The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-05-19
May Day Celebration at West Point.

Attn, could not have failed 10 remind ia
spectator Of the writings of Chaucel
! Shakespeare and Browne, and their glowin
descriptions Of May-day customs as observe
in early days by the nobility of Englan'
. and other European countries. In fact
seemed that the worship of the ancien
Goddesses, Flora, etc, had suddenly beer
revived, and all the beauty and ehiYalry o
the land had gone out ''a-Maying" and har
returned with their garlands- and flowers t,
decorate their homes in honor of the return
OF Spring. This was the f=stal day for tbs
worshippers, ahd, according to a previou:
edict, young lady had been selected fol
her grace and beauty to be crowned a,
Queen Of the May, and Others for being the
happy and fortunate possessors of the same
exquisite charms, were chosen to present
the crow aud scepter and to occupy the
positions of Maids of Honor, Flora, etc.
The ladies Of the Presbyterian Aid Associ-
tion Of West Point had instituted this
movement by inviting the various towns
and villages of the State to participate in
the election on the 23d Of March, of Nav
Queen; the young lady receiving the high
est number Of votes to re chosen Queen,
and those receiving the next highest num-
bers to be Grower, Scepter-bearer, Maids of
Honor, Flora, etc. May 4th was fixed as
coronation day. The balloting resulted in
the selection OF Miss Monte Franks, of
Macon, as Queen Miss Mittie Campbell, of
West Point, as Crowner; Miss Julia Thomp-
son, of Tupelo, Scepter-bearer, aud four
Maids of Honor-Miss Montgomery, of
Starkville; Miss Fannie Critz, of West
Point; Miss Hunter, Of Jackson, and Miss
Fromherz, Of Yszoo City.
The day for the coronation was beautiful
and lovely, and the trains from both direc-
tions on the NJ. and O. r. r., including an
excursion train from Corinth, brought an
immense throng of spectators, who at about
l03 % clock repaired to the Court-heuse, the
place selected for the ceremonies and filled
the spacious courtroom and galleries until
there was scarcely standing room left while
numbers gathered outside to witness the
arrival Of the Queen and her court. The
courtroom had been beautifully and
appropriately decorated for the occasion
The throne had been erected with admirable |
taste and with its royal trimmings and its
rich decorative appendAges, the recess behind |
containing branches from the woodland, |
blossoming with flowers, and the wreaths |
and festoonsin the arch above over which |
in evergreen and attractive letters was the
beautiful motto. Long Live Our Queen" |
scene of magnifcence and |
splendor rarely observed in this section of |
the country. Over the doors on each side |
IF the throne and at the front of the room,
in letters of evergreen, were the names of
he various towns represented in the honor,
-o-wit: Tupelo Starkville Macon, Jackson
and Yazoo City.
The Hall of the Knights of Honor i'm
opposite the Court house, had
been selected as the place for the assembling
If the Queens Court, and, at IL O'Clock,
he Queen, Crowner, Scepter bearer, and
Maids of Honor were escorted there bv
'oung gentlemen previously selected by the
aides of the Aid Association and on en-
ering the Hall, were welcomed with
beautiful music. The young ladies from
Jackson and Yazoo City not being present,
heir places were substituted by other ladies'
During this assembling of the Queen and
Ter party the audience in the Court room
we're entertained by Flag exercises and
'ther beautiful maneuvers by group of
pretty girls who were among the May-party,
md by a scene on the stage representing
'May-court in Greenwood in which Miss
NJ, n VI -, ~.
With Lvra, Flora and Undine, concerning
he coming of the Queen of May. The lit
lie Flag-girls represented the Queens guard,
md were stationed near the throne and ex-
ended in two lines along each side of the
middle aisle, TO the entrance of the Court
Dom with banners around to protect the |
queen and her court in their passage and TO
Welcome their arrival. \ carpet had been |
pread from the door of the Court house to
he entrance of the Hall of the Knights of
Honor with canopy overhead for the pass
&c of the royal procession. At i1:3O
clock two handsomely dressed Heralds F.
With appropriate equipage entered the
Dom with trumpets in hand moved
astsly forward and proclaimed the coming
f the Queen, and amid the cheering music
f the grand chorus, Make way for the
queen" the royal party entered. First
he Crowner and Scepter Bearer, themselves
IbSL NACtI4tut H'buciS Oh Dcauly ana grace, |
hen Her Majesty, the Queen elected, de-
Jared pre-eminent among her companions
5 possessing in the highest degree all those
and attractions of character that
lost adOTn woman, accompanied by two
clad little pages ready to do
Ter Maiesty's bidding. Then followed the q
Lads of Honor, the whole presenting an
rray of beauty that might well delight the =.
ngels themselves, of which they seemed
ut fitting representatives. The throne was /.
scended amid the singing of the chorus,
Welcome our gentle Queen" and SYLVIA a
tho had just been making joyous mention
t the prospective arrival Of the Queen, OBJ "
CRYING her presence turned and delivered
most cordial and elegant address of wei :
ome, and the crown was presented in excel I
mt style by Miss Mittie Campbell, and the
cepter by Miss Julia Thompson, to all of '
hitch the Queen replied in song, accepting
4 a beautiful and touching manner, the
mblems of authority and power. A beau +
full garland was then presented BY the
ages and received with an appropriate re- !
ly in verse. The Maids of Honor then |
anne forward and during the music fur
ished by the Band, presented their offerings !,
D the Queen Then came the little God
ess, Flora, SYLVIA Undine and Lyra and '
resented theirs, each with a neat little
ddress and then the Breezes, Sunbeams =
nd Flowers were called up by the little I
toddess, Miss Flora Smither, and paid l
heir tribute, until it seemed that all the
eauty and innocence Of the land were about Z
0 poor out their offerings of love in admit !
alton of their noble Queen. All then join J
IN the beautiful chorus, sour lovely
queen we've crowned To those who had a
bus honored her, the Queen then made a
nal, tender and touching reply.
The historic May-Pole, sacred among the
ncients and consecrated To the Goddess of G
flowers, had been erected in front of the .
nroIe and the Queen and all her subjects
Tere then entertained with the May-pole 4
lance by q group of graceful and pretty
title girls which concluded the performan-
es and at the signal of the march and the a
Inging of the chorus, 'fAll Hail, etc. the :
scort to the Queen proceeded to the throne, q
andered his hand, assisted her in descend y