Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06


inaugurated their feast on the LIST Of
June. Because Stephen Duck. the poet
was originally q thrasher OF that place.
Palmerston gave an acre OF land in Rush
Hail field to the thrashers in 1874 The
annual rental, which was then e. 1os
was applied to furnishing the food for
the yearly dinner.
Whitmonday saw Leicester at its best
at fair time. The millers. decked In fiy>
ing colors. walked in gorgeous procession
behind the king Of the May. In 11s8 their
procession was even more elaborate Il
was headed by a barron and baroness"
wearing pasteboard armor and riding on
their white steeds. The guilds OF frame
other craftsmen had their several bands
in this parade and each had its float IL
Illustrative of its trade. The weavers are
said to have alluded to their work
through the presentation of q youthful
and innocent shepherd and shepherdess
carrying a lamb.
One of the most recent REVEALS Of the
old-time fair is the effort which has late
ly been exerted at Coventry. The pas-
eants OF old at that town were so elabo-
rate that it is probable that Queen Eliza
beth alluded to such practice when she
said: I'VE men Of Coventry. Good lackI
What fools We be!'' At this pageant.
celebrated every few years. each guild
carried much equipment in the way OF
ancient arms and armor. The head OF
the procession was always accorded to
the MERGERS. while the woolcombers al
ways brought up the rear with their
floats OF shepherd and shepherdesa.
crooks, lamb and shepherd dog.
There is record that the craftsmen of
Chester gave their first mystery plays
in l26s. during Whitsun week. Monday
and Tuesday Of that holiday nine Bible
plays were enacted and Wednesday
seven. The stagelike platforms erected
at different parts of the town afforded
ample accommodation for the townspeo-
pie and their hundreds Of guests who
came from nearby cities to witness the
each Of these stages. As soon as the
tanners, who presented the flrst Of the
series, tho story Of the fall Of Lucifer.
had finished on the first stage they
other platforms. The diapers presented
the scenes Of the creation. while the
water carriers Of the river Dee exhibited
their talents in enacting the Incidents OF
latter play showed his originality by de-
plotting Noah's wife as preferring to stay
with her gossiping neighbors rather than
to 60 into the ark. but by forceful per-
suasion she finally Joined her husband
and family.
Nothing could have been moro con-
ducive to real conviviality among the
shows at Shrewsbury. From morning
to night the second Monday after
Trinity Sunday was a real time Of
pleasure. Back so far in the history
Of England that 1t Is recorded as
thine out of mind" one of the kings Of
tho country contributed portion Of
land to the craftsmen. to be divided
among the various guilds. In Kings
land suburb of old Shrewsbury. each
guild built its harbor. or hall. in
which to offer hospitality. especially
during fair time. During the day tho
procession afforded entertainment. but
when this part of the fair program
was over each guild repaired to its
harbor, where singing and continuous
eating enlivened the. evening. The
mayor and corporators. who were
bound by custom to visit all OF the
harbors. doubtless enjoyed their task
and did their duty.
Change in Industrial conditions grad
ually lessened the influence OF the
guilds, which enjoyed much prosperity
from the twelfth to the fifteenth CEN
turtles. During the latter half Of the
eighteenth century many of these or.
ganizations lost their vigor. but the
old guilds have never become defunct
OF the 100 which existed, eighty are
alive today in the form Of livery COM
panies.
OF those possessing but a remnant Of
their former power and practictns
their ancient trades only to the slight
est degree. forty city companies have
their own halls. while the other
gutldsmen use rented or loaned quar-
tiers. There Is probably not one OF
these guilds but still has some Of its
ancient plate in the form of silver
cups or pewter dishes which have been
used for centuries and are still used
At ceremonious banQuets. It Is not
surprising that such possessions are
guarded with every vigilance. Today
the usefulness of the livery companies.
which are composed of men of stand
ing and means. is felt by the poor who
enjoy recreation centers and by the
hundreds who are given technical edu.
cations at the expense of these city
these guilds with honor. for their be.
nevolences are extensive.
Guild Hall, where the lord mayor of
London is elected each year. sees many
at the banquet which celebrates these
occasions Formerly the various guild
officers met in the counsel hall of this
historic edifice to decide important mu-
nicpal questions. Now the vote of the
guildmaster counts only as much as any
livery company is Of no mean fmpor-
lance to the Englishman who is running
for lord mayor. Unfortunately, the in
dividual guild houses Of London are SO
show that they would If grouped to-
gether as In Brussels. In that city the
halls Of this ancient order of workmen
on the Grand Place are one of the sights
of the city. With other buildings OF
prominence they form the finest square
in ALI EurODe