The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-05-03
2 FROM the Middle States Medical Re,ormer
Biay Reflections. saet !

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ne wreathed smiles and baImy breath OF
'his perfect month of Spring: robed ia her
saf,ands OF tinted flowers, and accompanied
wi'h the most witching strains of LIQUID mel.
ody' resounding from every "bush and
pfake," who SO misanthropic or insensible to
'iie charms OF loveliness and mellow beauty
as not to gladly welcome its annual conninea
MOI we, for we rejoice that the regular turn
ing OF the calendar of time has brought us
Way again. All hail its ushering in Ii ia
! our favorite among the Mogths; aud the
verses of the earlier poets show it TO have
Deen equally such with them. No one of
lneir invocatins TO "Apollo and the Nine"
were half SO harmonious, SO rich in imagery
or musical to the ear as the theme of May
--the taireet maid on ground,
Decked all with daiuties of fherseason' 'snr;ds
ana throwing flowers out of heriap around y
Nor did they confine their estimate oftba
charms and beauties ofthis attractive andl;fa.
iinpiring rforth to poetry and song, nay, ,au,
European ancestors demonstratedbyth rural,
festivals and "cheery celebrations u in which
they indulged ou the " first of May" thatth
appreciated these gifts of the common Fa.
thet" more fully than simple words could tell.
A return as it was of the season when all ma.
ture was budding and blooming with every.
thing promising bounteous supply of good
Things OF lie, those ofthe manor bornn with
the untutored peasant, men in their prime,
women in their maturity Of beauty, blushing
maidens, ard gay youths collected together
in the dance around the May-pole encircled
with garlands of roses, and consecrated to the
goddess of flowers, where their cares and
their grefs were forgotten, and where with
Joyous equality they participated in the rap.
turous pleasures to which the time and the
occasion melted.
The practice was universal: a
There's not budding boy or girl this day
But is got up and gone to bring in May"
Nor did Kings disdain to join these "May
day. sports, nay, we are told that notwith.
standing the haughtiness and imperious
character of HENRY the eighth, he too was
in the habit, accompanied by his Queen
Catharine, to- "ride Maying from Green.
witch to the high ground of Shooters Hill" ::
But why our allusion to these things in q
Health journal? Simply to inquire whether
or no with our abandonment of some of the
absurd customs of our European grandfath.
ers, which were founded on feuda tyranny
or indolairous superstition, we have gained
anything in practically Ignoring a habi.
which contributed so much 10 physical and
social enjoyment as their "rural sports and
celebrations OF the seasons?n The "burry
and worry" by which Americans are char
acterlzed is injurious TO body and mind
they wear out before their time. Had this
practice of the "good old age" continued
neither the health nor the morals of the ma.
tion would have suffered. Sentiments and
feelings which now lie latent, or are smo,h.
cred beneath the forced growth Of othera
which are less ennobling, would have been
brought into active exercise, and they would
have tended to convince the masses that
there are other objects in living than simply
the gathering together of wealth. The re-.
laxalions from commerce and trade-the
counting room and workshop which these
festivals would have brought 10 The mind
would not only have drove "dull care"
away, but have recruited ii for the Business
OF the morrow. And the outdoor e1ercises 10
which the rural sports incident TO the occa-
sion called out lad and lass" would have
SO operated as 10 have prcdhced less ef. Z
terminate race than are too many OF the no,
house plants OF our country and age. II
would have taught over careful mothers that
there is better system Of hygiene than that
Of denying their daughters the indulgence of
kinds of exercise calling into action every
muscle of their bodies, without which they
can never be fully developed or of closet
ing them up from 'heavens bounteous, free
fresh air." without the full Inhalation of
which "rosy cheeks" mus, surrender to
those of sallow hue.
We say then we would have our ances.
trail May day festivals resumed and national.
ized If for no other reason than The sautary
bearing and influence they would have
upon public hygiene. When nature SO ben.
efcendy adap,s the season for outdoor exer.
ciss and pleasure, we would have custom, If
other considerations are notslrong enough to
break the enchantment of making money!"
call all classes forth to enjoy them. ].
tut 50 "a t.-t'