Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-22
EASTER EGGS ORIGINATED
IN A QUEENS COURTSHIP
By MINERVA SPENCER HANDY.

81 81 was in her youth and beau
W. " she made pilgrimage
10 the south of France 10
visit the shrine of her favorite saint
Some say it was 10 pray for a young
and handsome husband. If so, her pa
iron saint kindly granted the prayer
in advance Of the petition. On her way
she stopped to rest for a few days at
Bourg, a village on the edge of a deep
forest and at the foot of the majestic
Alps.
On Easter Monday the people for
miles around met to engage in the Gus
tomary Easter games. The young re-
gent of the Netherlands from her place
beside the chstelaine Of the castle en-
joyed the scene hugely. 1t was very
interesting TO watch the older men
shooting at targets and casks of wine,
the winner being allowed to put his
lips 10 the cask and drink his Ill. But
when the young couples began TO gath
er for the most exciting event Of the
day then the princess grew enthusiast
tic for. you remember, she was young
and fair and even queens dream
dreams of handsome. loving partners.
The moment arrived for the contest
One hundred eggs were scattered over
the ground. A young man and a maid
en- began the figure. While the on
lockers laughed il was a serious affair
for the dancers The couple that could
skip over the eggs. glide between them,
twirl about them in all the varied gyra-
tons of the dance, without breaking or
cracking an egg might marry each 9th
er in spite of the opposition OF their
parents Each couple was allowed
three trials. and. the dance being sue
cesSfulIy concluded. none dared oppose
the union.
While the merrymaking was at its
height the sound Of hunters horn
rang through the forest. Soon appear
ed company Of horsemen in such
brilliant uniforms that the simple
peasants stopped in their dance to
gaze and wonder whom they might be.
at their head rode beautiful youth.
dressed as only the mobiles OF the time
dared dress. He sprang from his
horse, bent a graceful knee TO the
chateaine of the castle and requested
her hospitality. OF course the hostess
granted it at once for this was Phil
bert. the handsome Duke OF Savoy.
The dance. which the coming of the
duke had interrupted. was now resum-
ed with greater merriment than ever.
After watching the dancers Margue-
rite in jest said. Il would that | were
one Of those simple peasants and
might try the dance"
Philibert bowed low before the fair
regent aud said. Madame. will you
permit me to he your partner in the
dance that is going on before us?'
This was equivalent 10 an offer of
marriage, and, hearing it. the crowd
became wild with enthusiasm Cries
Of Austrian and Savoy rang
through the air. and cheer followed
cheer Marguerite graciously ac-
Quiesced. and the handsome pair took
/ their place in the dance serious
task was before them. They must
dance around and around eggs. be
tween eggs. without breaking any. But
members Of the royal families were
accustomed to the dance. The feet Of
the royal lady were as light as thistle
down. while those of the handsome
knight We're graceful in the extreme.
When the dance ended not a single
egg had been touched
Love in those days was not long
in kindling. When the duke gazed into
the sparkling eyes and upon the glow
ing cheek OF his partner in the egg
dance he knew that the custom of the
country wasn't going TO be broken
And so it proved
One year from the day the two were
married Their guests were given sou
venirs OF gold and silver eggs filed
with spices which they called Easter
eggs. This custom was continued on
each anniversary in memory Of that
happy day in the forest when with
beating hearts they together tripped
the measures of the egg dance.