tted, or paying
such Forfeit as may be laid on the Aggressor; but the Forfeits being
generally fixed at some certain Price, as a Shilling, Half a Crown,
&c., so every one knowing what to do if they should be too stubborn to
submit, make themselves easy at discretion.

"As for the Game of _Hoop and Hide_, the Parties have the Liberty of
hiding where they will, in any part of the House; and if they happen
to be caught, the Dispute ends in Kissing, &c.

"Most of the other Diversions are Cards and Dice, but they are seldom
set on foot, unless a Lawyer is at hand, to breed some dispute for him
to decide, or at least have some Party in.

"And now I come to another Entertainment frequently used, which is of
the Story-telling Order, _viz._ of Hobgoblins, Witches, Conjurers,
Ghosts, Fairies, and such like common Disturbers."

At this period

DAVID GARRICK'S CHRISTMAS ACTING

won him great applause. At Christmas, 1741, he brought out at
Goodman's Fields a Christmas Farce, written by himself, entitled "The
Lying Valet," wherein the great actor took the part of "Sharp." It was
thought the most diverting farce ever performed. "There was a general
roar from beginning to end. So great was his versatility that people
were not able to determine whether he was best in tragedy or comedy."
On his benefit, when his real name was placed on the bills for the
first time, there was an immense gathering, and the applause was quite
extraordinary.

The Christmas festivities of 1745 were marred by the

DISTURBANCES OF THE JACOBITES,

under the romantic "Prince Charlie," whose attempted invasion of
England speedily collapsed.

Pointer, in his _Oxoniensis Academia_ (1749) refers to

AN OLD CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

of this period. He states that at Merton College, Oxford, the Fellows
meet together in the Hall, on Christmas Eve, to sing a Psalm and drink
a grace-cup to one another (called _Poculum Charitatis_), wishing one
another health and happiness.

The Christmas of 1752 was

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS UNDER THE "NEW STYLE,"

and many refused to observe the festival eleven days earlier than
usual, but insisted on keeping "Old Christmas Day." Why should they be
robbed of eleven days by a new Act of Parliament? It was of no use to
tell them that it had been discovered that the fractional few minutes
which are tailed on to the days and hours which make up the year had,
by neglect through many centuries, brought us into a wrong condition,