The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-05-15
THE MAY QUEEN AND HER COURT
FLowER-PLAY.

val was held as usual at Mrs. Clarke's
School. and conducted by that lady
and her daughters in a most inter-
esting manner. The Flower Play
represented by the young ladies of
this recherche Seminary was written
by Mrs. Maria B. Williams, former
ly of this Parish, now a resident of
Opelousas, gifted poetess as we'll as
prose writer, we'll known to the lite
rary world.
At Z o'clock P. M. a large audience
assembled in the salon of Mrs.
Clarke's mansion and were scarcely
seated ere the May Queen and her
Court, chanting a sweet carol, pass
ed through the room and proceeded
to an elevated platform, where the
Queen was seated by her attendants,
and the fair flowers ranged them
selves on either side, each awaiting
her turn to be presented to her Ora.
cious Sovereign. Master Clarence
Sprigg, the uster, now stepping for
ward in a distinct voice presents
"The Rose,'' miss Laura Miller a
tall, fair young lady, who, taking a
fragrant floral crown held by the
knightly little page, Master Wilbur
Blackman, ascends the steps leading
to the throne, and rosily recites her
invocation, from which we select
ESQ where Arctic icebergs lower
Or tropic sunlight burns and shines
Roses deck the rock or bower
Roses with the breath divine Is
Yet my crown Of love and beauty
On thy lovely head lay,
Queen of May"
The Queen, Miss Lizzie Hether-
wick, in clear distinct voice bends
her head to receive the crown with
an appropriate response. The Rose
takes her stand beside the Queen
The usher now announces s'The Lily
seeks her Majesty" personated by
Miss Cornelia Davis, a tall slender
girl robed in white and wreated with
the graceful emblem flower, who re-
cites her poetic tribute, and is duly
responded to by the Queen, and
takes her place on the lett. The
Southern Jasmine is now present.
ell. She bears a flower-twined scep-
tire, and makes her obeisance with
these words:
$50 Queen l bring sceptre with MOON
light wreath upon it,
Twincd with the dreamful Lotus fam
cies, and tropic starlight song;
Wave it DER us very gently, for the fam
cies which have decked it,
So light they are, and fieeting, that they
cannot linger long,"
The Queen hands back the scep-
ire, saying:
''Sweet jasmine, 10! we make thee
sceptre bearer,
Lest our rude grasp the gentle dreams
should scare,
Stand thou at hand"
The Clover blossom, Miss Cleona
We'll, and the Pomegranate, Miss
Patsy Cockerille, two charming little
girls, gracefully pay their tribute.
The usher now signals the Pansy,
who brings her greeting to the Queen.
The Pansy, Miss Annie White. a lit
tie maid of eight summer, with a
wreath of pansies on her dear little
head, and tiny bouquets of these
bright-eyed little flowers ornament
ing her diaphanous dress, timidly
but accurately recites her address,
closing with pathetic 20, Love,
forget me not!' and retires to hel
place in the semi circle, after being
duly responded to by the Queen.
The Pink, Miss Augusta Kuhna.
gel, the Honeysuckle, Miss Augusta
We'll, the Verbena, Miss Matte Ora.
ham, are duly presented aad res
pended to.
The Violet, Miss Marie Moore, .
fairy-like little creature, sweetly at.
tired in soft white muslin, and deck
ed with sweet flowers, recites prettily
her part:
"Bright.eyed little comforts,
The purest ever given,
Dear as guardian angels smiles
| Or dew-drops just from heaven
To which the Queen replied
"You know the angels are so good
/ OF course they love the flowers,
And so they drop them everywher,
10 brighten lives like ours"
The Larkspur, Miss Mary Perley
the Myrtle, Miss Jettie Weinberg
the Passion Flower, Miss Rosa Sprie
gel, all appropriately dressed, mad
their recitations and obeisances t,
the Queen, to which she graciousl,,
replied. And To-! the magic spell i
broken-the flowers becoming tn
hriphtest and hannioot l;ftlo fn1ke