The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-05-05
MISCELLANY.
For THE RECORD.
TIE OLD SQUARE ALMANAC.

Bv the Jealous Puritans it was shorn OF
much Of it's ancient glory; and what they,
left of it has been lost ia our own century.
through the growth Of mercantile spirit,
the increase of cities, the breaking up of our
ancestors simple tastes and habits, and, III
we may coin word) the de-ru Glizcttoa' Of
the country parts of England. The pictur-
esque May-pole had almost disappeared, six
ty years ago, when Irving visited England,
and his reflections upon the sight OF the ono
which he witnessed, express sad regret, in
which We confess some sympathy.
shall never forget he says, 10 the
Sketch Book, :. the delight felt on first see
ing May-po 1t was on the banks of the
Dee, close by the picturesque old bridge that
stretches across the river from the quaint lit
tie city of Chester. had already been car
ried back into former days by tue antiquities
of that venerable pace, the examination of
which is equal to turning over the pages of a
black-etter volume, or gazing on the pic
lures in Froissart. The May-pole on the mar
gin of that poetic stream completed the il
fusion. My fancy Adorned it with wreaths Of
flowers, and peopled the green bank with all
the dancing rcvcIry OF May-day. The mere.
sight Of this May-pole gave glow to my
feelings, and spread ascharm over the country
for the rest of the day l value every custom
that tends to infuse poetic feeling into the
common people, and to sweeten and soften
the rudeness sof rustic manners without de-
stroying their simplicity. Indeed, it is to tic
decline of this happy simplicity that the de-
cline of this custom may be traced and the
rural dance on the green, and the homely.
May.ilay pageant have gradually disappeared,
in proportion az tile peasantry have become
expensive aud artificial in their pleasures,
and too knowing for simple enjoyment. Some
l. - lu.k< IT,
men of both taste aud learning, TO rally back
the popular feeling to these standards ofprim-
tive simplicity but the time has gone by
the feeling has become chilled by habits of
gain and fraf11c-the country apes tile man.
ners and amusements of the town, and little
Is heard of May-day at present, except from
the lamentations of authors who sigh after 1t
from among the brick walls OF the city" ILL
Americans, even more than their English
cousins, must seek for the poetry and revelry
of May-day In books |; since the GOODNESS and
lateness OF our Spring, a. asst north of laii
tude 400, preclude out door merrment, aud
the roses do not exist, except under glass l.
Happily, however, we are growing steadily in
a fondness for country sports and pastimcs /;
and the mid summer pjc-uics of city people to
rural places, groves and riversdes, aud of the
counry-folk to seaside resorts, do much to
make up the lost inheritance of May-day GUS
toms. - 49, ~
May 2. 176A, was born Robert Hall, who
attained eminence as the greatest pulpit ora
tor of his day. unless, perhaps, DIR. Chalmers
may be thought bis equal tie was, beyond
question: the most distinguished ornaments of
the Christian body to which he belonged-the
Baptists of pure aud exalted piety great
benevolence- aud humility !; expansive 81 ar
ity, free from all bigotry unfailing devotion
to his pastoral duties; and remarkable for
the way in which, all through life, be conse-