Royal Oak Day.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 54

Royal Oak Day.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— The 29th day of May is Oak-apple Day — so rung the old Thyme, but few of us in these degenerate times understand its significance or are aware that it refers to the glorious restoration of &ing Charles II to the throno of his ancestors in the year 1660. Oak-applo Day has fallen into disuse within the last few years, though still in the North of England the old customs are partially maintained, and! anyone seen before midday without an oak sprie in his or her cap or buttonhole is liable to tke penalty of being stung by a. nettle. These quaint survivals serve to remind us that what was once a universal observance has now sunk into oblivion and neglect. "We see i» this a remarkable change in the spirit of the times. The present generation has little respect or interest for past manners and cvistoms, and spends its holidays in one of two ways — one section of the community attends a race meeting, and the other a tea fight in some place of worship, the significance of the day being entirely lost sight of. It is but natural that the Jacobites who have the true medieval spirit, and therefore a great reverence for past times, should cling tenaciously to the observance of Royal Oak Day, and thus we see that the various statues of King Charles II in England are decorated on £he 29th of May with garlands of oak leaves, and bumpera are quaffed to the memory of "the Merry Monarch." It serves as a pithy reminder to those who are loyal to the Stuart family of that second restoration for which they are all working— that is, the restoration of HEH the Princess Mary of Bavaria to the throne* which i& hers by "nereclitary right.— l am, etc, m .. Nt C. C. Bagsai*. Feildins, Mas. 24.