The Nevada journal., 1853-05-13
Grass Valley Correspondence.
Moyday Festirai- Concert Iheatre-Ilanl
Road = Sociai-Smcide.


Road : Sociai-Suicide.
GRASS VALLEY, May 10th, 1858,
The most prominent and pleasing of
the events of last week in this place has
been the May day Festiyity by the chill
dren, on Saturday last. At about !
O'Clock, p. Nj. the children, numbering
eighty four, were formedin order at the
church, and under the direction of their
teachers and others delegated for the
purpose, accompanied by their fathers,
mothers, and invited guests from Rough
& Ready and adjacent places, were con-
Quoted through the principal streets, to
q beautiful grove of Oaks about q quar-
ter of q mile from town, where every
thing had been prepared that taste, in
genuity and dslicacy could suggest as
BETTING the ceremonies OF such an oe-
sasion, q correct description of which,
would equal if it did not surpass, the
finest, most fairy like, volatile and beau
tiful pictures, ever eonjured up by tho
subtitle imaginatons of Poets own, which
| fear is beyond the power of my pen to
portray
All the children were pretty, and some
of them exceedingly beautiful. They
were dressed in tasteful and appropri-
ate manner, and bcauteous garlands of
the finest May flowers that could be
plucked fiom the surrounding hills and
woodlands encirclcd the head of each
one Of them A pretty little girl was
selected as Queen, and q platform en-
powered with bran chlcts Of luxuriant
green, was arranged for her to sit upon.
The grove is situated on the side of q
gentle grass-covered hill, at the lower
part of which was arranged the table,
and above in amphitheatre form the
children and others Of this large and
fantastic assemblage. The children
were fled along in regular order on Ell
ther side, and the throng Of eager and
expectant visitors, were gathered around
them in such manner as nothing might
be lest to ihem Of this most pleasing and
attractive ceremony. The sun shone
clear and bright, save now and then OBJ
scured by fragment-cloud galloping
away through the pure blue Heavens to
the region of tempests. esThe hill sides
wherever the eye rested were covered
with green grass, shaded by the wide
spreading tops Of The Sierra Oak, land ev-
ergreens Of gigantic pine and spruce,
diversified the scene. The winds came
gently from the south laden with the
wasted fragrance of countless flowers
that on hill and in dale, and the woods
were mellodous with the chirpings of
birds. Amid such sceno, the crown
wrought Of bright beautiful and perfect
flowers arranged with exquisite taste and
interspsrsed with eyerGreens, was borne
upon the white tiny hands Of two sy ylrh-
like creatures, and placed upon the head
of the benignant and gentle Queen; and
the whole ceremony appeared symbolic,
not Of the coronation of naughty EN-.
peror, but of the willing devotion awar
ded to Deity by the meek Seraphim of
Heaven.
1t was indeed spectacle of purity,
innocence and beauty, that diverted the
mind from the groveling things Of earth
to the spirit land, and such Us rarely
meets the eyes of mortais, on this earth.
Each one of the ..ts,e children passed
between the celumns Of their comrades
on either siar and laid at the fee. of the
Queens beautiful boquets as tribute Of
respect to her. The ceremony being
concluded the children were arranged
in q semi circular manner about the ia
Bile, which was laden with luxuries Of
every procurablo character, and each
end of absautiful arch Of garland's child
hood seeming to rest upon it. This was
done at the instanceo OF Mr. Dwight, the
Daguerrean Of this place for the pur-
pose of getting Photographic, view of
scene SO charming, but the flights
were some way wrong, and the attempt
unfortunately proved abortivo. The col
lation came next, and this certainly SUR
passed any thing of the kind ever saw
before. Tho table was loaded with
cakes, nuts fruits, &c. sc. Of every va
riety, kind and shape, arranged in the
most gay and inviting manner, and dec
grated, it is sufficient to say after the
tastes Of the ladies of Grass Valley,
among whom may be mentioned, Miss
Compton and Mrs Stone as principals, in
giving direction to the occasion. The
children were addressed appropriately
by Rev'ds. Simmons and Hale. Thus
: childhood, youth, and old age mingled,
: sympathised, instructed, loved, feasted
and parted. The children gave them
selves up to the sports to which their
little hearts prompted them. They
romped on tho green hill side, and rem
f dcred the air with the resistless, joyous
: and boisterous shouts, that overaowed
: their happy little souls The mature
soon betook themselves to their homes
| but the sun went down, ere joyous child
7 hood rested from its pleasures.
7 Oh, when time shall have passed away
when May-Aowers shall have bloomed
and breathed and died, and garlanied
: hopeful childhood for many many years
. when we ourselves shall have long since
gone away to the land of Immortality
how will the hearts of these little chill.
. dren thrill with cemmingled emotions Of