Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-01

Burke observes, that the passion Of love has in
it more Of melancholy than Of jollity or mirth;
and it is the same with Impressions made by ma.
tural objects. where these Impressions are more
than commonly deep. They always tend during
the highest enjoyment OF them. to a pleasing me-
lancholy. The scent Of flower. where the per.
ceptiOn of its odous Is more exquisite than usual,
will do this, and the view of an unclouded even
ing sky, or rich setting sun. Is uniformly pro-
ductive of sadness to persons Of great senslblty.
and even in a limited degree to others. We are
seldom aware of the cause Of this; but 1t wil'ot-
ten take its departure from the mind, leaving
feeling of mingled admiration and de'ou"a De-
hind. This perhaps arises from an unconscious
regret that all we are looking at is but Tor short
tune, that the majesty of this breathing
world" will not be much longer Tor U.s. anu We
feel forcibly. though hardly conscious OF 1t. the
instability Of our being Who that Is arrived
at manhood can forget his youthful feelings In
Msyi-who can forget
1.-THE spot where spring its earliest visits rsi''!
Such "reminiscences are the food OF afterlife, and
enighten with solitary ray OF sunshine even
the gloom of the grave into which age is tottrr-
ing. But the majority OF mankind, have hbres
too coarse to vibrate with such impressions. and
May is their month Of bosterous rapture and un.
rejecting joy. Even care corrodes the heart less
during the reign Of this queen ct months. Tor 1t
IS then that the Tide Of being flows to its full
height. And why should it not be SOP
Hard his hertz tina, loveth nought
In Mey, when al this mir-h is wrought.
Our forefathers paid great honor to the month
of May and the custom OF COMMUNICATING It's OF
the most remote antiquity. Wenust look to the
festivals Of the Romans and to their invasion and
conquest of Britain, for the ceremonies after
wards adopted by its inha bitants. relics Of which
have come down to our day. TIE Floralia. Or
games in honor Of Flora. were celebrated on the
4th of the Kaends Of May. according to Pii"y,
and continued during the remainder of the month.
They were instituted about the year Of Rome
els, IN honor of Plora, Sabine Goddess The
notion that Flora a courtesan appears to rest
upon no competent authority. Her image was
annually exhibited at Rome, in the temple of
Castor and PoIlux, dressed in "A close dress, and
holding bean flowers in her hand. These games
might IN time have been corrupted, and many
of the ceremonies have been exceptionab!e; but
that they were originally instituted to call down
blessing from heaven On the various pr"duc.
tons Of the land cannot be reasonably doubted.
The May games, including dancing, and the dis
plav Of elegant gariaDds 0t flowers, are clearly
remnants OF Pagan festive worship. Some have
contetd ed that the May pole is Of Druid origin,
but there is No ground tor the suppostion; it was
al first. most probably, only substitute for
living tree, on waich flowers and offerings were
suspended; the cross pieces nailed to it being
clearly for the better suspension of them. The
May -gaues too were often held in situations
where trees could not be found growing, as IN
towns or cities.
The sports of Nav were net always celebrated
on the first day OF the month. though people ge-
neraily went to gather May trees on the S0th Of
April. Tie May-tIee. or May as ii is still call.
ed IN the West Of England, always means there
The white thorn, which is commonly in blossom
by that day, and which the young people, rising
up early in the morning, bring into the towns
and villages. 1t is remarkable, that al Helston,
an obscure town IN Cornwall, May-day is still
kept on the 9th day of the month, aud is called
the Ferry day. the eiymolugy Of which is un.
known, There Is no stationary May pole, but
green branches OF a large size are displayed, de
corated with sarlauds. The doors of all the
dwelling houses are thrown open, and the youth
Of both sexes, and Of all ranks, dance up and
down the streets, having wreaths Of flowers in
their hands. They enter in and come out OF the
houses dancing, till night closes the scene Of fes.
tivity. This furry day is perhaps the most per.
feet of the remains Of the Festival Of Flora, in
the island. In other parts of Cornwall, May.
day is only distinguished by the early rising Of
the young people Of both sexes to gather May,
and ramble into the country to breakfast at farm.
houses or cottages on milk and clotted cream, a
delicacy peculiar to the West Of England.
In London. the most noted May pole was for.
merly affixed in front Of St. Andrews Church,
Cornhill.a In Fenchurch street. there was also
aneientiy a noted May game on the sOth OF the
month, when lord aud lady Of the May we're
chosen. At later periods, Robin Hood was In.
troduced into these sports, and styled lord of the
May, together with Maid Marian, his faithful
mlstERss.t That the Loudon chimney sweepers
hodNthe first Of MAY IS their holiday is we'll
known. The communion of this nauseous sooty
tribe, indigenous only in the corrupted atmus.
pheres of cities, with the natural MAY, its flow
ers and fragrance, is about as inconsistent as
lord aud lady mavoress dressed like shepherd
and shepherdess. with pipe aud crook. acting in
an Areadlan pastoral,-a sight once not unlre-
q"ent on London holiday.
That the Festival Of May might often have
led to excuses IS very probable, and thus the