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hytting him by chance with the shittle-cocke upon the forehead, "this is," quoth he, "the encounter of David with Goliath."

Tetter-totter, or See-saw.-Tetter-totter, or see-saw, an amusing, but sometimes a dangerous game, so well known to rustic lads and lasses, and mentioned by Gay:

"Across the fallen oak the plank I laid,

And myself poised against the tottering maid;
High leap'd the plank, adown Buxoma fell."

Cross and Pile, or Head or Tail.-Cross and Pile, or, with us, "Head or Tail," was formerly played at court; Edward the Second was partial to this, and such like frivolous diversions. In one of his wardrobe rolls we meet with the following entries:

"Item, paid to Henry, the king's barber, for money which he lent to the king to play at Cross and Pile, five shillings. Item, paid to Pires Barnard, usher of the king's chamber, money which he lent the king, and which he lost at Cross and Pile; to Monsieur Robert Watteville, eightpence."

Anciently the English coins were stamped with a Cross on one side. This game is evidently derived from a pastime called ostrachinda, known in ancient times to the Grecian boys, and practised by them on various occasions. Having procured a shell, it was seared over with pitch on one side for distinction sake, and the other side was left white; a boy tossed up this shell, and his antagonist called white or black, and his success was determined by the white or black part of the shell being uppermost.

OLYMPIAN GAMES.

The Olympian Games derive their names from the public games celebrated every fourth year at Olympia, in Peloponnesus. These games were instituted in honour of Jupiter, but at what time, or by whom, is not known. After they had been neglected and discontinued for some time, they were restored by Iphitus, king of Elis, in the year B.C. 884; and it is from this date that the Olympian periods are reckoned in chronology.

REMARKABLE CUSTOMS, &c., &c.

DUELLING.

Although frequent and bloody were the single combats of the age of chivalry, yet the present system of duelling by challenge takes its data from Francis the First of France, who, sensibly mortified by the repeated defeats his armies had met with from

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those of his imperial rival, Charles the Fifth, emperor of Ger many, wrote the latter, challenging him to meet him in single combat, and thereby decide their, differences, and put an end to the bloodshed and devastation which had ensued from their rivalship. Charles, however, was too much of a politician to accept the challenge. Another writer says:

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'Duelling is one of the most common among the few relics of barbarous usage. The introduction of pistols has brought with it no small share of burlesque and cowardice. In close fighting, a man entered the lists with a heart prepared either to conquer or perish; and, therefore, only those who were characterised for courage ventured to the contest. But different, far different, it is with the pistols. Any recreant coward dares to challenge on the smallest offence to his honour-and why? Because those handy factotums; those reconcilers of nothings-yclept seconds, either omit to charge with ball, or recommend the principals, by a preconcerted arrangement between them, to fire wide of the mark. Now, this can be deemed nothing short of arrant knavery and cowardice; for he who possesses true courage or bravery, will take care to exert them only when actually necessary, and when excited by some momentous circumstance. He will look over trifles with a becoming and dignified demeanour, and will never presume to speak of his high spirit in an egotistical manner.”

This is all well as far as it goes, and may be particularly applicable to gentlemen of the Stock Exchange; but, let this writer remember, that the pistol puts the weak man on a par with the strong; the timid with the powerful; and the delicate, although brave man, on a footing with the cowardly bully. There is no doubt, however, that duelling in any sense, would be more honoured in the breach than the observance.

GIVING THE LIE.

The great affront of giving the lie, arose from the phrase, "thou liest," in the oath taken by the defendant in judicial combats, before engaging, when charged with any crime by the plaintiff; and Francis the First of France, to make current his giving the lie to the emperor, Charles the Fifth, first stamped it with infamy, by saying in a solemn assembly, that he was no honest man that would bear the lie!

HONEY-MOON.

It was the custom of the higher order of the Teutones, an ancient people who inhabited the northern parts of Germany, to drink Mead, or Metheglin, a beverage made with honey, for thirty days after every wedding. From this custom comes the expression, "to spend the honey-moon," when there is nothing but tenderness and pleasure.

CHURCHING OF WOMEN.

This practice, like many other Christian usages, undoubtedly took its rise from the Jewish rite of purification enjoined by the law of Moses. In the Greek church, the time of performing this office is limited to the fortieth day after delivery; but in the western parts of Europe, no certain time is observed. The usual time with us, is a month after delivery; there being an office in the Book of Common Prayer, entitled "The thanksgiving after childbirth." The practice is universally observed in every other Christian country.

CONFIRMATION.

The antiquity of this ceremony is, by all ancient writers, carried so high as the apostles, and founded upon their example and practice. In the primitive church, it used to be given to Christians immediately after baptism, if the bishop happened to be present at the solemnity. Among the Greeks, and throughout the East, it still accompanies baptism; but the Romanists make it a distinct and independent sacrament. Seven years is the stated time for confirmation, although they are sometimes confirmed before, and sometimes after that age. The order of confirmation in the church of England, does not, however, determine the precise age of the persons to be confirmed.

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USE OF EVERGREENS AND MISTLETOE AT CHRISTMAS.

"Christmas, the joyous period of the year!

Now bright with Holly, all the temples strew,
With Laurel green, and sacred Mistletoe."

The custom of decking our habitations with evergreens, has existed from the very establishment of Christianity, and was unquestionably derived from the like practice of our Pagan ancestors. Trimming of the temples," says Polydore Virgil," with hangyngs, flowres, boughes, and garlendes, was taken of the heathen people, whiche decked their idols and houses with such array." The Celts and Goths were alike distinguished for the respectful veneration which they entertained for the Mistletoe, and for the solemn rites with which they gathered it about that period of the year when the sun approached the winter solstice. The Druids were particularly famed for the distinguished regard they paid to the Mistletoe of the Oak; they attributed to it numerous virtues. At certain seasons of the year, especially at Yule Tide, or Christmas, they were accustomed to gather it with great solemnity and to sacrifice two white bullocks that had never been yoked (not till then), having their horns bound up. It was cut from the tree with a golden bill, or pruning-knife, by a priest habited in a white vestment, and was received in a white woollen

cloth; many orations were then said over it, and the ceremony being deemed complete, the sacred plant was preserved for use with religious care.

The Druids had an extraordinary veneration for the number three, and on this principle, says Vallances, in his Grammar of the Irish language, it was, that Mistletoe was held so sacred by them, since not only its berries, but its leaves also, grew in clusters of three, united on one stalk.* The inhabitants of Elgin, and the shire of Moray, in Scotland, according to the account written by the Rev. Mr. Shaw, are accustomed, at the full moon in March, to cut withes of the mistletoe, or ivy, and making circles of them, to keep all the year, pretending therewith to cure hectics and other troubles. As the ivy is dedicated to Bacchus, so should the mistletoe be to Love; not, however, to the chaste Eros, but to the sportive Cupid. The sacred regard given to it in Pagan and Druidical rites has long been terminated; but it is still beheld with emotions of pleasurable interest, when hung up in our kitchens at Christmas; it gives licence to seize the soft kiss from the ruby lips of whatever female can be enticed or caught beneath. So custom authorizes, and it enjoins also, that one of the berries of the mistletoe be plucked off after every salute. Though coy in appearance, the chariest maid, at this season of festivity, is seldom loth to submit to the established usage; especially when the swain who tempts her is one whom she approves.

DRINKING HEALTHS.

"Health my Lord King, the sweet Rowena said,
Health cried the Chieftain, to the Saxon maid;
Then gaily rose, and midst the concourse wide,
Kiss'd her hale lips, and placed her by his side.
At the soft scene such gentle thoughts abound,
That health and kisses 'mongst the guests went round;
From this the social custom took its rise,

We still retain, and must for ever prize.”

Different are the versions that relate to the antiquity of this custom. The ancient Greeks and Romans used at their meals to make libations, pour out and even drink wine in honour of the gods. The first health which we hear of in history is, however, ascribed (in the words of the story) to the pertinent and sensible Rowena, a beautiful daughter of Hengist, general of the Saxons, who, having the Isle of Thanet given him by Vortigern for assisting him against the Picts and Scots, obtained as much ground as he could encompass with an ox's hide, to build a castle; which, being completed, he invited Vortigern to supper. After the entertainment, Hengist called his daughter Rowena, who entered with great dignity and magnificence, carrying a golden bowl, full of wine, in her hand, out of which she drank, and in the Saxon

* See Shamrock as Irish badge.

language said, "Be of health, Lord King!" To this Vortigern replied, "Drink health!" The story adds, that Vortigern, enamoured with Rowena's beauty, married her in a short time after, and gave her father the whole kingdom of Kent. Other origins have been given for this custom. See origin of the phrase, "I pledge you;" also origin of phrase, " A Peg too low!" The one just given, however, may plead seniority.

BAPTISM.

Grotius is of opinion, that baptism had its origin from the time of the deluge, after which, he thinks, it was instituted in memory of the world having been purged by water; and some think, that it was added to circumcision, soon after the Samaritan schism, as a mark of distinction to the orthodox Jews. It is, however, generally agreed on, that the Jews practised this ceremony on their proselytes after circumcision, long before the coming of Jesus Christ. In the primitive times, the ceremony was performed by immersion, as it is to this day in the oriental churches, agreeably to the original signification of the word, which means dipping, or plunging. The practice of the western churches is to sprinkle the water upon the head or face of the person to be baptized, except the church of Milan, in whose ritual it is ordered, that the head of the infant be plunged three times into the water. A trine immersion was used first, and continued for a long time. This was either to signify the three days our Saviour lay in the grave, or the three persons in the Trinity; but it was afterwards laid aside, because the Arians used it.

There are abundance of ceremonies delivered by ecclesiastical writers, as used in baptism, which are now laid aside, though there are not wanting those who contend for their re-admission. It appears that, in the primitive times, none were baptized but adults, though several learned men contend that infants were admitted to this sacrament.

Formerly there were great disputes whether baptism of heretics was valid; the general opinion ran for the affirmative, provided it was conferred in the name of the Trinity; and therefore they allowed that given by laymen, or even by women, in cases of necessity. It was the doctrine of many of the fathers, that baptism washed away all previous sins, and that there was no atonement for sins committed after baptism. On this account many deferred that sacrament till they were arrived at the last stage of life, and were pretty safe from the danger of sinning any more. This they termed clinic, signifying deathbed baptism.

HAND-FESTING.

Hand-festing was an ancient custom, as a substitute for marriage, by joining hands, which lasted for a year; when, if the

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