The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-30

days OF heathenlSm, the May-Queen being the
successor of the goddess Flora; and the defe-
renee paid to the former an imitation of the
pious devotion which was extended to
the latter. In the days of the May
Queens glory in England her floral ma
jesty did not participate in the frivolities
of her joyous subjects. With becoming dig
nifty she sat, half covered with flowers, upon
a flowery throne and beneath fowery arbor,
as a simple object of admiration to all the
jewellers about her. The only resemblance
OF this May-Day ceremony which now prevails
in England, is the one above referred to- in
connection with the ballad of the Mayors In
the rural districts of our own country how
ever it is not an uncommon thing to encounter
a party of young people, of both sexes. pro
ceeding to some pleasant grove on the 1st of
May, as on an ordinary picnic and there per-
forming mock coronation of one of their
number, of the gentler sex, who receives the
title of Queen of May, and sits upon her mimic
throne as long as she can restrain her inclina-
ton to engage in the more boisterous sports
OF the day. In some sections companion is
even selected for her. and likewise crowned in
tinsel ere he takes his place at her side.
The May-day Festivities of London,
in addition to those already enumerated, are
somewhat peculiar. procession by the
chimney sweeps is still a regular event of the
occasion. A small band of men, in fantastic
array, perambulate the streets, accompanied
by woman in gaudy attire and person who
is concealed in high frame of branches and
flowers, with a flag unfurled from the top.
This latter individual is known as "Jaok-in-
the-Green." Here and there in the course of
their route, the whole party make halt and
engage in a dance, to the sound of fife and
drum, and then call upon the bystanders for
few pennies as a reward for their violent
eXertions. But it is said that even this relic
of the past is going out of date, and at the
present day usually amounts to but little and
attracts still less attention.
Until within the last fifty years, it was the
custom of the milkmaids also to engage in a
similar demonstration.
During the morning of the first of May the
dairy-women, in light, fantastic dress, and
with their heads encased in weaths, would
lead through the streets of London a milch
COW, all garlanded with flowers, around which
they danced to the music of the violin or
clariOnet. In former days, male figure ac-
companied the millmaids, the upper portion
of his body being encased in a frame, attached
to which were number of silver dishes, sur
rounded by flowers. The legs of this curious
figure were alone visible, and his efforts to
join in the dance, hindered as he was, were
the cause of great merriment on the part of
the spectators. The silver articles, which con-
stituted the most essential feature in their
performance, were regularly loaned for the
brokers, and frequently one set would be
called into requisition by several groups of
mlkmaids in the course of the day.
The May-Day Festivities of Scotland
are likewise peculiar, as far as they are still
in vogue. They are generally confined to the
simple ceremony on the part of the young
girls, of proceeding out of doors at an early
hour in the day, for the purpose of washing
their faces with dew. This curious custom
is quite popular with the lassies of Edin-
burgh, the favorite spot for the ceremony
being the romantic "Arthur's Seat" On
fine May morning, it is said that the hills
and valleys surrounding the Scottish capital
are thronged with merry troops of girls in
search of the dew wherewith to battle their
rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
The Robin Hood Games
were distinct set of sports which were inter
mingled with the regular May-day festivals of
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and
were regarded with great favor in those times.
As their name indicates, they were intended
! as a representation of the marvellous adVen-
| lures of the legendary Robin Hood. The
ceremonies took place in large square which
was fenced in with ropes, to avoid the pre-
sence of the crowd of spectators. When
everything was ready, six young men entered
the enclosure. They were attired in leather
jenkins, their hands were bound up with gar
| lands of ivy and hawthorn, and on their
shoulders they carried axes in token of their
woodcraft. Following them came six young
village girls, in blue kirtles, their hands gar
landed with primroses. These last led a sleek
COW, whose horns were tipped with gold, while
she was further ornamented with various
celored ribbons and flowers.
Then came six foresters, with hoods, tunics,
and hose of green, each carrying a bugle,
attached to a silllen baldrick which he
sounded as he entered the open square. Next
in order followed the personation of Robin
Hood himself. His tunic was of a dazzling
green, and fringed with gold; his hose and
hood presented an intermiXture of white and
blue; on his head he bore large wreath o
rOsebuds, in his hand bow already bent, in
his girdle an assortment of arrows, at his side
bugle-horn, dagger, and a sword, all richly
embossed with gold. The hero of the day was
attended on one hand by "Little John, - OF
the other by 'Win Stukely," and in the
| rear by ten other of his doughty and reckless
3 followers, all habited in green and provided
, with bows and an abundance of arrows.
g Two maidens, in orange-coOred kirtles, en-
n tered just after this cOncOurse, strewing flow
d ers as they went, and followed by 'Mail Ma
n rian," arrayed in watchet-colored tuni
IS which reached to the ground. Two variegateC
o bridesmaids supported the heroine, and afte
d them came four more girls, attired in green
5, and ornamented with garlands of violets ant
le cowslips. Then followed "Friar Tuck, ," will
3, quartar-statf on shoulder; and "Truck, tn
Vi mlller's son" with long pole, having an in
?e mated bladder attached to the end. Next cam
~ eight oxen, drawing the May-pole, and deco
50 rated with ribbons, scarf, and flowers of var
~ GUS hues, with tips of gold upon their horns
IL nnu Gnu Ihen, bringing up the rear, was til