1928-12-15 — Page 35

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CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, 1928.

CHRISTMAS REVELS IN MERRIE ENGLAND.

By DR. W. GREENWOOD..

old-time Christmas of

Pepys, to whom we are so much indebted

'Ark!

THERE is about the old tour which is cal for graphic pictures of life in the seventeenth distend purple chelangels Sing"; the whit culated to set the pulses beating in the most century, has recorded that on Christmas point in their efforts to extract the last cynical of men the Yuletide which Scott: Day, 1658, he sat down to a dinner which blatant ounce out of their instruments. In conjures up for us so vividly in "Marmion." consisted of "a dish of marrow-bones, a leg kitchen and hall feet trip untiringly in "state- We can see, as we read, the fire, with "well of mutton, and a loin of veal: three pullets ly pavons and corantos high," in brantle and dried logs supplied," roaring up the wide and a dozen larks, all in a great dish. Also farraband. Ale and wassail flow in copious chimney of the baronial hall; the huge table a great tart, a neat's tongue, a dish of an-streams, and the fun waxes more and more riotous as the small hours of morning grow. groaning under the burden of lusty brawn, chovies and prawns, and cheese."

In 1770 Sir Henry, Grey gave to his But what matters to-morrow? To-day we of grim boar's head "erested with baya and rosemary; the huge sirloin, the plum por friends a dinner which is famous in history live! ridge and Christmas pie, and the wassail on account of the enormous pie which was "in good brown bowls garnished with rib-served. It is snit that it was nine feet in cir- cumference, weighed 165 lbs., and contained We watch the merry masqueraders pour-among other ingredients four geese, two tur- ing into the hill and laugh aloud at their keys, two rabbits, four wild-duck, two snipe, antics; and we hear the carols "roared, with seven blackbirds, and half a dozen pigeons. blythesome din," and enter with zest into all This huge pie was brought round at table on a four-wheeled truck specially constructed the revelry of the days when

for the purpose.

bons."

England was merry England when Old Christmas brought his sports again "Twas Christmas broached the mightiest 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale, A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man's heart through half the

ale;

year.

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Banqueters and revellers, lords of mis- rule, and mummers have long been dust, but how they did live in their day! Their revell- ing invests their memory with a glamour which no passing of ages seems able to dim.

CHRISTMAS TREASURE.

(Continued from Page 15.)

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"I don't think you need worry much about that," was the rector's comment. "I'll give you all the help I can."

It was fitting that such god-like feast- ing should have its accompaniment of merry- though aware that the figure was of some making on a similar lordly scale, and that value, he had no knowledge of its contents. the revels, should be directed by a past After old William's death, as the will and title master in the arts of irresponsible jolity. deeds could not be found, and as almost im- At Yuletide, from the King's palace to the mediately old Jack also had died, the lands squire's hall, the Lord of Misrule, or Master passed out of the possession of the Bullough of Merry Disports, was the genial autocrat family. The documents showed that old What a large-hearted, hospitable man to whom every knee, even that of his host, William had willed that the estate should was the squire of those "good old days"! "I must bow for twelve days of unrestrained pass to his nephew, the son of his only sister love," says Sir Roger de Coverley,,"to rejoice revelry. At his command, "whensoever he Mary. The nephew was Larry's grand- the hearts of the poor at this season, and shall sound his trumpet or music," "all must father, and, as the surviving heir, Larry now to see the whole villge merry in my great be at his command to do him good service"; became entitled to the estate, provided, of hall. I allow a double quantity of malt to and he had full authority to break open all course, that he could prove the genuineness my small beer, and set it running for twelve locks, bolts, and bars to come at those who of his claims. days to every one that calls for it. I have presume to disobey his lordship's commands.” always a piece of cold beef and a mincepie Under such a merry and irresponsible upon the table, and am wonderfully pleased monarch fun and folly reigned supreme. His to see my tenants pass away a whole even-mischievous pranks and those of his satel ing in playing their innocent tricks and smut-lites-kept hall and palace alike in jovial dis- ting one another."

order and uproarious gaiety, with masks and The Christmas dinner of these days of mummerics, practical jokes and farcical old was a banquet indeed. The best of good antics,, until Candlemas-Day, when the Lord cheer, stately ceremonial, and jollity joined of Misrule laid down his sovereignty. hands. Watch the imposing entry of the On Christmas Eve began the reign of bear's head, heralded by a flourish of trum-the Mummers, with their masquerades, pets, borne aloft in a dish of gold or silver mysteries, and miracle plays, which added by the server, who, as he enters the ban-so much to the gaiety of "Merrie England" queting-hall with his escort of nobles, at Yuletide. "Then," to quote an old writer, knights, and fair ladies, sings his "Caput "comes mumming or masquerading, when Apri Defero, Reddens Laudes Domino." In the aquire's wardrobe is ransacked for the wake of the lordly dish, decked with dresses of all kinds, corks are burnt to black "sweet rosemary and-bays," follows the pea- the faces of the fair, or make, deputy cock, "food for lovers and meat for lords, moustaches, and every one in the family, ex: with gilt beak and gay-coloured plumage, and cept the squire himself; must be transform- stuffed with spices and sweet herbs." To ed.""

Then it means that Larry is really wealthy ?" asked Christine, greatly excited. this land you can see from the window here "Yes, my dear," said the rector. “All belonged to Larry's ancestor. Larry Bullough is our new Squire!"

ed Larry of the rector.

"Will you do me a favour, please?" ask-

"Certainly," replied the other. "Then will you be good enough to call our banns next Sunday" was Larry's aston- ishing request.

ed.

rector heartily."

"Delighted, my dear chap!" replied the

"But" began Christine, overwhelm-.

Larry took from his pocket a little box, and from it he drew a diamond ring, which he quickly slipped on the third finger of Christine's. left hand.

the strains of music it is borne into the hall More commonly the Mummers, were a by the fairest lady guest, with her retinue band of local rustics who, grotesquely attired of ladies almost as fair as herself; while and masked, sallied forth on Christmas Eve

"This did not come till this morning's over Juno's bird knights-errant swear to on a round of visits to the houses of the prin- post, dear," he explained, "and I did not know succour lovely woman in distress at the cost cipal inhabitants, demanding admission for whether I would be able to offer it to you. I of their lives.".

"St. George and his Merry Men." First had hopes of some stroke, of good fortune

These are but the heralds of the feast, enters Father Christmas, with holly-bough coming my way this Christmastide. Now, by which includes geese and pheasants, capons and wassail-bowl, and then follows his quaint the gift you have given me, I am able to and pies of carp-tongues, hams and sirloins, retinue St. George, the gallant knight; the claim you. little Christine, as my Christmas and so on, through the long and succulent Grand Turk, and the Dragon of fearsome Treasure!" list of Christmas fare, to plum porridge and mien: a little girl bearing a branch of mistle- mince-pies of gargantuan proportions, until toe. the doctor, armed with a mammoth the table literally groaned under the wealth pill-box, and the parish beadle, swelling with

of seasonable fare. As for the drinks, they the dignity of his office, All enter to the Printed and published for the Proprietors, range from mend and ale, "so old that it is beating of drums and the discordant sounds almost sweet and treacly," to the bowls of of weird instruments, to play their drama wassail, with cherries and crab apples bob- "bing gaily on their steaming surface.

and to convulse all by their absurd antics.

Carollers make the frosty night vocal with

The Newspaper Enterprise Limited, by DAVID CHRISTIAN WILSON, business manager, at 3a, Wyndham Street, Hong Kong.