St. Mary's beacon., 1858-05-06
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION.
ANNALSoF ST. NARY'S.
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH.
EAT-DAY.
EAT-DAY.
.A?TEa FOURTEENTH.

The May-day festivals took their origin from
the Florala games instituted by the Romans in
honor of the presiding deity of the Towers
Into these Pagan games and festivals-tO which
the population of Rome and ltal we're regu-
larly aoidicted-the early Pontitls Of the church
introduced Christian rites for the purpose Of
gradually removing all those presti.,.S "f an OBJ
solete religion which still fingered in the social
condition, habits. manners and ci;St"ris Of the
people. Prom thence they were introduced
into England, where they were cultivated with
the peculiar zest Oi that rural and agricultural
people.
Next 70 Christmas in importance as q fcsti-
Val,' SAYS 9uaiu. English historian of Eliza
beth's rrlsn, ''was that Of the first of May
On the midnight preceding that morning, the
people OF each parish assembled anu repaired
IL y boly - the woods, whcra they cut down
o May pole, dragged it by oxen into tie town
or village, where they Set it up, crowGcd with
- garland Uf flowers, while youths and niaidcnS
in their holyday attire danced merrily around il
AuSInS songs.
Diveste, of the liccntious rites and impure
orCes. the cancomtants OF PagIniSm, the May
dlv festival came 70 the people of merry 0i,l
England, when the Garth had put Oh her br-
DIAL attire, when flowers are budding under 4.
clear skv--the heart Of man expanding with
csudneSs and his fields green with hope, like
tie r,,sy fingered goddess of the morn rising
frNn her golden cuIch, the young MAy-day
outcn comes ~ us crowned with her gaEiands
al half blown roses, the type Of beaut!f,I! i1ca
tAe incarnation ot Spirit Of truth, purity an!
hope, the iInpersonation If poetic vision
which, G!se morning beams upon the dcwy lips
ot opening flowers, gilds the opening dawn
the brightest dream OF youth, to become at the
close uf tnat Ife-lny tie unrcalized hope OF
human life, a setting sun going down upon the
las, days of earthly pilgrimage to rise again in
a briyht, beautiful, eternal day Of fonder and
brighter hope. Is it thus hoping to be wha;
we nerer Gc on earth, that constitutes the vital
principle Of human energy to bcaItifv world
with bright virtues or darken II with night
of dark crimes? j il for this that We our!Icy
towards the sitting sun until that s:;n gnrs
down - dawn III another world Of hope >
Does the interm:uabie chain of created sou
oegin in hnpc 20 purst:e hope :crercr throusL
oil the countless ages Of eternity?
Bright and fair rose tine sun on the 81 day
Of Nav, 1880. AZ al early hour all the hish.
ways leading 70 the city Of Saint Nary'S were
filled with groups OF gayly-attrcd pedestrian:
and euucStTians. The Costume IF both seXe:
which began 70 be worn in the reign of JaInc:
calo.,ics. Straight square cut coats, with am
pie skirts, large sleeves, long wastcoats, reach.
ing nearly to the knees, breechcS fastened al
the knees by buckles, loug stockings, long neck.
cloths Of Flanders oT Spanish lace, bruad-ieaf-
Ell hats, lcoped ap IL front, and swords conf
pIc;ed the exter,.aIs Of gentleman in old col.
ouv times That Of the ladies' will be best uu-
derstocd by an inspection OF the prints of thost
days.
The Colonial aristocracy of that day were
distinguished oy the richness Of their dress ra-
Iher than by any official insignia, aS they were
in England. The manor lord was known by
his plamed lat, looped with diamond, til,
deep lace of his iiowiMg cravat the fine texture
Of his velvet brooches, silk stockings, gold
buckles, set with brilliants, and the elaborate
toilet Of his flowing hair. When it is reco!-
lected that scarlet was the pretlominating color
In the clothing, the crowd they passed along
the avenue to the square In front Of the state
house. presented singularly gay and bril-
liant appearance, such as will never be seen
again in these utilitarian days Of progress. On
this day, however, there might be seen the dark
sombre figures of the puri;ans, whose precise
and auStere habit and ciuse-cropped hair formed
q marked contrast with that Of the crowd
around them. In one pointat least, t, they conform
ed 20 the fashion of the men Of Rellal. They
wore long. ight bla.ied, double edged
swords, which they knew how 20 use. When
inherent radical differences Of political opinion
and religious tenets are marked by distinct
costume, long and fierce must be the war be-
tween them, but when these distinctive fea-
lures are accompanied with social degradation,
the conflict of social passions adds intensity as
well as bitterness 10 the conflict The dissen-
tcrs of England were excluded by an act of
Parliament from civil and ecclesiastical prefer
ment in the realm Of England. The colonial
d;sSenters were preparing for the struggle. the
Issue Of which was to determine their political
equality or serfdom under the law of the land
Hence there was seen on this day-a circUm-
Seabce unseen bef0Fe-large numbers Of puri-
4ans mingling in che gay crowd that rolled on
60 the point Of concentration. They came 70
confer with each other, TO support their party
tsAdas in the Prlvy Council which was 70 meet
Akha day uazl1@ anmnnnna from Sir Lyonel