Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-04-25

In many countries the first day of May is set
apart as day for celebrating the return Of Spring
and Of flowers; ms festival for which the May -pole
is erected garlands and wrcaths are woven, and
which is closed with dance on the village green.
In this country such festivities have been much
abridged. Ever since the destruction Of the May
pole erected on Mount wolaston, by that stern old
Puritan soldier, Captain Miles Standish, whole
some fear has pervaded the minds Of our New Eng
landers. In avoiding the feasts and holidays OBJ
served by .heir ancestors in the mother country,
they have swung to nh opposite extreme in the
scale.
The natural exubcrance and huoyancy of spirit
in the young have, of late years, found some fitting
expression in Maying, and in browning the May
Queen. The first appearance Of the Trailing Ar
butts has been hailed ms the precursor Of foliage
and fiuitage, and its advent the May-fOwer
been celebrated by weaving it into garlands where
with to decorate the head Of beauty, purity and
oveincss. Who of us all would seek to repress
these manifestations of joy and glalness' On the
other hand who would not seek to encourage their
appearance, and add, if possible, to the happiness
of which they are the powerful ministrants'
1t seems to us that the first of May should re-
ceiye fitting recognition from children Of q larger
growth The opening of Spring and the appear
anceof flowers heralds in no small degree the dawn
Of new existence. The suspense and sleep Of
winter is broken. Vegetation, which to the super
fetal observer has heretofore appeared fcless with
cred and decayed, comes forth clad in new gar
inen,s and arrayed in new beauties, strongly sug-
gestiye Of the resurrection and future life Of man.
kind. proper observance Of this grand event
would seem to be recognition also Of that Proyi-
dence who orders as well all life as the succession
of the seasons, and an acknowledgment Of his In
finite goodness and power.
What would be the appropriate exercises for
such an occasion we are not DESTROYS Of fully nd-
eating. But among others that readily sugges,
asst s''Ore appropriate than
the planting Of trees for the ornament and beauty
OF our surroundings Flowers Of themselves are
Insignificant and valueless. They neither cothe
nor feed us. But they answer higher purpose
Apart from the end they subserve in the grand
process of fructfcatiop, their beauties of form and
coloring delight the eye and minister to the happ-
ness and improvement Of the race So it is with
ornamental trees and shrubbery. Ten per cent
says we can neither eat, drink, nor wear them
True but we can admire their growth and lowell
ness, stand in their cooling shade in the summer,
live under their eproected from the borean blasts
of winter, and enjoy the satisfaction of having
contributed to the happiness of at least portion
of our fellow mortals
Until something better can be devised for Nav
day we will suggest the planting of trees either Oh
private grounds or the public streets and SQUARES.
or around those little but important buildings that
generally stand out in the open land, unprotected
either in summer winter-we mean the district
school-houses. By deyoting one day to their i'm
provement, the foundation may be laid for untold
enjoyment In this village an association has been
formed for the purpose of setting out trees on the
common. If our citizens who cannot contribute
largely to an object so deserving, will each plant
single tree the desired end will be accomplished.
Such monument to their taste would every year
more than repay them for their outlay of time and
strength. Will not those who are DESTROYS of rec
ognizing May-day see that something of this sort
is done; that some trees are planted,