The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-13
REALMS OF THE MAY QUEENS
THE cHILpREN's DAY IN CENTRAL PARKWAY
PARTIES AND HOW THE MAY QUEENS ARE


THE cHILDRES's DAY IN CENTRAL PARK-MA,
PARTIES AND HOW THE MAY QUEENS ARR
CHOSEN.
StrollIng into the Central Park yesterday HERALr
representative picture OF delight that could mol
ia TO caphvate the dullcst Imagination. rather
series pictures, coming aud gong like the d,ssoly
ing views panorama OF fairyland. IL a day 81
bright sunshine and vcrnai beauty and tho budding
trees and green grass and bamy air all contributed to
lend an understandable charm TO the citys pleasure
ground Eveu at the gates the glad OF the chill
could DO heard and at every turn and all day long
the chrruping, cheerful sounds were lifted up IN
sweet unceasing cadence. Whoever would visit the
Park ENJOY It especially Oh the children's daysas
these Saturdays in May have becomc-must SO afoot
aud follow wherever fancy leads him. II will be
possible for him TO so astray for he viii lind some
thing TO interest aud delight him at every step, and
the farther goes the farther he will be tempted TO 60
AT cAEousAI-
AT the gates there is lle sign Of tho bright scenes
within the Park but the OF children and the
echoes OF childish pratte and play indicate the spots
whence all this animation proceeds. After going a
lirIc Distance sienboard points The way "To the
CarousaL - aud therc the swings provided by The
Park Department, which arc mostly kept chained;
and the pavilion OF the dying horses which Is always
kept OPEN because some entcrprisng contractor IS
allowed to charge cents for The privilege OF ride.
us lnanimase ponies arc vol paronzed, OF course
and yesterday there u struggle tor chances. Tho
children seemed 10 enjoy this horseback exercise i'm
mensely, and some OF them remained on their fiery
stecds trip alter trip, while Others were compelled
10 DO satisfied with seeing. iitIo German
girl tired hard TO get good vantage ground
OF observation but could not please herself although
her mother assured in a tongue which the ordinary
rilI M nd 4
When the swings were set going the scramble
terrific, and although there were some little mshaps
the interest dIa NOT seem 10 abatc, cracked
barked shin being considered good riddance
by the ambitious youth VINO In consequence succeeded
10 an opportunity.
THE cHLpakN's DAY.
Tho great feature oil Saturday in the Park at all
times Is the children parties, ana yesterday was OF
all Jays this year emphalicaly the childrens day In
every direction they could be coming aud going,
sngly ana IN pars by twos ard tnrecs IN stras
glng parties and IN solemn procession. There
enjoyment among he little ones surely,
but often II was serious, sombrc enjoyment,
too squarey cut out by rulo, apparently, ami
The nice'' children and the Miy Queens clcary were
less at their than the gaDns aud blurred young
sters who went where they peased and were pleased
there was no abandon OF pleasure, this delight being
for those who had not been taught that they
had their own or their parents dignity to sustain In
some proprlcy severe might DO observed
among the children that It was oppressive. But IN
spite vi these draw backs-which part perhaps,
OF the national temperament, temperament that Is
10 some extent unsociai becauses cliques have re-
suited from the absence OF casses-there was real hap
plness nearly every heart IN Central Park yestcr-
day. Tho May partles formal and exclusive as most
OF them werc brought pleasure and fresh air anu re-
ncwcd energies 10 each one oil tho participants. and
oil tho children not NJ young, apparently,
they might have bcep yet all OF them were younger
Tor this one chdren's day.
THE SUMNER
The summer house ON the elevation near the marble
archway leading to the Mall was the headquarters Of
the chliurcn's parties. aud as many han dozen
May Queens were frequently TO DO seen here At one
time. 10 any oi these II would have been posi-
bic 10 sing, with old DR.. Erasmus Darwin:--
For thee the fragrant zcphyrs blow.
The nils IL soft How,
And brighter blossoms gem the bower.
II would be curious know when tho rehabilitation
Of old practice came into vogue with the children
OF fashion; nut whether II was this year or last,
whether II was yesterday weeks before they are now
plenty as backberrus III August Tho girs CHOSEN as
these dimnutve Queens oil Beauty nre generally Il must
be confessed, very pretty and those wno were on cx-
hibion yesterday ranged through all sizes and ages,
from bauy hood 10 maidcnhood. Most OF them
dressed ia white, with decided tendency toward blue
sushes, aud they all wore wreath OF some kiuu
head decoraton some even beng arrayed IN long
White flowing wells. Strungc As " may seem, the
boys took interest IN these parties and the Queens
OF the May were compelled TO mold court ike that
beld the Princess Ida, Of Tcnnysons
In the games and play at the summer house girls alone
seemed 10 participate, and tho lads only put IN an APP
pcarancc when the lunch baskets we're opened. The
songs which the children sung were no, redoent OF
the season celebrating May, Queen OF Blossoms, and
asking
With what pretty music
shall tho hours.
In many the chosen was the cred, White
anu Blue, not out OF patriotic motives SO much, per-
haps, Il purpose 10 compliment the Queens oil tue
May, who nearly all arrayed in these TRAN gular
c0lors
THE MAY QUIHxs
How these May queens chosen or what cere-
monies observed ut their coronation are like Lord
Dundreary's conundrums-thinss winch no fellow
lind out. In they were the iavorile emil
dreD some little Clique or circle by which they were
made Queen oil the day without any formal vote or al-
thuty, except the general recognition OF their beauty.
A the ay Queens they walked at the head Of the
cnildren's parties in the Central Park,
directed all the movements OF the little court about
them. they carried stan or wand, which seemed To
So mbo sccptrc Of their brief authority,
tins usually encascd In fine tissue paper and
crowned with flowers. This wand was either borne ut
the head OF The procession held up In the centre OF
the group which acknowledged the sovereignty OF the
tiny Queen 10 whom IT belonged. Ribbons were
fastened to OF THESE wands, and
circle with the Queen the centre Que ,lc girl so
young that she scarcely understood how TO perform
her upctions held her wand very nervously which
looked much like huge sugar stick that auo her
youngster, lutte older than the May Queen tested IL
with her aud tasted with her tongue. Ia every
direction during the day these wsnds, with their ttlo
crowds oil devotees were 10 be seen moving, but thcy
were compelled 10 keep tho walks OF being
allowed o take TO the grass. At The Top Of the hill,
overlooking tho sheep pasture stood litto group
envying the ANNALS their better fortune in being
corded the beautiful lawn as playground How tho
youngsters must Davc longcd for tumble on the TURF
ana yet IN a stroll ot mile or more the HERALD
in the sod even when a graycoat was not anywhere