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344 The Book of Indoor and Outdoor Games
fell the bean was named the "Twelfth-Night King," and invested with full powers over the rest of the guests until midnight—hence the traditional "King of the Revels."
The chance of the pea determined the queen, and their mock majesties, arrayed in fanciful robes, directed the mummeries that wound up the Yule-tide merry makings.
When Mary Stuart cut the cake on Twelfth-Night at Holyrood, 1563, her maid Mary Fleming drew the pea, and was forthwith dressed in the robes of her royal mistress and treated with queenly honours.
In France even now "77 a troue via feve au gateau" (he has found the bean in the cake) is applied to one who has met with exceptionally good luck. Later, a ring and a coin replaced the bean and pea.
The revival of old-time merrymakings, in order to add a spice of novelty to the entertainments of the present, found amusing expression on the Twelfth-Night of last year.
Its traditional social features were closely followed by the hostess, whose guests, being well acquainted, fell in readily with her suggestions.
A mammoth star-shaped cake adorned with flowers, among which tiny electric lights were hidden, was cut when all were assembled.
It was made after the recipe for the Twelfth-Day cake, which still exists, dating back two hundred and fifty years. It was composed of flour, honey, ginger, and a little pepper, stuffed full of "plums" (the old name for raisins), and with caraway seeds soaked in cider.
The coin determined the "king," whose wishes were to be laws to the rest of the company until midnight, and the recipient of the ring assumed the role of "queen."
They were at once invested with royal mantles of Tur- |
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