tv I t for the yw IfM. nearly * cmtfuir W ft itfuot, ft «n considered • mm later. coct £4.116 at 01 luck. The bread left at It via These muqnM. or disguising*, the Mtt day take* up u< saved to wore participated is bjr Ul« ladle* ud light the BMt gear's to*. Witte tha gentlemen of the court; la fact, we toft continued Morn tug there wan lad James' queen, Ana* of Denmark, drinking. eaUn« and tailing of stmafts appearing with her Ivory akin black- tales. Even tha lowly awntlaw had ened to represent a negress from the a log on their hearth of a Klicer. The yonag Prince Char lea. era. and, white gsaeratty afterward the Ill-fated King Charles 1-, tha biasing fire waa considered suf- also took part in these Christmas tea- ficient for t!laminating purpeeea ta tlvlttes. as did also the Princess Eliza- the halls of the great caadtos ware beth and Prince Henry. burned aa wall. On Christmas era The Revels. the walla and carol aingera played Twelfth Night was the usanl time under windows until the generosity of for these Christmas xertl* at. White- the householders waa a routed. hall, and. In fact, had been for cen- On Christmas day. in tha morning, turies st the English coart. Although all went to church, dressed in their Henry VIII. Is credited with haring beat. The vicar preached the beat adopted the old Italian custom, as sermon of tba year, aad tha choir, early aa Edward Ill.’s time we heard from long practice, led the singing of ludl, or plays, exhibited at court In with Christmas spirit. This service the Christmas holidays. In 1348. when the day. Heaceforth the day was Edward kept his Christmas st his cas- given up to featlvltlea. aDd tle at Guildford, the dresses for the In thoae days, even aa In these, Is* With (rood Cheer1 Revelry, Lordly maskers consisted of buckram tun- eating and drinking* were the princi- ics of various colors, masks 6f differ- pal means of enjoyment. Christmas aod ent similitudes, namely, faces of wom- in England seemed to have been de- Wa^ailiog ifofie, MammiD&Meme en and mei, heads o! angels, 'made signed to suit palate* and to test ca- of silver.'* and mantles embroidered pacities. The requisites for good Yale Fejtival. < with heads of dragons, peacocks and Christmas fare were plenty of good Epglapd observed tbeJoyoq) swans. It is not known that the en- drink, a biasing Are In the hall, pod- tertainment consisted of anything be- ding, mustard with a sirloin of beef, yond the most primitive kind of pan- shred or minced plea, goose, capon, tomime and posturing, and It Is very turkey, cheese, apple* and nnts, to doubtful If they even suggested the say nothing of carols to which this drama aa we know It great procession of edibles led. TheJLord of Misrule No court entertainments In Eng- To the Victorian Era. land that had (tone before equaled In A growing body of the people in magnificence the masques written by these days took no part In the merri- Johnson and designed by Inigo Jot.es, ment of Christmastlde; In fact, their which made the holidays an annual long-drawn faces, sour looking all the pleasure to James I. and his queen. year, were almost unbearable at the King James, notwithstanding the fact season of Joy. Alarmed at the goings- his name Is Inseparably linked with on at court, mortified at the licen- the choicest English version. of the tiousness of the ruling clam, they Bible, was given to luxurious pleas- vowed worldly Joy waa a detestable ures; and his young queen, Anne, had thing. Life to them waa a stern ex- the reputation of being a most grace- istence. Kven In Elizabeth's time ful dancer at a time when (lancing these had begun their pro- was regarded as one of the fine arts. teats against Christmas celebrations, Christmas Masques at Whitehall. and against royal pageantries, and In King James loved pleasure and the time of James I. their voice grew Queen Anne nearly made a bankrupt so loud that they were caricatured of him to pay her Jewelers. She loved In some of the masques at court progresses, as they were called, and They continued, these stern old in one of her royal visits to Bristol roundheads, to grow In numbar and spent $150,000 on a costly presenta- In power, and, baring made an end or tion of a masque. From this It may King Charles I. In a moat effectual be Imagined that the Christmas manner, put their Iran on-everything masques held at Whitehall, where that England loved moat, including the king then lived, must have cost an Christmas. enormous outlay. In fact. It Is known Under the Commonwealth they that one cost $22,000. Ben Jonson stopped the decoration of churches wrote twenty-nine masques for his at Christmas, and sent a crier about king, most of them being produced at I/ondon with a proclamation to the Christmas. effect that "Christmas day and all In the times of the Stuarts Christ- other superstitious festivals should mas was not only observed at court, be put down and that a market should but those old customs which were be kept upon Christmas day.” Per- ancient even then were followed sons who Insisted upon attending

" throughout England, wherever there chnrch on Christmas day were Imms- Tear Home l Oik Father Chmtizzdd was a castle or house of well-to-do (iiately arrested. As for the Lord of Christmas festivities were Misrule and fellows to people. they distinctions not be to employing "mean. Illiterate “The History of Dan- might apparent by the poorer people; in fact, were banished, and the Parliament by were not in these enjoyed to the were over act, who cunning iel," which seems beholders, signs hung it was intended that they should get its own act crossed Christmas off the bearing matters." and for lengthening out the have been Intended these crude pieces of scenery much entertainment from them, but it calendar. For ten lbng years Eng- the names of the performances by introducing apocry- for Christmas present- places represented. was the rich who footed the bill, and land. so closely allied with the ob- matters. When it was known Like most of the the phal ation. mystery plays, they were usually very cheerful about servance of Christmas, was throttled* that this action on the part of the “The of St. story is told and numerous * I Image briefly too. but Christmas was only in exile; he “undertakers" of the had it, anthems are for the Mystery 'JkYfoito pvt fortkmrilfelidf Nicholas” shows more interpolated season returned with the royal family when made the performance last from 8 The Christmas usually be- ««• benefit of the choristers. Iso festival of the whole is so real dramatic aow-ra and lasted until the Restoration was-accomplished. year or 9 o’clock in the morning until 6 gan on Dec. 16 ^an. honored as and Btruction than-these early productions Wakefield shepherds’ Play. of Old Customs. merally Christmas, o’clock in the tho trial will 6, although in Elizabeth's day the sea- The Passing Toward the end of the the boys afternoon, r reason of its observance do, for, while lta plot la not play last tor The of the last of the general usually to have been a son bad been known to full six days George* a Innocents arisen from the appear perfectly „ust ter© has Into it so many cus- complicated, there Is undoubtedly (the having saw the of time-bbn> crept proceeding. By these tactics also the weeks or until Shrove Tuesday, her- I departure many as fol- into the choir; Herod’s >ms and that it Is almost plot. In brief, the story Is dead) go a ored Christmas customs in practices Mystery was made to continue for aiding the coming of Dent, put stop England, an im- throne is then taken by an actor, who ut any one’s ability to catalogue lows: An actor, representing to the merrymakings. and the arrival of some new ones. The bids over six months, to the demoraliza- of St. Nicholas stands in a shrine represents Archelaus; an angel of first tern. There is no other festival, per- age of the and business The Lord of Misrule. singing of carols was one the return from tion Church in- so and so ever as and discovers half a dozen robbers, the Holy Family to the ips, old, yet new, terests of the town. Anciently Christmas observances in- to go. and later In century thei ils one no other In the who have Btolen a treasure box which Egypt, and then the precentor begins a few: Is; day long Under the Stuarts. cluded the reign of the lx>rd of Mis- waits disappeared, although and so the tar so looked forward to had been hidden in the shrine for safe the “Te Deum,” perform- of James now and then annoy Lon- wistfully Christmas masques, mere excuses rule or the Abbot Unreason. stragglers fth of but a barbarian. The latter ance ends. anticipations happiness; keeping by for and ladles of the court [, according to tradition, having on doners In the Christmaa season, until the finest comic touches to gentlemen has like else, returns, finding his treasure Some of a tells them to move on. changed everything and, to attire themselves In fantastic, gor- one occasion hid his crown under the bobby old id is a very different day from what gone, bewails his loss, and, whipping be found in these religious plays There were Some of the old etchings geous or bizarre costumes, were long abbot’s hood. gambols by Sey- once was. the image, demands the return of the are to be found in the Wakefield Shep- of the first illustrator of Pickwick, popular in Italy and in France, and by the students under the guide mour, or rather some The then to the herds’ play, written about the year Christmas customs, goods. image goes a visit to the the Lord of Misrule, plays In the vari- which are reproduced on this page. with Henry VIIL, having paid ! those, adapted to this time of year, robbers', and telling them that they 1400. The first scene opens '« far more ancient than the festival will not thrive with the stolen goods, three shepherds w-atching their flocks, of the cold self. It Is common knowledge that they give up the treasure to its owner. all of them complaining le , for instance, is a The latter, out of gratitude, kneels night. A character called Mak takes hristmas fixture, derived from the to the image and adores it, but the part in their rude sport, and upon a Mak's rulds, who are also responsible for saint then appears to him and bids opportunity steals sheep. t€ Yule clog or log. The custom of him to worship God alone and praise theft is subsequently discovered, and a of nging carols formed an important only the name of Christ. The bar- he is soundly thrashed, piece irt of the day’s celebration under barian is then converted and closes “business” which was certain to e Saxon kings, and the mince pies the piece with adoration. arouse laughter in a medieval audi- to a ■e believed to have been a remnant “The History of Daniel.” ence, for it seldom falls amuse ! cakes consumed at the Roman win- "The History of Daniel” is a piece modern one. There are certain parts r sports, always held at this time of in two acts, and was, no doubt, pro- ol’ this comic scene that would be » year. In order to do no violence duced with considerable spectacular considered too broad nowadays, but it the customs of the people, the effect for the time. In the first act must be understood that at this time ■imltlve Church selected the time we are shown Belshazzar's Feast, the plays had passed out of the the Roman for its and in the second, which deals with church, and were now acted on the iristmas celebration. Almost any Darius. King of the Medes and Per- movable platforms in the public frolic is followed me of the year might have been ed- sians, we are shown Daniel denounc- streets. This by the ited, for there is no authority for ed and sent to the den of Hons. At serious scene. An angel appears, after which •c. 25 as the date of Christ’s birth. Daniel’s prayer “there shall appear an singing the “Gloria,” he that Christ born at Beth- in xne Miaaie Age*. angel of the Lord in the den, having a announces is While the was burned sword, who shuta the mouth of lehem. pon the hearth upon , the lions.”* Darias, finding Daniel oo cite saepnvruQ o«Haivit«ui id maids were kissed under mistle- saved, puts the latter's envious ac- and make such presents to the Holy their e in the dark ages, Christmas was cusers in his place and leads Daniel Child as lie within powers. One til a religious festival. In order to to hts throne, ordering the people to presents a "bob of cherries.” another ake It attractive to the people, and adore the true Ood. Daniel then de- a bird and the other a tennis ball. the so to instruct them in the Bible livers a version in rhyme of the phro- “Acts ef Apostles.” ories, plays were produced with phecy (chap. vli.. 13-14) of the coming During the reign of Francis I. in of eat splendor In many a great cat-he- of the Son of Man, and to close the France, the presentation a grand ld. play another angel appears, singing, mystery of the “'Acts of the Apos- As the liturgy of the church was In “Behold, I bring you good tidings of tles,” given during the Christmas sea- itin, so, too, were the Christmas great Joy,** etc., “which being finish- son, was made the occasion of a spec- in Paris. In aa ays, but they were easily under- ed," continue* what might b* called tacular proclamation ood by the people, for even If the the stage directions, ‘if it was done account of this procession around the ords escaped them the costume and at matins, Darius begin Te Dcum different quarters of tbs French capi- i« action conveyed a deep meaning, Laudamus,' but if at vespers, ‘Mag- tal. which is found in a rare little *• in Paris a a rale, there was little literary nificat Anima Mea Dpaxinum.’ tract published In 1641. we iortt la the plays, having been writ- “The Slaughter of the Innocents." learn that the procession started out out schools sad tbs a idea of how old ChHe* ha with the sole idea of conveying in- Another early Christmas play has at 8 o'clock on the morning of Deer. neighboring realm. Imported them universities, by givs spirited “officers of benchers of tbs There were ui.u vu observed la England la the ruction in a pleasing manner, and been found la an old Orleans main- 1«, attended by Justice, Into England. temple. the visits of who, much early days of Victoria's reign, wheer containing farcical scenes, script It has for its subject “The plebeians and others baring the regu- Daring the reign of Elizabeth mummers, of rhetoricians and like our New Tear's shooters, dis- the spirit; of the seaaoa was stHl ailed Me may well believe were Slaughter of the Innocents," and was lation these, gen- masques, the work of poets, and in tlemen of the long robe, as well as guised themselves. They west from and modem ideas had not yet by the crowds that fill- no doubt frequently played daring form we now came the know them, custom one of the short." They were preceded house to house sad. recited s play, the old the cathedrals at Christmas time. the Middle Agee in oranother into and the prominence, greatest of St. on Of the earliest Christmas French cathedral. In Fraaee and on by trumpeters and the mayor's archers usually the1 play George* plays writer of these but trivial en- cross or pleasant the net of December. St Thomas' have come down to us are to be the continent generally the plays and at every way public tertainments was Ben Johnson, who One of the chief of the ts that la the few. fragmentary works produced were usually the effort of place repeated the proclamation la day. figure# wrote about three dosen daring the was old Father nine h«Hy “tied in S us. n mock of the twelfth a local learned doctor, although at the King's name. The day flxed for mumming reigns of Jemes I. and Charles L who was tor centuries aadee ho times copies of popular dramas were the performance was the feast of St were It the pUlow oa Christmas alfbt will made for use by neighboring town* Stephen, Dec. H. The proclamation These sumptuona spectacular Claus of England, although In which the cele- he did bed sleeper to dreasa of hla In the piny just noted (IntertocUo caHed upon the people "who wished entertain snents. nave# believed anything of her falarw wife Puerorum) the pgrt of the innocents to do so” to take pert and to attend brated architect, Inigo Jones, was represent the spirit of the asnaea the to devise “the ef Yule was taken by the choir beys, and the rehearsals at hall of the employed machinery,1' Burning the

otner CDinctfri, urciwunf w nwr to until the elaborate in those days tiuBThed into the baronial halls In Us ms, were reprsaentad by monks, in from day day perform- yet dragged The the in the great gaping on# part of the church was erected a ance was considered perfect Jteen attempted upon pjrofetftonal country, put Hotel de While the drat Christmas and with the Sr is unas season, namely, “The Im- manger; in another a throne tor Her- piece was played in the Flan- stage. kept place, ignited same year the of VOL cost £*84 lta.td.hw remnant of the re of 8t Nicholas." most likely pro- od. A distant comer was Supposed to Ths mssagers by Besry preceding Its to bam all night; mod on that Mint’s day, Dec. «, and represent Shvpt, and tor fsar thane lag. duty wee