The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-03

OLD VIRGINIA CUSTOMS" MAY-DAY "
PEEP INTO THE FUTURE.-This dear old
State has not yet been entirely denuded of
her ancient manners and customs, and some
of her own quaint and peculiar practices
are still religiously observed. They have
become modified or changed in some degree
in crossing the Atlantic, but the old "su-
perstitions " are still generally intended
for the qualification of the grand desire of
both man and woman to pry into the " dim
and misty" future. Germany and France, as
well as England, Scotland, and Ireland have
their patent plans for looking magically be-
yond the dark gates of the present, and
different times and different circumstances
are considered to be peculiarly favorable
to the wishes of those who are determined
To know what had better be hidden from
them.
Virginia loves old proverbs. She honors
the past, and as Truth lies at the bot
tom Of oreH," our grandmothers and
grandtathcrs have taught us that the surest
way of foretelling the future lies in look
ing to,rards the TRUTH"
For many years, perhaps long before the
time when switches" and "warlocks"
were burned, and ducked, and pilloried in
pious New England, it has been the habit
of many Of our young Virginia girls to
dedicate the "May day" to an endeavor to
ascertain whether they should be married,
and if so, what would be the appearance
of the future happy mana perfectly
secondary consideration. The plan is to
90 out in proccSsion-the mind being pro-
perlv prepared and excited to receive the
wonders of the Spell-to the nearest and
deepest well which may be found con-
venient. Whichever lady has the most
courage, advances cautiously to the edge of
the well, holding a mirror in her hand.
This is held over the well so that its re-
Election is seen in the water; the lady then
looks down, and-happy day-sees in the
mirror her future husband or else-hor-
ror of horrOrs-a spectral, ghoStly coffin
meaning, of course, no husband for her,
and if she bcholds nothing at all, then the
same decree. Should May-day be cloudy
or rainy, the ceremony may take place
on MAY I'd, but the charm has no effect
on any but these two out of the entire
three hundred and sxty-fvc days of the
year.
On yesterday, the I'd of May, a party of
Young ladies who had been disappointed
in their hopes of a fine " May-day" ven
turcd slyly forth to try their fortune at the
well in the vicinity Of Church Hill. -Four
of them had determined, "come what
may" to pass the ordeal; the others were
to remain quiet and, j possible, silent
spectators. The first, fair young girl,
fresh as Il rosebud, but pale as a lily,
moved slowly towards the brink. Her COM
panons watched in breathlcSS expectation.
1t was dramatic III the extreme. She
looks again and again. DO | see ? Yes, 1t
is, ii must Je,-'tiS he! la! Ha!- IT'S his
nose. It's his glossy black m0,tStache dyed,
Dcrctance It's, It's his "buttIfy," tool
L1,o,c it ,reH. Bat ,rbat is this ? Yes, it is,
it is a sLy0,m that rciLs his noble form. APP
pallcd and dismaycd, the lady closed her
eyes; but soon, plucking fresh courage,
took another peep. Gone! Cone! Not q
ceStige left. Bat ,rhat is this ? 1t cannot be
u coffin, q cofiE, a coffin! Ia! Ha! l$hau
30 mad. Shrieking cOnvulSively, she fled,
and, alas, lrdS seen no more!
The second lady was nervous, and, at
the moment that the spell was about to ope-
rate, her feelings ovcrcame her. She gig
glcd, laughed, and saw nothing. \ third
followed, with the same result and the same
cause. Then came the fourth, the noblcSt,
charmingcSt, and best Her clear-cut face
was rcSolutc and pale, the " rich folds " OF
her dress swept all the dust from the hill,
no serpentiuc bracelet, Clcopatra-like, "
bedcckcd her arm, and, sclt-contidcnt and
cool, she bent gracefully over the water.
4 moment she gazcd, but nothing was to
be seen. Gradually dim shadow passed
over the surface of the shadowy glass it
became more distinct eyes, mouth,
head, nose, became gradually promi-
ncnt. With fixed stare, still, still she
gazed-'TiS he! IT'S he! My Olrn she
cried, and-fainted. She, the strong mind
ed, rcsolutc young dame, as usual in such
cases, did faint away" All the energies OF
the rest of the party were devoted to salts,
burnt feathers, and vinegar, and for an
hour at least they thought nothing of either
ghost, coffin, or beau.
During the war, our young ladies could
find beaotr without looking into wells for
them; and, unhappiy, the coffin, with its
funeral pail, passing along the quiet streets,
was too frequently an omen of ill to those
whose noblest and best were exposed to
those dangers and hardships where memo
ry shall be halo Of glory to encircle for
erer the head of the poor Southern soldier.
But peace came, and the beaur went
away-fying homeward with clear con-
sciences-and leaving perhaps many an
aching breast in the State where they
had battledsso long. Marriage, however,
is an honorable and necessary evil, and we
hail with pleasure the energetic conduct OF
some of our young ladies who, if they are
to die cold Maids, (which Heaven fore
fend-wished to know the sad fact as soon
as possible.
The moral of this incident is plain and
simple. More bed1r can be found on
Franklin street in an hour than you will
find in a well in month of May-days
because wells where truth lies are not the
favorite resorts of undiscarded lovers.
Thousands of young men want to marry,
and only succeed in getting discarded
every month or two. This must not be
allowed to continue and if our young
ladies will only believe ,chat they are told,
and be a little merciful in their behavior
towards the "poor, afflicted" lovers, we
will promise them that by May-day, 1867,
they will have no need to look into well
for that truth which they will then find in
the loving eyes of their own dear betrothed.
E,rpyponv hoe hoard of the monstrous