IN THE OLDEN DAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

IN THE OLDEN DAYS

PLUM PUDDINGS EXTRAORDINARY. In old chronicles we read of plumpuddings of such colossal size that they are calculated to make the devotees of our day gasp. Such a leviathan was the thousandpound pudding which James Austin, landlord of the Red Lion Inn, Southwark, essayed to transport to the Swan Tavern on Fish Street Hill, “on a vehicle drawn by six donkeys and escorted by a band playing on instruments larger than themselves.” The strange procession had not accomplished half its journey when it was attacked by a large mob determined to secure the pudding or perish in the attempt. A fierce battle ensued; and, although Austin - and his ‘ minions fought valiantly, and more than once repulsed the raiders, they had to yield to superior numbers, and had the mortification to. seeing the treasured pudding torn into a thousand pieces to fill as many mouths. ’ 7? Another pudding of “historic” interest was one weighing 500 pounds, which was offered as a prize by the landlord of the Cock Inn in To thill Street, in celebration of the jubilee of George 111. The pudding was competed for by teams of six men representing various trades of Westminster, and was awarded to the team who consumed the greatest quantity of tripe in a specified time! But- the Cock Inn pudding was a pigmy compared with the leviathan of which the village of Paignton, in Devonshire, was' the cradle seventy years ago. Of this monumental pudding we read that it turned the scale at a round ton and a half; and that eight horses were employed jo take it to the village green with all befitting ceremony. The list of its ingredients is calculated to make one gasp, for among them were 600 .pounds of flour, 400 pounds of raisins, 400 pounds of suet, 95 pounds of sugar, and so on through the portentous list, to 300 lemons, 106 nutmegs, and 360 quarts, of milk. And the eost of this emperor, of plum-puddings, we learn with amazement, was only £4's. Those were “good, old times.” .

THOUGHTS FOR CHRISTMAS. No Christmas giving, however lavish, is truly generous unless it includes some from whom there can be no return of gifts. 'if - . The advent of the Babe of Bethlehem is at the founda'ijon of Christriiastide, lienee’the season, ie fop ever sanctified to childhood and its innocent pleasures. The oldest and wisest, do well to inherit the children’s; blessing. • . From that'day to this a new glory has shone on all 'common, scenes, a new dignity lias been .understood in all common tasks, a new joy lias filled the common heart that has been opened to the Prince of Peace, the Saviour of the world.—-W. L. Wafkinson. The true keeping of Christmas is the realisation of the great love that brought us salvation and left us the example of a divine life; that we should repeat it, with God’s help, i all our relations to God and to our fellowmen.—Cunningham Geikie. We never know when a great event may be happening. Next morning the noise and bustle broke ouT a, ain in the inn yard; the citizens of Bethlehem went about their-work; the registration preeceded; and in. the meantime the greatest event in the history of the world had taken place. —James Stalker.