Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-01
MAY DAY IN OLD TIMES.
A Holiday Given Up TO Picnics and
EsONers-The Firemcn and the Mill.
tary.

Before the war May Day, or the 1st of May, Was
more generally celebrated in Washington than in
| recent years. II was, TO considerable extent, q
! holiday with both old and young. However un-
propitious the month OF April was, the members
OF the military companies expected on the LIST OF
May to have their white pantaloons ready to
wear, while the boys got out their summer suits
OF white pants and black jacket, and the girls
their light-colored lawns and straw hats 1t was
then customary for the military companies to
proceed on May Day TO the woods and spend the
day In target firing, returning home with dog
WOOD blossoms, honeysuckle. and other wild fiow-
ers In the muZzleS OF their mlSketS. Often with
the wild flowers were mingled nlacs, furnished by
some delighted farmers family. These target
f1ringS were frequently an adjunct OF a picnic In
which the families OF the soldier bows took part
The companies from the eastern part OF the city
would generally, IL the roads did not prevent iI,
go 10 Stichfoot Branch, near the insane asylum
ana In the early days, when there were wheat
and corn fields within three squares OF the Capito
roMnds Inc shooting TOOK place within the city
and the Infantry would go to Berry's woods near
Glenwood, or TO Smiths woods NOW Kicks Park,
and occasionally TO Arlington, where COL G. w. 7.
Custiss, an honorary member Of the Infantry.
would make 1t pleasant for them.
THE FIREMENs "OUTrNG.,
The fremen OF old may be said to have COM
menced the 1St OF May celebration ON the night of
the Both OF April The companies Wed with each
other in the quantity and quality OF the flowers
brought In on the morning OF the 1st The old
Anacostia, OF East Washington frequently made
Mayrday visits TO stiehfoot and other places over
burg, drawing their reel and suction. Sometimes
the loads or flowers were so heavy that the usus'
force was not Sufncent to draw the apparatV
The teams OF the neighboring farmers would ma
pressed into service ana the machine be broV ,bt
salely PACK: Inc Old Union, OF West End got
and the Cedars, now Washington Heights Tbe
Franklin Second ward company sometirn = went
across the Long bridge to the site OF Jacr on CIV
but oftener to Mt Pleasant and Piney Rry nch Tbes
Columbia Capitol HilD usually spent - p rnorntnT
OF May LIST about Logan's Mill Delaw, re avenue
between and NJ streets); the Persew rance some
times went TO Gales, lexington, and the Northern
Liberty took In any convenient $40 from Woores
Lane 10 stones place, now Column a Heights
SCHOOL PICNICS
1t was then thought to be a very NOR taocnor
who failed to interest his scholars I'm Mav-dov
picnic. The regulation unifQ RIM of the boys was
black jacket white pants, and straw hat win
sometimes badge and the girls would appear All
the same places. visited By the military and fre
men, and were generally full OF Adventure Al
one .e,,n near rierce m the iavorte game was to
number OF young ladies fell in, and it became ne.
ceosary IOr the young men to withdraw while the
guard around them. Chain bridge was famous
then as resort for school picnics Fish,n1 W aS
w. % pa pas'ne: On one occasion the woods
well for their fun by the hapi work they had ta do
under the direction OF the;r teachers 70 nut the
and within the city limit, were MANY cIIImns ~
trees where small picnic parties found COW sno re
In which 10 celebrate the day. Nr'
May day parties and ,May balls at Car,s,,s a
Copp's saloon, afterwsrd the Canterbury closeS
the day. ~Ao~
MAY DAY FIGHTS.
The day did not always pass without sovoa a.,
orders. The animoslties Of rival gangs of vo,,ne
ssers, particularly those who ran with the nra
companies, sometimes caused a fpht Ohua ,he
nre companies received the blame It as USUALLY
a trnn
nights. These animosities would lead those AZ the
head OF the nre companies to take measures m
Keep apart rom rivals Usually, no viewer. there
Gay mornings sometimes witnessed q small riot:
Give my respects 70 those you,g men
Who went with the - reel.
The eggs that they did steal,
Ihese lines were often sung after some OF the
anu almost invariably had the effect Of
II the month came In on sunday, It was the
In the churches, and the nday-schooIs Goul6
nave some appropriate service, In which flower
lot conspicuous part. The Monday follow.
e "~' S'0A ooserveo as tne secular May day.
Tine CSurss.
COURT IN GENERAL Trpns
| Yesterday. United States agt. iohn r Ivs,e.
iaise pretenses; motion on arrest dd Judgment sSs
m alns Miller agt Fleming; argued and sub.
x.s, CIRCUIT COURT No. 1-Judoe Haoner.
to Court is1 sg Petit sub
sraw agL stevens Lawrence sSCo; leave TO WITH
Yesterday, estate Maurtc,. csesry v"a a.,,,,,..
rs,, 1Sno az ana 9aalined Estate jos G. Totten
AMANDA Sco1t an .. ~: G. TIford for S57OOa
minors over fourteen yea, Old. ''e'saon VI
v..SRI1IN CRIMINAL Coo sr-Judoe Con.
prisoner Henry Cnsy, section ss sc9Rs c1;ss
Statutes United States. recog nizance ss W.
II. Lee, surety taken 'A'"OS' VIZ