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W - ' ,CHRISTMAS IN IRISH LEGEND I HOW CHRISTMAS WAS FORMERLY OBSERVED _ Christmas Time

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(Continued from page 1)

Among the irish peasantly the

be.lef still p.evails that the Virgin and child uevlslt earth on Catast- inas 1-.ve and that the Vir sin s

sin ' S

on exquisite melt-dy which is lncap-_

ubic of being produced by mortal tongue. lil many districts doors arc ielt, open, bright fires are burning ond tl feast is spread tor the lioty wallde.ers, ’l`ne Christ- mas candle is bu-:ned to light the way for the tired feet tt' the Bes- sed lilctllcr.

Padraic Pea..-ie, tile great irish

visionary and poet. refers to this legend in oile oi his books. lie tells how a peasant woman having inode all preparations l.»r the _coin- if.; of her heavenly visitors, if they should rest, in her cabin. as night advanced, fell asleep as she wuzted their arrival. Walking up sho .law tl beautiful youilg woman willl n child in her arms resting ily the fire. Throwing herself oil ltcr knees she prayed for the gill oi’ ll child for which she and her husband had prayed for many years ill vain, lier \vish was gianted and wunlon ill the Gaelic districts today speak wlstfuliy of the iuilahy that Mary was singing tc her Babe.

' Miracle Plays.

l'ublic pcrfozmancc of miracle

play.; is an ancient irish custom. They were perfozlned in churches and were the presentation of some event ill the life of Christ or of some nclctl episode ill the lives ol' tho Saints. The cast was div- ided up in a curious why between city dignitaries, one official taking thc Dart of the Devil, another of an Angel, and so forth.

A quaint custom still exists fu

County Ktlkenny. On the eve of

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Twelfth Day it latge loaf, usually baked some days before and called the Christmas lc'af.,is laid on the table. All doors and windows are closed and bolted. '1`hon~ the lady t-f the house takes the loaf in her hands and pounds against the clos- ed door repeating three times in irish the -followiilg rhyme:-

"We warn famine to retire

To the country oi' the Tulks- Fzom this night to this night

twelve-mc-nth And even this very night."

The Christmas Waits which orig-

inated with the idea of singing tl welcome to the Christ Child are _-itiil it familiar feature of Christ- mas in llreland. ln County Mayo the tradition holds that a Chrlst~ inns conille must never be exting- uished but must be allowed to burn itself out. The dt.-ora in this coun- ty are always left open. lil West Clare candles are lit. on Little Christmas Day in honor of tho lilcsstd .\iotllel‘.

Tile belief is common ill the irish

countryside that those who die at night on Christmas Eve escape pur- gntory. An over zealous desire for their relaiivc's happiness is re- Lozdud in Mcbollaglrs irish Lite and »Chai'a.cter when it cel't.aiu dy- illg farmer who was supposed to have had a rather hectic past was smothered with a. pillow so that he might escape purgatory. lic-foie the year 1800 midnight processions were held oil certain nights during the wcek before Chrlstnlas.

Tllcro is no Santa Claus in irc-

and. Pathol' Christmas ‘reigns su- preme and all good children hang their biggest zvtocltings.

The term "Christmas boxes" us-

ed in ireland is suid to be ticlived from the little boxes ol' red Woof! (with some coins in them to rattle) given by <1-iii irish chieftains to tllcll' children and 'lctalners.

At one time people stayed up all

night on Chrltmas Eve and the 'first person to announce the crow- ing of the cock <-il Christma_-l morn- ing, if a man, was iewarded with a cult of tea mixed with a glass of spirits. ll` it wt-man she was giv- ctl the tea ollly and six kisses, and chrolllclers state that this was the mvintost colnpliment which could lic paid her.

The Yule log i'vus used in ireland

from the most ancient days and while it burned custom decreed that no person could leave the house without taking re~fieshment_ The ponaity for doing sc- wus tl. spoil of had luck. Records special refcrellcc to the celebratic-n cf this custom.

in olden days in Cork it was the

custom tn light s cuilously shaped candle -stick in the form of three candles branching from the same stem, All three ends were lighted in honor of the Holy Trinity. This was extinguished nt midnight on Christmas Eve and kept. for the ell- sning year as a protection against all evil spirits. in Cork also from tory ancient days there was a noisy public ceremony in cmlnectifzi with the chasing of the wion. lt..was a cruel custom, disliked hy thc-se in' authority for it frequently ended in rioting when stones intended for the poor little birds hit human be-

ings instead.

The excuse given ic.-: this curi-

ously barburous custom in the len- end well-known among the peas- ants that when the native irish were about to overcome their Dan- ish enemy, having come up io the Danish camp hy gtealtil, n wren hopped on u Danish drum and woke the nlumberlng sr-ntrit-s in time tn save the nrmy. The bil-ti wus lherellnr-n nililldgod ti traitor. otit-

lnwoii and sclifent-,ell io death.

There is another legend connect-

ed \vllll the lille of the king of all i.lrdit, it set ms tliilt thi- hlrds do- t-illeil that they would choose an lander the hlrtl limi could ily in.- hlgm-ai. The angle flew the high-

est but just when he was about in

proclaim the fact. the wren who had concealed him-self under his crest P0l>D€d out his head and de- clared his kingship.

Qualnt Cultoml.

Kerry was once the seut ci' lcurll-

illg but the people and the school- masters were extremely poor. it is recorded that- the schoolmaster‘s pay often consisted solely of a ioil of fresh butter at Christmas time from his various neighbors. Dil- ferent counties had different :li- tlcles of payment.

Many quaint customs existed.

At Cllldaff the laborers combined to buy a sheep and raffle for the different parts. During the holi- days folks in that neighborhood always amused themselves by play- ing a game called Kammail. This consisted of hitting a wooden ball with a cvookctl stick and it wus the object of the player's opponents to drive ii. thc other way.

December 8 was known in Olli

lioland as Cross Day. It was be- lieved that anything begun on thnt day would have an evil ending. Good housekepere would not warp bread on that day or permit it to be warped. in County Clare this tra- dition is especially strong and the old folk would point. out to you it whitehorn bush growinil ill U10 middle of some loose 'stones on i_he lionks or i..ike Turloush. This is called the l-1nrl's bush. Legend has it that it woman made it suit of clothes for her child on this day and the child died. The `WOIn8l\ then took the clothes and hum! them on the Eail's bush. In tho morning they were found hill oi' dead eels which of course conclus- ively proves that nothin! ‘3h0\ll<1 he done on December- the eighih- '

Oil the last night of the Old Year

it was fovmerlythe custom for the head ci tho family to throw a Cake against the IIC-Ol' Of Bach “DWG in order to new away hmisef for '-110 folic-wing year. in County Down wlsps of straw were thrown H110 hong;-Q and at pcople to wish them good luck. in County Antrim custom rigidly decreed that anY0“€ entering fri- leaving houses on NBW \'elxr's day must eat and drink 011 leaving it or had luck would ensue-

A Christmas ‘ Family Party

As to the dinner, it's perfectly de-

lightful-nothing goes wrong, and everybody is in the very best. of spir- its and disposed to please and be pleased. Grandpa relates s. circum- stantial account of the purchase of the turkey, with a slight digression relative to the purchase of previous turkeys, on. former Christmas days, which Grandmama corroborates in the mlnutest particular. Uncle George tells stories, and cnrves poul- try. and takes wine, and Jokes with the children at the sidetable, and winks at the cousins that are making love, or being made love to, and ex- hiiarates everybody with his good humor and hospitality, and when at last. a stout. servant staggers in with a gigantic pudding. with s sprig of holly in the top, there is such a laughing and shouting, and clap- ping of little chubby hands, and kicking up of fat dumpy legs. as can only be equalled by the applause with which the astounding feat of pouring lighted brandy into mince pies, is received by the younger vis- itors. Then the dessert!-and the wine!--and the fun. Buch beautiful speeches, and such songs from Aunt Margaret‘s husband, who turns out. to be such a nice man, and so at- tentive to Grandmama! Even Grand- pnpa not only sings his annual song with unprecedented vigor, but on being honored with an unanimous encore, according-to annual custom, actually comes out with a new one which nobody but Grandmama ever heard before; and a young scape- gracc of a cousin. who has been in some disgrace with the old people. for certain heinous sins of omission and commission-neglecting to cali and persisting in drinking Burton Ale-astonishes everybody into con- vulsions of laughter by volunteering the most. extraordinary comic songs that were ever heard. And thus the evening passes, in 9. strain of ration- al goodwill and checrfulness, doing more to awaken the sympathies oi' every member of the party in behalf of his neighbor; and to perpetuate their good feeling during the ensu- ing year, than half the homllles that have ever been written. by half the Divines that have ever lived. -

“Sketches by Baz."

Christmas Memories

Listen! Christmas bells are ringing From their lofty home-towers bring-

ing

Thoughts both sweet and sad: Memories throng with voices singing, Bygone smiles in hearts yet. llng'~

ring-

Just the best we had!

Still. the're‘s love and peace around

Living angels still surround usl

Comfort whispers olean- 'Hap will find the chains which

bound us

Here. the gems that will have crown-

cd us

In in happier sphere!

Far and near. all nations spending This great day: harmonious blending Heart and soul in song! christmas greetings; glad bells send-

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Brighter hopes! through crisp air

wending;

Joy bella all day long.

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xmas EVE Fssvlviriss Ai_wAvs luctunisn A' DANcE wi'rH MisTLEToE suspervcso UNDERA cdNv£NiENT _sPo_'r, `*'T'l,

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_ Superstitions

_ That Die Hard

Dean Inge has declared that we

have become more superstitious since thc Great War, notwithstand- ing the fact. that the upheaval shot- tered many of our illusions, and was supposed to have brought the world up against the stark reality of things. But one writer points out that even the war itself was respon- sible for many superstitious notions. Before the war no one thoughtariy- thing of lighting his own cigarette and thc cigarette of two of ills friends with one match, blltintlieise days, especially among returned men the smoker will hesitate at the third party. r

Mr. Charles Platt, a writer on

superstitious, reminds us thattherc is "luck in odd numbers,” and there is an old saying that “thethird time is lucky." He saystllat cven today most. doctors prescribe a dose three times a day, after meals, although many people take more than three meals. With regard to the supersti- tion surrounding the number thir- teen, Mr. Platt thinks it is a fateful rather than an unlucky number. Twclvc for a long period remained the limit of man‘s power of calcula- tion, thirteen, thereforc. was anum- ber to be dreaded and avoided bc- cause no man could fathom its im- mense possibilities.

The superstition against sitting

thirteen at a table is said to date centuries earlier than the Last. Sup- per. but that it does not always work ill is proven by at least one instance. The late Lord Roberts used to relate how on New Years Day, 1853, hc was one of a party of thirteen who dined together at Peshawar, on the Afghan frontier. Eleven years later all were still alive, although they had parti- cipated in the ghastly carnage of the Indian Mutiny.

Friday is supposed to be a lucky

day for lovers, and thirteen is said to be also lucky in love affairs, Mr. Platt states that it is probably for this reason that most hard-headed Scots get married on this day.

There is a deeply-rooted supersti-

tion that May is not a lucky month for marriages, and this is traced to the Romans, who considered it was a month sacred to the old. and should, therefore, be avoided by lov- ers.

The Unlucky Color.

One of the most tenacious of su-

perstitious is that regarding thc wearing of green. It is certain that it was by no means a. lucky color for Ireland in the old days.

But it would appear that the su-

perstition originated in Scotland. where this color was looked upon as evil, Mr. Platt. gives a rather matter- of-fact; explanation of this dread of green in the Highlands. when he points out that ii: is "obviously a conspicuous color on their heather- clad hills, and the Scots were by na- ture great fighters.

Sailor Supefstltions.

Sailors’ superstltions are so num-

erous that one would not know where to begin and end in dealing with them. Here are a few:

Sailors dread a whistling woman.

because whistling is supposed to draw a breeze and therefore danger.

lf you bent your wife you will be

lucky in fishing.

It is unlucky to ask A nshermari

` From “Pickwick Papers."

From the contre of the ceiling of

the kitchen old Wardlc had just suspended \vith his own hands rl brunch ci' mistletoe, and this same branch ci mistletoe instantaneously gave risc to a scene of genernl anti most delightful struggling and con- fusion; in the midst of which Mr. Pickwick. with it gallantry which would have done honor to a descend- ant of Lady Tollimglower herself. took the old lady by the llaild, led her beneath the mystic branch, and sttlutcd hc: in all courtesy and ole-

COl`lllll.

The old lady submitted to this

piece of practical politeness with nil thc dignity which beilitcd so import.- antund serious a solcmnity, but thc younger ladies, not being so thor- oughly imbued with a superstitious rcliclntinil of the custom, or imag- ining that the value of a salute is vcly much enhanced if it cost a little trouble to obtain it, screamed and istitigglcd, and rarl into corners. and tllrcatencd and rcmonstrated, and did everything but leave the room. until some of thc less adventurous gentlemen were on the point of de- sisiing. yhcn they all at oncc found it useless to resist any longer, and submitted to bc kissed with a good grace. Mr. Winkle kissed the young lady with the black eyes, and Mr. Snodgrass kissed Emily; and Mr. Weller, not being particular about the form of being under the mistle- toe, kissed Emma and the other ic- lnale sol-vant.s, just as he caught them. As to thc poor rclations,thcy kissed everybody, not even except- ing thc plainer portion of the youn: lady visitors, who, lp their exces-

sive confusion, ran right under thc mistletoc, directly it was hung up, without knowing itl Wardle stood with his buck to the illje. surveying tno wnole scene with the utmost. satisfaction; and the fat boy took thc opportunity of appropriatirlg to his own use, and summarily devour- ing n particularly fine mince pic. that had been carefully put by for somebody else.

Now thc screaming had subsided.

and faces were in n glow, and curls in at tangle, and Mr. Pickwick, after kissing“the old lady as bcforc-men- lioned, was standing under the mis- tletoe, looking with a very pleased countenance on all that was passing around him. when the young lady with the black eyes, after a little whispering with the other young ladies, made a sudden dart. forward, and putting her arm around Mr. °i~‘f“'i~k`s neck, saluted him affec- tionately on the left cheek: and be- fore Mr. Pickwick distinctly knew li -is me matt/er, he was sur- rounded by the whole body, and kissed by every one of them.

It was a pleasant thing to see Mr.

Pickwick in the centre of the group. and pulled this way. and then that. and first kissed on the chin. and then on the nose, and then on the spectacles. and to hear the peals of laughter which were raised on every side; but it was a still more pleasant thing to see Mr. Pickwick. blinded shortly afterwards with a silk hand- kerchief. falllnz no against the wall, and scrambling into corners, and going through all the mysteries ot' blindman's buff, with the utmost. re- lish for the game, until nt last he caught. one of the poor relations.

The Dickerfs

, Fellowship

Ono of thc most. remarkable tri-

butes to the influence of Dickens is the amazing growth of the Dickens Fellowship founded in London. Eng- land, by some of the novelists' ad- mirers tt comparatively few years ago. Branches of the Fellowship are found all over the world where English-speaking people foregathcv. Apart from the study of Dickens' works the members are united ill furthering the ideals of social re- form which he had so much at heart; arid at Christmas time, where there is a Branch of the Fei- lowshlp, the members will befound aiding, in particular. orphaned chil- dren, especially cripples, out oi' love for the memory of 'I‘lny Tim, of "A Christmas Carol,” 'Dickens' most widely known and most loved ohild character. In Canada Branches of the Fellowship have been establish- ed in Montreal, Toronto. Winnipeg, Nanaimo and Vancouver. In the United States the Branches are as follows:-New York, Boston, Phila- delphia, Pittsburg, Bethlehem, Naz- areth, Chicago. Old Town Orono, Maine; Chester, Pa.: Seattle, Sierra Madre, Passadena, Los Angeles, East Bay, Cal.; and Everett, Wash.

if he has had a good catch.

All naval salutes are given in odd

numbers-for luck. The minute gun is the only even-numbered salute.

Never point with your finger at a

ship nt sea, use the whole hand, otherwise it means ill-luck for those on board.

Christmas Abides

- By Maud B. Little.

Onc starry night long, long ago when all the air was chili

There shone a light in beauty bright

Athwart the silent hill.

And shepherds there who watched

with care

Behold the heavenly sight.

Which brighter glows each year that

goes

Retonchlng earth with glory, Gliding with gold and love untold

The same sweet Christmas story.

And as they still affrighted stood Sweet music fell from heaven

As angel voice bade all rejoice 0'er Christ, a Saviour given.

And as they sang the chorus rang

Far over Judean plain

Till every cllme this Christmas time

Re-echoes the glad refrain.

Then in the east the wise men there,

Who longed their Lord to see.

Saw from afar a brilliant star,

Arise in majesty. ' -

Then followed they along the way

with iaith and napa that cling

As up we climb to heights sublime To worship the nev/-born King.

And now again u- little fires burn

We come. dear Lord, to thee For clearer sight of visions bright

That thou wouid'st have us nee.

Atune each ear thy word to hear, And lead us sion; Thy way. Open Thou each heart as we apart

' Bring to Thee our-‘gifts today.

, .A Christmas Carol

"Come," said Wardle. "a song-a

Christmassong. I'll give you one, in default of a better." -“Pickwick Papers."

I care not for spring: on his fickle

wing

Let the blossoms and buds be borne; He woos them amain with his

treacherous rain,

And he scatters them ere the morn. An inconstant elf, he knows not

. himself.

Or his own changing mind an hour, He'll- smile in your face. and. with

wry gimace.

He'll wither your youngest flower.

Let. the summer sun to his bright

nome run,

I-Ie shall never be sought by me. When he‘s dimmed by a cloud I can

laugh aloud.

And care not how sulky he be.

For his ‘darling child is the madness

w ld.

Thai: sports in fierce fever‘s train; And when love is too strong, it

don't last long,

As many have found to their pain.

A mild harvest night. by the tran-

quil moon.

Has a far sweeter sheen, for me, I

ween,

Than the broad and unblushing

noon.

But every leaf awakens my Srief,

As it lieth beneath the tree; So let autumn air be never so fair, It by no means agrees with me.

not my song I'il troll out, for christ-` i ml-B Bl.0\|li» The l....,.._,,~...e true and the bold; A bumper I drain, and with might

and main

Give three cheers for this Christmas

old.

We'll usher him in with a merry din That. shall gladden his joyous heart. And we'll keep him up. while i.herc's

bite or sup.

And in fellowship good wen] pg;-t_

In his fine honest pride. he soorns

to hide

One jot of his hard-weather scars: There's no disgrace, for theres much

the same trace

On the cheeks of our bravest tara. Then again I sing till the roof doth

ring,

And it echoes from wall to wall- To the stout old wight. fair wel-

come tonight

As the King of the seasons alll

_ __ SANCTUARY _

Let. us put. by some hour of everyday For holy things, whether it be when

dawn

Peers through the window pane or

when the noon

Flames like a burnished topaz in

- the vault. ~

Or when the thrush pours in the

ear of eve .

Its piaintive monody - some little _hour . Wherein to hold rapt convene with

the soul

From sordidness and self a sanctu-

HW.

Swept. by the wlnnowing of unseen - wings And touched by the white light in-

etfable.

K -Ollnlon Bcollard.

“Christmas time! That man must

be n minnthropo indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feel- ing is not roused-in whose mind some pleasant suoéiations are not awakened-by the recurrence of Chl'|l¢m|.l."-“Sketches by B01."

Special interest is attached to the

above quotation u it is the earliest reference to Christmas in the writ- ings of Dickens. The futher, fo pandy his own words, of n long, long line of brilliant allusions to Christmas time.

MR.. F'EZZIWIG'S BALL From “A Ghrlxtmas Carol.”

Old Fezziwig laid down his pen,

and looked up_s.t. the clock, which pointed to the hour of seven. He rubbed~hls hands: adjusted his cap- acious waistcoat; laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence, and called out in a comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial voicez- Y

"Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! Dick!

Yo ho, my boysl No more work to- night., Christmas Eve, Dick. Christ- mas, Ebenezer. Let's have the shut- ters up," cried old Fezzlwig, witha. sharp clap of his hands, "befbre a manrcan say Jael: Robinson!"

You wouldn‘is believe how those

two fellows went at it! They charged into the street with the shutters- one, two, three-had 'em up in their places.-Four, five, six--barred and pinned ‘em-seven, eight nine-and came back before you could have got to twelve. panting like racehorses.

"Hilli-hot" cried old Fezziwig,

skipping down from the high desk with wonderful agility. "Clear away, my lads, and let/s have lots of room here! Hiiii-ho, Dick! Chlrrup up, Ebenezeri"

Clear away! There was nothing

thaw wmildn't have cleared away, or couldn’t have cleared away; with old Fezziwig looking on. It. was done in a minute. Every movable was pack- ed off, as if it were dismissed from public life for evermore; the floor was swept and wal/ered. the lamps were trimmed, fuel was heaped upon the fire; and the warehouse was as snug. and warm, and dry, and bright a ball-room, as' you would desire to see upon a wini.er's night.

In came a fiddler with a music-

book. and went up to the lofty desk, and made an orchestra of it, and tuned like fifty stomach-aches. In came Mrs. Fezzlwig, one vast sub- stantlal smile. In came the three Misses Fezziwig, beaming and lov- able. In came the six young follow- ers whose hearts they broke. In came all the young men and women employed in the business. In came the housemaid with her cousin, thc- bakcr. In came the cook, with her brothel-'s particular friend, the milk- man. In came the boy from over the way. who was suspected of not havingboard enough from his mas-

ter; trying to hide himselxbchinci the girl froln next door but I e, who was proved to have had her ears pulled by her mistress. In they all came, one after arlother;“some shy- ly, some boldly.. some gracefully. some awkwardly, some pushing, some pulling; in they all came, any- how and everyhow. Away they all went, twenty couples at once: hands half round and back again the other way; down the middle and up again; round and round, in various stages of affectionate grouping; old top couple always turning up in the wrong place; new top couple start- ing off again, as soon as they got there; all top couples at last and not a. bottom one to help them! When this result was brought about, old Fezziwig, clapping his hands to stop the dance, cried Out.. “Well done!" and the fiddler plunged his hot. face into a pot oi’ porter, especially pro- vided for that purpose.

There were more dances. and there

were forfelts. and more dances, and there was cake, and there was ncgus. and there was a. great piece of cold roast., and there was a great piece of cold boiled. and there were mince pies and plenty of beer. Bgt the great effect of/the evening came af- ter thc roast and boiled, when th/e fiddler (an artful dog, mind! the sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it hlml) struck up "Sir Roger de Coverley.” Then old Fezaiwig stood up to dance with Mrs. Fezziwlg. Top couple, boo; with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them; three or four-and-twenty pair of partners: people who wre not to be trifled with; people who would dance, and had no notion of walking..

But if they had been twice Ts

many-ah, four times-old Fezaiw g would have been a match for them. and so would Mrs. Fezziwig. As bo her. sho was worthy to be his part- ner in every sence af the term. If that's not high praise, tell me hizh- er, and I'll use it. A positive light.- appenred toilssue from Fezziwig’s calves. They sl-lone in every part of the dance like moons. You oouldn'i; have predicted. at any given time. what would become ol them next. And when old ibuiwis and Mrs. Fezziwlg had gone all through the dance-advance, and retire, both hands to your partner, bow and curtsey. oorkloraw. f thread-and- needle. and bsokngain to your place -Feaziwi| “cut”--cut so deftly, that he appeared to wink with his legs, and oamo upon his feet. again with

a sinner. -

When the clock 'struck elevem,t.his

domestic ball broke up. Mr. and Mn. -Foniwig .took their stations, one on either |ide.bf'1ln"door, and tihikinp hands with every person in- dividually ns he or she went. out, » wilneci mm or hu- A Merry Christ- mas. When everybody had retired but the .two 'pr¢ntioes, they did the some to them: and thu: the cheer- ful voices -died awdy; and the lads were left to their bode: which were under l counter in the back shop.

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