CIllllSTM AS-KEEPING. 
259 
as usual when rejoicing, in all the st3'e-grovelling stupidity of the most 
inexcusable sensuality, reeling from lamp-post to lamp-post. The 
gin-shops overflow with ragged visitants, and the bloated porter- 
drinkers, saturating themselves with doses of cociilus indicusy and 
divers adulterating narcotics which muddle the brain and clog the 
circulation, fill the pot-houses. Intoxicated draymen, dustmen, and 
butchers’ attendants, hie to the suburbs to fight their dogs, and 
finally to fight among themselves. St. Giles’s vomits forth its mass 
of vice and contamination, mingled with the filth and vociferations of 
drunken Irish barrow-women, wretched, squalid, and hectic from 
dram-drinking. 
Such is a London Christmas-keeping.--Among viands once com- 
mon there at this season plum-puddings, and mince-pies are still 
found, and most probably will long remain, on the score of their 
intrinsic value to gastronomists. Pantomimic representations are 
proffered at that time in theatrical entertainments, to attract such 
little children and their parents as can afford to laugh at them but 
once a year. In London, no yule-log now blazes in the contracted 
chimneys, as in days of yore on its once ample hearths ; no yule-songs 
are sung ; and the wassail-bowl, as in most parts of the country, is 
quite forgotten. — The hearty but natural and simple merriment of 
the rustic, has no parallel in such over-grown congregations of 
men ; and the festive activity of the Christmas hall-dance, where 
Jest, and youthful jollity. 
Quips, and cracks, and wanton wiles. 
Nods, and becks, and wreathed smiles, 
once abounded, has taken its flight, and left nothing half so heart- 
cheering behind. Thus mortal customs perish like those who were 
observers of them, but only with a little less rapidity. 
But the celebration of Christmas in London was formerly marked 
with 
— pomp, and feast, and revelry. 
With mask and antic pageantry. 
The Lord of Misrule, a personage whose origin is lost in the 
obscurity of years, superintended the sports in every nobleman’s and 
gentleman’s house. Each parish had also a ruler of sports w ith the 
^arne ’title. The lord mayor of London and the sheriff's were not 
behind-hand in jocularities, and, besides a fool, they had each a 
sovereign of nuimmeries on their establishment. His reign began on 
All-hallow-eve. Even royal authority afterwards sanctioned the use 
of these officers, whose post always continued until the eve of the Purifi- 
cation. During the entire period of his sway. Stow says, there were 
fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and mummeries.” 
King Edward the Sixth appointed one George Ferres to hold the 
office. This man was a “poet, lawyer, and historian,” and was the 
first styled “ Lord of the Pastimes.” Even the grave lawyers of 
Lincoln’s Inn doffed their sober habits at Christmas; they, too, had 
a King of Christmas-day, with his attendants, who presided in their 
hall ; and so earnest were they in these matters, that on Childer- 
mas-day they elected another officer, who presided with attendants 
