Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-05-01
May Day

the land are having high festival. Among the
Romans this month was dedicated to the elder
portion of the community, the next being devoted
to the youth On the first day of the month
they worshipped Mercury, the son of Maia, hence,
possibly, the origin of the name. The Saxons
named it Trimilchi, because they then began to
milk their cows three times a day. The festival
has been observed for centuries, yearly suggested
by the recreations of spring, the budding of the
trees and the resurrection of the flowers. The
Celtic nations worshpped the sum- under the
name of Baal, during May, and the festival of
'Beltein is still recognized in Ireland and the
Highlands of Scotland. Two hundred years ago
May Day was celebrated in England with great
display All business ceased at midnight prece-
ding, and when the clock struck twelve everybody
hurried out to wish each other q merry May.
Then all went forth with music and blowing horns
to break down branches in the neighboring woods
to decorate the door-ways, and by daylight the
whole village looked like bower. The citizens
of London went a-Maying too, headed by the
Lord Mayor and Alderman, and even Henry
With and Queen Catharine joined in the festi-
val. They brought home garland suspended
on pole, which they set up on the green and
danced around it till the close of day. In Eliza
beth's reign the Puritans condemned the sport
and it was altogether suppressed during the Com
monwealth, but revived again at the Restoration.
In the cities and villages a May pole as tall as
the mast of a sloop decorated with flowers and
painted with spiral stripes of black and white
planted on the common, and morrs-dancers,
masquers, lads and asses danced round it all the
latter part of the day. The masquers pcrsonated
Robin Hood, Little John Maid Marian and others
Of the Sherwood outlaws. Robin was King of
May and Maid Marian the Queen. The madens
went out early in the morning to wash their faces
in May dew, which they were told would beautiiy
their complexion, and hawthorn sprig, gathered
on that morning and hung over the door, would
keep away the witches. 1t was held unlucky to
get married in May, a superstition which is still
entertained in Scotland Gradually the celebra-
ton was left to the retainers of lords and barons
then to the chimney sweeps of London, until now
the ancient festival is a subject of curious story
We are glad to see the festival observed by the
spring-time of life should welcome the spring
flowers as they rise bushing and timorously from
the sepulchrc of the dead year; it is right that
their young hearts should swell and palpitate
with hope and joy when they see the newborn
children of earth turning their dewy faces TO the
parent sun; let them dance, and sing, and crown
each other with flowers, and forget the Reaper
tyif eial1 la kaan o,I .bou I,a;,. Al
have decked them in their holiday garb, let |
everybody say to them kindly:
Go out, children, from the mine aud from the !
city;
Sing out, children as the little thrushes do;
Pluck your hands full of the meadow cowsips
pretty,
And laugh to feel your fingers let them through
FROM SHASTA TO SAN DIEGo,'- We beg to re-
mind contemporaries who, in peculiarly eloquent
passages, compare extension to the distance from
Shasta to San Diego that the phrase has lost its
latitudnous significance. 1t should be put away
with the honored old explanatory, From Maine
to Georgia. or from Dan to Bcersheba' The
boundaries Of liberty have been enlarged far
beyond Georgia the prophets of Israel have
prophesied many days journey to the north of
Dan, and their sons and daughters have sung
songs in strange lands long way south of Beer
sheba. California pioneers, with arms sinewy
and strong are busy many leagues northward of
Shasta In comparison of distances let not the way
they have travelled be forgotten Look, and
you'll see cOmmotion among the tree tops the
keen edged axe has humbled an ancient, naughty
woods king. Look at the streams emerging
southwark and their troubled, dscolored waters
will instruct you that the border skirmshers OF
civilization are enlarging their camp.
J. cross will be in Weaverville for the purpose
of Iakin niciurns In the ahnun hra nch of PIN