The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-06-05
LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MATT6hS-
MAY Day CoRoEATIoE AT Mas. DAR-
pKE's CauacH II ILL FEMALE SEMINARY The
beautiful ceremony OF browning the Queen OF
NAV took place on Thursday evening last at the
Church Hill Female Seminary, (Warwicks Row.
over which. the accomplished and energetic IN
structress, Mrs. DAapEN, presides
II wasa dc uble coronation, the Senior and Junior
class each having Queen. Misc Ellen y Darden,
was chosen Queen by the former and Miss Willie
Richardson, by the latter. The two thrones were
each surr ounted by graceful arch, and besui-
fully decorated with h1wers. The patrons and
friends of the School having assembled, me young
ladies' at about half past O'Clock, proceeded In
PROCESSION 10 tho throne, bright assemblage of
vou,h, Joy and beauty In front were the fret
maids OF honor, bearing the sceptre and the crown,
then the Queens with two garland bearers, then
the second maids OF honor, then the Floras, scat
tering h)wers Having assembled the throne, one
of The first maids of honor Miss Bette Slater, adj
dres sed the Queen of the Senior class In the FOL.
lowing lines, during which she placed the crown
upon her head:
Wills verna airs around us breathe,
And Flora decks the smiling earth,
Accept, sweet girl, this how'fy wreath,
tribute to your charms and worth;
Which prompts US on this festal day,
To crown you as our Queen OF May
Your artlessness and inuocencei
Ysur candor, modesty ind truth,
Show much feeling, taste and sense;
Such virtues in such early youth,
That we unanimously say,
ELLEN shall be Queen OF May
Another of the first maids of honor, then pre-
sented the sceptre, and addressed the Queen In
some pretty lines, TO which the Queen replied as
follows
This ornament which yeu present,
Tho much too fatterins. receive,
Because your partial kind intent
With grateful fs elings perceive,
Prefers me to an elevation
So far shove my expectation.
JULIA, my grateful heart
Accepts the gih you hers impsFt.
FL sway this sceptre, mark OF ioveI
A test of friendship, approve.
Behold then, as proof sincere,
OF your esteem aud love, dear girls,
This cifclet shall hold more dear.
Than if it were wreath of pearls;
And each returning month of May,
I'll rscolIe;t your love to day.
bouquet waa then presented to the Queen by
one CT the second maids OF honor, and poetical ad
dEeases were made to the Queen by that young lady,
and by tia othar second maids
The Queen selected by the Junior Class was
crowned by her first maid of honor, Miss Mary
Ella Richardson, who addressed her In the fol@
lowing lines;
From shady ,gIoves from pastures green,
From wild wood and from lea,
The fairest flowers, oh lovely Queen,
We've cullsd this day fer thee.
Then, Willie, lovd, fair and kind,
Bmi.e on fegtal day,
Oh! take sAe wreath for thee entwnd
And be cur Queen of May.
Thy schoGlnlates around thee,
The Joyous and the gay;
DO brighten our festivity,
Our smiling Queen of May.
For thee we've wreGthed this garland fair
Oh Wilils fair and Kind;
For tL5e we've cClled these blossoms rare,
That On thy brow wa bind
Tho virtues which lay deep enshrined
Beneath these mystic flowers,
In cur lov'd Willie Grs combined
And bloom in Edens bow'rs.
Upon thy brow this garland fair
Shall shine gems of even,
And shed its fragrant odor there,
Like incense sweet from heav'n.
Oh! then accept welcome boon
Of gratitude and Loves
And tho on earth twill wither soon
Twill ever bloom above.
The sceptre was then presented, and poeslcal
address made to the Queen by one of her first
maids OF honor, TO which she responded follows:
MARY, thank thee for the crown,
My head, unworthy, to sdorn.
These flowers, though they may fade at even
l trust may turn to gems in heaven.
And when our youth and life are flown,
May we each wear golden crown
Whose flowers immc rial shall not die:
glorious crown beyond the sky
MAGGIE, the sceptre thou hast given to me-
To gently rule or tyrant be,
For it'll thank thee, yet must |,
With will i'm perious. lay it by,
And hope my floral court to move
BY rule more potent power OF love.
thank ye esch and sll to-day,
For f)wery Crown aad sceptIe sway.
i ! ii