Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1915 — CHRISTMAS AT BRACEBRIDGE HALL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHRISTMAS AT BRACEBRIDGE HALL

feHERE IS A DELIGHTFUL DE-6 Ascription of an old ~ ENGLISH CHRISTMAS CELE-(*-i> BRATION, TAKEN FROM THE “SKETCH BOOK,” WRITTEN NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS AGO BY WASHINGTON JKVING. ....

T was a brilliant moonlight night, but estremely cold; our chaise whirled rapidly over the frozen ground; the postboy smacked bis whip ; - v ■ incessantly and a part of the time his horses were on a gallop. “He knows where he is going," said Js£4_ my companion, laughing, "and is eager to arrive in time for some of the merriment and good cheer of the servants' hall. My father, you must know, is a bigoted devotee of the old school, and prides himself upon keeping up something of old English hospitality. He is a tolerable specimen of what you will rarely meet with nowadays in its purity, the old English country gentleman; for our men of fortune Bpend so much of their time in town, and fashion is carried so much into the country, that the strong rich peculiarities of ancient rural life are almost polished away. “My tether was always scrupulous in exacting our holidays, and having us around him on family festivals. He used to direct and superintend our games with the strictness that some parents do the studies of their children. He was very particular that we should play the old English games according to their original form; and consulted old books for precedent and authority for every 'merrie sport,’ yet I assure you there never was pedantry so delightful. It was the policy of the good old gentleman to make his children feel that home was the happiest place in the world, and 1 value this delicious home-feeling as one of the choicest gifts a parent could bestow.” Queer Dinner Bell. I had finished my toilet and was loitering with Frank Bracebridge in the library, when we heard a distinct thwacking sound, which he informed me was a signal for the serving up of the dinner. The squire kept up old customs in kitchen as well as hall; and the rolling-pin, struck upon the dresser by the cook, summoned the servants to carry in the meats and fixings. The dinner was served up in the great hall, where the squire always held this Christmas banquet. A blazing, crackling fire of logs had been heaped on. to warm the spacious apartment, and the flame w r ent sparkling and wreathing up the widemouthed chimney. On the sideboard was a display of plate that might have vied (at least in variety) with Belshazzar’s parade of the vessels of the temple: “Flagons, cans, cups, beakers, goblets, basins, and ewers;” the gorgeous utensils of good companionship that had gradually accumulated through many generations of jovial housekeepers. Before these stood the two Yule candles, beaming like two stars of the first magnitude; other lights were distributed in branches, and the whole array glistened like a firmament of silver. We were ushered into this banqueting scene with the sound of minstrelsy, the old harper being seated on a stool beside the fireplace, and twanging his instrument with a vast deal more power than melody. Never did Christmas board display a more goodly and gracious assemblage of countenances; those who were not handsome were, at least, happy; and happiness is a rare improver of your hard-favored visage. Enormous Pig’s Hea'd. The parson said grace, which was not a short, familiar one. such as is commonly addressed to the Deity in these unceremonious days; but a long, courtly, well-worded one of the ancient school. There was now a pause, as if something was expected; when

suddenly the butler entered the hall with some degree of bustle; he was attended by a servant on each side with a large wax-light, and oore a silver dish, on which was an enormous pig’s head, decorated with rosemary, with a lemon in its mouth, which was placed with great formality at the head of the table. The moment this pageant made its appearance the

harper struck up a flourish; at the conclusion of which the young Oxonian, on receiving a hint from the squire, gave, with an air of the most comic gravity, an old carol. Though prepared to witness many of these little eccentricities, from being appraised of the peculiar hobby of mine host, yet, 1 confess, the parade with which so odd a dish was introduced somewhat perplexed me, until I gathered from the conversation of the Bquire and the parson that it was meant to represent the bearing in of the boar’s head; a dish formerly served up with much ceremony and the sound of minstrelsy and song, at great tables, on Christmas day. "1 like the old custom." said the squire, “not merely because it is stately and pleasing in itself, but because it was observed at the college at Oxford at which I was educated. When I hear the old song chanted, it brings to mind the time when 1 was young and gamesome—and the noble old coliege hall —and my fellow-students loitering about in their black gowns; many of them, poor lads, are now in their graves!” That Tiresome Parson. The parson, however, whose mind was not haunted by such associations, and who was always more taken up with the text than the sentiment, objected to tho Oxonian’s version of the carol, which he affirmed, was different from that sung at college. He went on, with the dry perseverance of a commentator, to give the college reading, accompanied by sundry annotations; addressing himself at first to the company at large; but finally their attention gradually diverted to other talk and other objects, he lowered his tone as his number of auditors diminished, until he concluded his remarks in an undertone to a fat-headed old gentleman next him, who was silently engaged in the discussion of a huge plateful of turkey.

The table was literally loaded with good cheer, and presented an epitome of country abundance, in this season of overflowing larders. A distinguished post was allotted to "ancient sirloin,” as mine host termed it; being, as he added, “the standard of old English hospitality, and a joint of goodly presence, and full of expectation.” There were several dishes quaintly decorated and which had evidently something traditional in their embellishments; but about which as I did not like to appear overcurious, 1 asxed no questions. Follows Old Customs. It would be tedious, perhaps, to my foolish fondness for odd and obsciete things, to which 1 am a little given, were I to mention the other makeshifts of this worthy old humorist, by which he was endeavoring to follow up. though at humble distance, the quaint customs of antiqu'ty. I was pleased, however, to see the respect sjowo to his whims by his children and relatives; who. indeed, entered readily into the full spirit of them, and seemed all well versed in their parts; having doubtless been present

at many a rehearsal. 1 was amused, too, at the air of profound gravity with which the butler and other servants executed the duties assigned them, however eccentric. The dinnertime passed away in this flow of innocent hilarity; and, though the old hall may have resounded in its time with many a scene of broader rout and revel, yet I doubt whether it ever witnessed more honest and genuine enjoyment. How easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him; and how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness, making everything in to freshen into smiles; the joyous disposition of the worthy squire was perfectly contagious; he was happy himself, and disposed to make all the world happy; and the little eccentricities of his humor did but season, in a manner, the sweetness and philanthropy. The Children’s Games. After the dinner table was removed, the hall was given up to the younger members of the family, who, prompted to all kinds of noisy mirth by the Oxonian and Master Simon, made its old walls ring with their merriment, as they played at romping games. I delight in witnessing the gambols of children, and particularly at this happy holiday season, and could not help stealing out cf the drawing room. I found them at the game of blindman’s buff. Master Simon, who was the leader of their, revels, and seemed on all occasions "to fulfill the office of that ancient potentate, the L6rd of Misrule, was blinded in the midst of the hall. The little beings were as busy about him as the mock fairies about Falstaff; pinching him, plucking at the skirts of his coat, and tickling him with straws. One fine blue-eyed girl of about thirteen, with her flaxen hair all in beautiful confusion, her frolic face in a glow, her frock half torn off her shoulders, a complete picture of a romp, was the chief tormentor; and, from the slyness with which Master Simon avoided the smaller game, and hemmed this wilcF little nymph in corners, and obliged ner to jump shrieking over chairs, I suspected the rogue of being not a whit more blinded than convenient. For my part I was in a continual excitement, from the varied scenes of whims and innocent gayety passing before me. It was inspiring to me to see 'wild-eyed frolic and warm-heart-ed nospitality breaking out from among‘the chilis and gloom of winter, old age throwing off his apathyT and catching once more the freshness of youthful enjoyment. I felt also an interest in the scene, from th 6 consideration that these fleeting customs were posting fast into oblivion, and that this was, perhaps, the only family in England in which the whole of them were still punctiliously observed. There was a quaintness, too, mingled with all this revelry,, that, gave it a peculiar, rest; it was suited to the time and iplace; and as the old manor house 'almost reeled with mirth and wassa.il, it .seemed echoing back the joviality of long-departed years. s>A