The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-01

With Robin at their lead and Marian"
The puritans fought a stubborn
battle with the May-poles, those
''heatl.enish vanities OF superstition
and wickedness," whose fall is de-
p1ored by the author Of p sqnil's
Palinedia, in verses of extraordinary
harmony, considering the time when
they were composed:
Happy the age, and harmless were the
days,
For then true love and amity were found,
When every village did May-pole raise,
Aud Whitsun ales and May games did
abound;
And all the lusty yonkers in rout,
Is With merry lasses danced the rod
Then friendship to the banquet bid the
Phe poor men fed the better for their
feasts.
Alas, poor May-poles! what should be the
That You were almost banisht from the
earth?
VINO never wero rebelhous to the lawcs.
lonr greatest crime was honest harm
less mirth.
The May poles never held up their
heads again. The last upon record
was held in London, and was begged
by Sir Isaac Newton as a stand for
his great telescope. rhe morris
dancers, and Friar Tuck, and Maid
Marian, rallied after the Restoration,
although somewhat shorn of their
former glory.
1t was the custom during the May
festival to suspend II silver dove from
the roof of the church, and to let it
slowly down during some part of the
service, rs All emblem of the descent
of the Holy Ghost In the churches
IN France, under the early races, the
host was sometimes kept in shrine
made in the shape of dove, and sus-
pended over the altar The following
verses refer to the custom:
On Whitsunday whytc pigeons t.,m.. in
strings from heaven ile
And one that framcl is OF wood, still
hanSeth in the skic,
Thou seest how they with idols plaie. and
teach the people IT,,
n" other wise than little yyrl-s with pup
pets use to do
The following carol for May day,
which has much Of the sweetness Of
Herrick's poety, without any OF its
quaintnesses, is by Bishop Heber:
Queen of fresl, flowers,
Whom vernal stars obey
BRING the warm showers,
BRING thy genial ray.
In natures grccncst livery drcs,,
Descend on carth's expcctant breast,
To earth and heaven welcon. guest
Thou merry month of Nav.
Mark how We meet thee
At dawn of dewey lay.
Hark! how We greet thee
Will! our 1oundclay.
Mhllc all the goodly things tina. hc
In earth, and air, and amplcr sea
Are waking up to welcome thee,
Thou merry month of May.
Flocks on the mountains
And birds upon their spray.
Tree, turf and fountains,
All hold holiday;
And love, the life OF living things.
Love waves his torch. love claps his wings,
And loud and wide thy praises sings,
Thou merry month of May.
Mr.. Punch, whose authority on any
subject few will dare to controvert,
declares that the stories as to Nav
dances and May-poles are altogether
delnsive. He proves this by most
conclusive 1etluctio at u6Suyd,tm.
showing by pencil and pen a group
OF deluded unfortinatcs, who have
attempted 70 get up dance after the
traditional form The pole is dulv
garlanded, aid the joyous band trip
round it on ''the light. fantastic toe, -
in the approved style Of .fetes cham
I'et,'es. But the pole is srlrmounted
by huge umbrella to protect its gar
lands from the pitiless rain which
pours down in torrents, and the cos
tune of the ladies and gentlemen
consists of patterns and plaid cloaks,
mackintoshes and muffiers, upper
benjamins and umbrellas, and the
traditional green sward is completely
swamped by puddles of actual mud
and water; and provident house
maids, with petticoats carefully raised.
are placing wash tubs to catch the
streams which por from the satu-
rated umbrallnS of tha fpatiya tbconcr