Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-01
Mny.naV.

The circling year has again brought to
us this day" the happiest time of all the
glad new year" Sweet Flora, Goddess OF
Spring, " leads on the laughing hours to
bless the happy earth, drives before her
the gloom Of winter, and scatters as she
comes her " knots of flowers, buds and gar
lands gay gladdening the land and cans
ing smiling fields and faces 10 hail her
Queen Of May.
One of the most poetical amusements of
our land Is the celebration of this day. It
Is told in song and story BY the oldest
chroniclers. Some believe il was custom
Of the Drnids 10 assemble under their
ancient oaks 10 welcome spring with dance
and song. Others believe that it was in
troduced into England by the Romans
when Julius Cesar subdued the Brittons.
SO great really is its antiquity that its
origin is lost. King Henry VIII eele-
brated il with his Court in the dress Of
Robin Hood and his merry men" Spen-
ser, at the dictation Of Queen Elizabeth,
presents ne with beautiful commemora-
ton oft in his flowing verse, and good old
CHANGER has May-day breezes blowing in
his quaint old poems.
From an article in the Dublin Rerieu on
the subject Of the Lingering Supersti-
tions of Scotland" we take the following
in reference to May-day celebrations
Zone Of the chief festivals of the Druids
was May day, or as it still oftentimes called
Beltane; on that day it was, and 10 some
extent stili is, Customary TO have bon-fres
in honor Of the Sun. All the fires in the
house are frat put ont Of it, and placed on
some eminence near, while the new fire
was kindled by meaps,of Beils-druide or
FIRE created by frictions The kindling that
was used was called Beil-teine, and the day
Beltane. The present form Of these old
observances could have been witnessed
lately at a druidical circle near Creif. A
circle Of men and women having been
formed, fire was kindled in their midst,
each present having been blindiolded drew
out from a cap bit of cake; one of these
pieces had been previously blackened and
whoever drew the piece had to Jump through
the fire in the center and pay a forfeit
Every year Arthur's seat in Scotland is
visited on Mayday morning by crowd Of
young women, that thew may catch the
May dew, and by washing their faces with
it secure their beauty for all the year. On
this day ghosts, fairies, witches and demons
are all active, and special care must be
taken TO ward them off"
The first prayer of thanks the human
heart ever offered TO God for the flowers,
gave origin to this beautiful and holy
worship. For what is higher and holier
than the thanksgiving of the heart for the
sunshine and flowers. We always consider
it a joyous occasion to welcome spring, the
season of birds and flowers.
How delightful on this bright spring
day to stroll through the forest or loiter
in musing mood, on the banks of the
complaining brooks that make the meadows
green" How much more elOquently does
God speak to us, through bursting buds
and opening flowers, than he does through
the smoke and dust Of the crowded city
Truly, "God made the country, and man
made the town" How the nimble foot of
childhood will romp this day under the
widespread shade, where daises are 5trewn
like pearls upon the grass and where the
blue bells reflect the azure from above, and
where the primroses and violets nestle side
by side in the quiet hooks? Thousands |
of Sunday school children will assembleon
the green sward to-day to have their May
festival. How the little orators will |
try to initiate some one who is their |
standard as a speaker With what |
a tremulons hand will they open the next |
mornings paper, 10 see what the editor had |
said about them. How their little hearts |
will dilate, as they see their names for the |
first time in print. How closely each letter |
will be scanned While we appreciate so
highly the beauties of MAY, let us remenl- |
Der that il will not always be spring time
that summer will close the reign of flowers,
and the Frost Angel, with hisdelicate tracery |
Of brush and pencil, will shake the leaves |
from the forest, and winter will wrap the |
world in has snowy shrond; but that glori- |
ons spring, like the angel of the resurrec- |
ton, will speak TO the DAISIES under the |
snow, and again sirew winters corse with
flowers