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January 343 |
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in Europe, when the histories say, "At its first discharge, knighthood fell forever from its saddle." The Chinaman's presence indicated his claim of having known it two centuries before its supposed first invention.
We were put upon our honour to give no hints or suggestions other than the cards furnished, and at the end of a very busy hour the prizes were given. The first prize was a very little clock, suggestive of marking the flight of Time; the second, a very entertaining volume entitled "Eighteen Christian Centuries," by White. Every one else was given a pretty little calendar by way of souvenir.
"The world is very young for its age"—and all the years joined in a merry contra-dance to the music of popular airs of 1904.
TWELFTH-NIGHT REVELS
Twelfth-Night has an unfamiliar sound to American ears, but to our ancestors, be their nationality what it may, the holiday for which the words—or their equivalent—stood was as well known as Christmas and as widely observed.
In olden days the festivities of Yule-tide, the gala time of all the year, lasted twelve days, which was the time supposed to have been consumed by the Magi in their journey to Bethlehem.
This brought the last evening to the sixth of January, when the gaiety culminated in an entertainment on what was known as "Twelfth-Night."
This had distinctive features belonging to its celebration as well recognised as Christmas itself.
One of the special observances of Twelfth-Night was the baking of a huge cake which contained a bean and a pea. When the cake was cut, the person to whose lot |
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