Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-06-08
May-Day in Ireland and Scotland.

In DuDln the yOutnS decorated Ousil
four or five feet high with candles, which
they lighted and danced around till burnt
out. They then lighted huge bonfire,
threw the bush on it, and continued their
dance around that. In other parts of Ire
land the boys had mischicvous habit of
running through the streets with bundles
Of ncttles, with which they struck the
face and hands of every one they met.
The sting of the nettle perhaps you know
is very uncomfortable pain. The same
people are very superstitious, and they
believed that the power of the Evil Eye
was greater on the first of May than ut
any other time, and they insured a good
supply of milk for the year by putting a
green bough against the house, which is
certainly an easy way. In old times the
Druids drove all the cattle through the
fire, to keep them from diseases, ami this
custom still survives in parts of Ireland,
where many peasant who owps a cow
and a bit Of straw is careful to do the
same.
In the Scottish Highlands, in the eight
eenth century, the boys had a curious
custom. They would 60 to the moors
outside of the town and make round
table in the sod by cutting trench around
it deep enough for them to sit down to
their grassy table. On this table they
would kindle fire and cook a custard
of eggs, and milk, and knead cake of
oat meal, which was toasted by the fire.
After eating the custard the cake was cut
into as many parts as there were boys;
one piece was made black with coal, and
then all put into cab. Each boy was
in turn blindfolded, and made to take a
piece, and the one who selected the black
one was to be sacrificed to Baal, whose
favor they wished to ask for their har-
vest. The victim in that day had only TO
leap through the fire; but there is little
doubt that the whole thing was q survi.
val from the days when human beings
were really sacrificed.
In the island of Lewis, In the west of
Scotland, there prevails custom OF
sending man very early on May day to
cross q certain river, believing that If q
woman crossed it first the salmon would
not come into the stream for year.
INTELLIGENCE IrENs.-Joaquin Miller
sailed for Europe last month.
The cotton strike in England more or
less affects leo, 600 persona.
A. thousand persnns have signed the
Murray pledge in La~rrsce-
England eontinass Ia talk pcsce and
make ready zoe var rifh the ss.os, ALAG
nifty.
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