M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-05-01
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
AIay-Day,

Hlo 10 llC VI A'uthiS3 "hSSS 81
geous displays and brilliant decorations not
even puritanic bigotry can ever object to or
prevent The paltry pomps and idle num-
cries Of human institutions, and the rites,
ceremonies and distinctions that have sown
hatred among men, appear infinitely
small when compared with this great and
benifcent festival Of all-loving nature. 1t is
not narrowed by bigotry and intolerance to
one sect or religion, but extends over the
whole earth, as il our common Father, by
showing an equal regard for all ofhis chill
dren, would teach them to love one another
as brethern Of the same great family. 1t
seems to be the bridal season of heaven
and earth, the whole month being their
honeymoon. The lestal earth appears like
u bride, all beautiful and decorated with
flowers and the sky, like rejoicing BRIDE
groom, radiant with sunny smiles, and robcd
in gorgeous clouds of gold and ermine.-
What festival was ever half so joyous' Ev-
cry hilltop garlanded like an altar, fumes
with incense every place is spread with
the materials for present or future ban
quet, for all created races of men and ami
mails the trees wave their balmy branches
in the bright air the winds from the orches-
trail sky pipe merrily aloft among the green
leaves the streams, as thej dance along be-
tween their Aowery banks, send forth a
cheerful melody, and the feathercd song
sters and lowing herds minge in the hyme-
nial strain. What festival is this How
grand and solemn, and yet how full of beauty,
happiness and ail-embracing love !
Many of the old May-day customs were
doubtless derived from the heather ce'obra-
tons in honor of the goddess Flora, which
consisted in licentious dances in the fields
and woods to the sound of trumpets. Thus
it was the custom, both in England and Italy
for the youth Of both sexes to proceed be-
fore day-break to some neighboring wood,
to gather nosegays, and return home about
sunrise to deck their doors and windows
with garlands, and to spend the afternoon in
dancing around the May-pole. This pole
was sometimes brought home from the woods
in great pomp, being drawn by twenty or
forty yoke Of oxen, each having his horns
garlanded with flowers, with which, as well
as with branches, flags and streamers, the
pole itself was profusely wreathed and deck
cd. When it was reared up, arbors and
bowers were formed beneath it, and ther
says Stubs, puritanical writer of the days
of Queen Elizabeth, "they fall to banque
and feast, to leap and dance about it as th'
heather people did at the dedication of thei
idols, whereof this is perfect pattern, o
rather the thing ITSELF"
An English writer says that our ancestor
held an anniversary assembly on May-day
and that the column of May (or May-pole
was the great standard ofjustice, on the Ely
commons, or fields of May. Here it wa
that the people, when they saw fit, depose
or punished their governors, their baron
and their kings. The Judges bough, o
wand, now discontinued, was represented b
nosegay, and the staff or rod of authority
in the civil and military power are both de
rived from hence. A Mayor, he says, dc
rived his name from this May, in the sens
of lawful power. The crown, symbol
dignity was taken from the garland, {
crown, hung at the top of the May-pole.
So much for the origin and mode of ceIt
brating May-duy. 1t is rather to be regret
ted that the old custom is not more gene
ally observed in our own time. In this coul
try, where the "Almighty Dollar" is Il
one thing needful, Mammon is worshiPpt
to the almost entire exclusion ofthe beaut
full ceremonies and he althful recreations
May-day, and in truth, to the neglect
other holidys which ought to be observed
good and patriotic people. The only &C
ebration of the festival now, is an excursit
into the woods by school children and the
teachers, or, perhaps, picnic by lads a
lasses for the purpose of gathering heaps
imaginary flowers, which, we may add, a
mostly used as crowns for the blind god
love. This is about all that is left US oft
pristine May-day glories, the merry pipe a
tabor, and the blithe dances of the you
men and damsels around the garlanded Ma
pole. We now only send our thoughts il
the green woods and go a-MayiigSwith c
memories.
Encouraging.
II Is scarcely becominp--hardly mode