Christmas Gossip

Hawke's Bay Tribune, 24 December 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

Christmas Gossip

PLUM-PUDDING AT NILE'S SOURCE

To eat Christ mas-pudding near the source of the Nile is something of a novelty, but it was done last year by a number of English tourists, and will probably be repeated this Christmas. British. East Africa was penetrated by a white man for the first time in the ’eighties, and came under the influenetjof civilisation about ten years ;.go. Already, however, travellers may enjoy the comforts of first-class hotels and "railway accommodation, with such amusements as the shooting of elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotami, giraffes, and ostriches thrown in. From the point of view of the man iu the street this way of spending Christmas has two drawbacks—it costs a larg" amount, and the trip occupies jcveral months.

KISSING BOUGH SUPERSTITIONS. “Good wine needs no bush.” So runs tho old saw. and it is interesting to trace its probable origin to an ancient super-tition regarding the virtues of the mistletoe-bough.. Outside taverns in Brittany, where manv old traditions linger, Tranche-, of mistletoe are frequently seen hanging, the idea bung to guarantee merrymakers against encountering, on thei'way homo in the darkness, sorcerers, devils, witches, and tiny, weeping babies, that flv through the air, and clutch vou nt the back of the nock. Curiously enough, while oak-tree n.istletoe is believed by the simple peasant folk of Breton and Normandy to exercise a virtuous influence, the boughs of the parasite which grow on the angle +r?cs ore considered bad to Gunner with, and those who cut them for the Paris and London markets are coii*ir!*r?d to b* hard-up, or reckless ne’er-do-weels, who dav© to risk the bed luck certain to follow. .The most supr-rsritmus of the femers will se" l a liojo orcbfirds choke and perish rather thin interfere with t’i» d ten d'■ on: e nar a s i t?.

CHOOSING A HUSBAND. Don't choose a husband I’ecatisc von think he is perfect. It wou'd never do to marry a man who was faultless in mtience and temper. You are mt perfect yourself., so don't look solute perfection in your

THE CHARM OF THE CAROL. It will probably surprise those people, who profess a lofty disdain for the charms of the Christmas carol to know that their antipathy is not shared by the highest in the land. The Emneror William of Germany, together with all the members of the German Royal Family—and, 'indeed, all German children, high and low; rich and poor—delights in the strains of the Christmas carol ; and all the Russian Royal Family are expert in rendering the sweet Russian hymn of the Nativity. King Alphonso XIII. is an adept at carol-singing. Some years ago, selected members of St. Paul’s Cathedral choir were on Christmas Eve rendering “Hark! the herald ange’s sing,” outside the Royal residence. The strains awoke Queen Victoria, who opened the window and listened. Descending, her Majesty opened a door, invited the singers inside, insisted that the fine old hymn should be repeated, and herself joined heartily in the singing. CHRISTMAS MUMMERS Years ago Christmas pastimes were of rather a wilder order than they are in these days All sorts of pranks were pbived : there was nothing in the way of law and order. So much might aliro«t be gathered from the fact that a Lord of Misrule was appointed to direct in a .misdirected kind of manner the festivities He was master of the ceremonies from Christinas Eve until Twelfth Night. Each big baronial hall whore friends and relatives, retainers, and the "people of the neighbourhood did congregate, had its Lord of Misrule. Villages and other communities frequently appointed one. He had full powers to help nil to enjoy the fun bv giving themselves un completely to the spirit of the time. On his appointment ho macle a humorous speech, inviting the people to be wise enough to make fool* of themselves, and claiming that he had been invest'd with magic powers enabling him to turn all present into children. Therefore, they must all be children for the time, and act as

He? hod plenty to do. fir’s Lord of Misrule. As one of the historians—a i somewhat disgruntled one—puts it, the i time was spent in ‘‘revelling, epicurisme. wantonesse, idlenesse, dancing. drinking, stage n’aie.s. ij>nsqti'>s. and.carnal pomj*s and poUity.” The "plaies” and masque’ were great | events. Stagecraf*■ in those days- long j before and long after Elizabethan times | —was not what it is now. but in high places the masque, a quaint sort of pliv, was produc'd <”? a reMlv magnificent scale, especially at the Court, where the Lord of Misrule held sway even over Royalty. Among the characters appearing in tho medley were heathen deitiee. angels, elvo*. fairies, other spirits and demons.

HOW DICKENS USED TO SING COMIC SONGS. In the "Girl’s Own Paper and IVoman's Magazine, ■’ Charles Dickens, the grandson of the famous novelist, wiites some interesting reminiscences of his grandfather at Christmas-time: “My father has told me that his first really clear recollection oi my grandfather was in connection with a certain American rocking-chair, which presumably had accompanied him on his return from his reading tour in the United States, and in which he used to sit and sing comic-songs to an amazed but appreciative audience- consisting of my father and his two sisters.

“One of the favourite songs of this--most select audience dealt with theliistory of Guy Fawkes, who was described. I believe, as:—

‘‘‘Guy Fawkes, that prince of sini.sters... AVho once blew up the House of Lords, Tile King and all his Ministers.’ “Each stanza began with some such startling announcement. In one stanza it was stated that this ’princo of ministers’— " ‘Crossing over Vati.xhall Bridge That way came into London — That is, lie would have come that way To perpetrate his gift, sir, But a little thing prevented him, The bridge it wasn’t built, sir.’ “And then later, in another part of the song, lie went on to explain how—- “ 'They straightway sent to Bow Street Fot that brave old runner Townshend— That is they would have sent for him. For fear he was no starter at. But Townshend wasn't living : then : He wasn't born till aider that.' “And all this with a chorus of tho good old fashioned sort «ifh a ‘Bow. wow, wow. ri fol de riddy, oddy, bow. mow, won,’ refrain.”

j JUST TO BE TENDER. 1 Just to be tender, just to be true, Just to be glad tho,whole day through; Just to be merciful, just to lie mild, Just to be trustful as a ' bild. Just to be gent'e. kind, and sweet. Just to be helpful with willing feet. Just to be cheery when things g<wrong, Just to drive sadness away with song Whether the hour is dark or bright. , Just to bn loval to God and right. -Just to I'-elieve that God knows best,. Just in his promises ever to rest - Just to let love lie our daily key. That is God's will for you and me. Anon..