Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-05-07
THE ..M&E-FESg = .-MAETNG.
"WIth mirth and laughter let

the querie, are we Americans not too
matter and fact, too much Of a working
day people? The multiplication Of
drug stores, and the increasing annual
consumption Of drugs and medicines,
together with the puny physique of a
large majority Of the rising generation,
would seem to imply a decay in bone
and muscle Of the people Of our country
which might well arrest the attention
Of the statesman and the philanthro-
pist.
IN fares the land TO Fastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay
sings the British poet, and no truth in
political economy is more evident than
that a bold, robust and manly people
constitute the state, give glory to it in
peace and successfully defend it in war.
Iu our inordinate greed OF wealth and
luxurious ease, are we not lapsing into
the heresy that the greatest, if not the
only good in life consists in the getting
and spending of money? Are we not,
rs were the ancient Pagans, virtually
worshipers Of idols of gold and idols of
silver and is there any principle of law,
patriotism, or religion, that may not be
weighed and measured out in money
current of the merchants? In the hot
and feverish race that we are running
for money and against time, are we not
narrowing and circumscribing our
minds by the lines that begirt the dusty
course, forgetful of the broad, inviting
and healthful fields beyond, where
dwell the virtues and in peace repose
the higher attributes of our nature?
Our history is full of illustrations that
successful money-getting is not royal
road to happiness nor to health. There
is such a thing as gilded misery, and the
news columns Of the APPEAL
are full Of instances showing that
the demon despair may haunt a palace
rs well as a hoveI, and desolation tread
as stealthily over the softest Turkish
carpets OF the drawing-room as over the
bare floor of the poorest cottage.
Why is it, that in this our magnificent
country, blessed of heaven in every ele-
ment Of substantial happiness, thou
sands of men and women rich in worldly
goods are daily and hourly groaning
"Uuder the burden Of weary life"
unhappy, desolate, miserable? We
might essay an elucidation of this ques-
ton by referring to that convenient
refuge Of seiOlists when confronting
problems beyond their ken, particularly
when the question presented is of a
metaphysical cast-''the mysterious
ways Of providence;n but we cannot
hold providence guilty in the premises.
We think the question an easy one.
Our people must play more, must
breathe freer, and must go out more
under the blue and sunlit skies in holi-
day-making, in a frolic-seeking spirit, |
and put away for the nonce that little, !
mean, merceEary spirit of money-get-
ting which we inherit, among other
"steady habits" from our Puritan
brethren Of New England. The stall |
wart Teutons who so keenly enjoyed |
themselves on Monday last might teach |
us an invaluable lesson in this behalf |
There were no dyspepties among |
them; no leathern-iawed profile |
indicating the racking visitations
OF neuralgia; 10 limpiug, faltering step,
telling but too plainly that the horrors of
rheumatism were familiar spirits to their
unhappy victim; no hectic flush of the
c1nsumptye, premOnitory,of the grave.
All was health, and joy, and gladness,
fun and frolie, while the golden sunshine,
and the green and blossoming woods, |
infused new life and energy into every
limb, new hope and power into every |
breast From such scenes and days as
those Of Mondays Mai-fest came the
strong-limbed, stout-hearted men who
made our own ancestry, the men whose |
deeds live in song and story, the glory |
and pride Of their country and their |
race. We need more of that joyous
element in our work a-day life. The
month Of May is as redolent Of happy |
memories as il is Of the per-
fume Of opening flowers. The whole
month, among the Romans, was sacred
70 Apollo. On the ninth, eleventh, and
thirteenth, was celebrated the festi-
val of 1emuria, in memory of the
dead, and hence the month was not
esteemed auspicious for the contrac-
ton Of matrimonial alliances-a su-
perstition still current in parts of Eu-
rope. But the festival of FlOralia, the |
prototype Of the German Mai-fest and
the English May-day festivities, was in
every sense a joyful one. That rare old
fellow Chancer, speaking Of May-day,
tells us in his Rnighte'S'Tale that, on
May morning
"Fourthe goeth the court, both moste and
To fachs the houres freshe, and braunch, |
aud blome."
In the Olden time our lOng-lived ances- |
tons, who scarcely knew what a toothache
was, and who lived to hundred years, |
used TO celebrate the first of May with |
music and outdoor dancing, adorn-
ing their houses, their gates, and
even churches, with boughs and flower.
We are told that even " Henry VIII
rode a-Maying with Queen Catherine,
and many lords and ladies from Green
wich, 10 the high ground Of Shooters
Hig;" aud the same chrOnicler adds,
4" that it was customary for the citizens
of London 10 join together and have
their several Mayings, with Maypoles,
warlike shows, archers, morris-dancers,
and other devices" Who that has read |
Shakespeare but recalls the frequent al
lusion Of thst charming writer to May
and Mayings? Or who, looking back
90 his happy childhood, can forget
the legend Of Robin Hood and Maid
Marian, the Queen of the May? 1t is
well to renew these al .frescO amuse-
ments; to drink deeply Of those fount- |
aims Of health, whence flow the brain
and muscle Of a noble manhood, Saad
mems ia coTpOre sdnO, il at last greater
boon than Astor's wealth or Ulysses
Grants power. In the language OF
Father Paul We say Of the Mai -Fest-
EstO PeTPetua!
EDITOR ANTHONY, formerly senator,
writes in the Providence Rhode Island)
Journal, giving it as his solemn cOnvic-
ton. Notwithstanding he is Radical Of