268 HELSTON FURRY DAY. 



customs, especially our statute fairs. What is vulgar and 

 ridiculous, however antique, has little vitality. 



3. " They have become demoralized." This is fatal, for 

 then the noble and good and wise feel it a duty to stamp 

 out the ancient custom, if injurious to public morals. 



As to Helston Furry Day neither the first nor last can 

 endanger it much. May is as bright as in the days of the Canter- 

 bury Pilgrims. The good sense of the Helston folk also 

 prevents — I hope and believe, — the Furry Day being a source of 

 demoralization against which wise moralists feel it a duty to- 

 protest. But it might be vulgarized; and here I think all credit 

 is due to the local aristocracy of the Meneage and the gentry of 

 Helston, in themselves keeping it up and being actors in the 

 strange old world scene of the Furry Day. Of course there are 

 mixed motives of a day's outing and meeting friends, but the 

 idea of the festival is joy and merriment. All credit to those 

 who try to keep it up with archaic exactness and propriety. 

 Once discontinued we should lose an important link with the 

 Merrie England of the Middle Ages and of Tudor days, it may 

 even be with the memories of ancient Britain. 



