evangelist the 9th, and holy inno-
cents Chidermas on the 28th.
The fact that the day after Christmas dedi
Gated Stephen, the protomaryr, shows with what
veneraon he held by the early church On 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
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
cason when the Irish troops approaching to at
tack PARTON of Cromwelrs 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 cacklng of geese is said to have
saved Rome from capture, which the staid Roman
historian, Livy to treat with show of belief The
CUSTOM however, dates back much further than Crom
well and his ronsdes In County Letrim the dead birds
carried from house house tied to pole bunch
of furze, covered with ribbons the boys chanting
The wren. the the king of all birds.
On st. Stephens Day he caught in the furZe;
Although he is little his family is
So rise mistress and give a treat.
The mistress has to turn in few pence to the boys,
the Jackpot thus created being opened by the boys at
the end of the day.
In the Isle of Man the boys give feather of the
to each good wife who contributes the necessary CON-
and it well be imagined that by the end of the day
the appearance of the bird is somewhat dapidated
then buried the shore with certain mock cere-
monies In former the interment made in the
churchyard
It and is still the custom in many parts England
this treatment this particular day, preventive of
all equine ailments, thought to be undoubted but
even old Tusser seems to have had his doubts the