The morning call., 1891-05-06
MAY DAY AT NILES.
Pleasures of the Olden Time and
Those of the Present.

Editor Morning Call: How many of the chill.
dren or the grown people either who particl-
pated In the May day festivities at the Pavilion
last Friday knew thatthey were celebrating an
old Roman festal day. the day they devoted to
the worship OF the goddess Flora. Perhaps In no
other county In the State does May day hold
about It so many dear associations, or so many
old frlends-as the lovely spring days appear
look forward 10 greeting again their friends,
chatting, visiting, calling 10 mind boyish pranks
hard times, times before the railroad was put
through, the thrifty days Of grain farming, OF
cattle raising, as each year brought its varying
changes. signing perhaps for the old or fever
ishiy longing for the new.
The in eriOr counties many OF them, have had
their ups and downs through the past few dec
AIDES, aud Dut small, very small number OF
those first settling In any one section still live
there. san Francisco mas absorbed a gOOdly
number, and as year after year rolls by the
Tuolumne, Calayeras or Butte COuntyites hold
annual reunions. but Alameda County has mad
but the one great, steady march OF Improvement.
Very few have sought other homes, and the only
changes are the incoming settlers The growing
old OF the numerous families of children, and the
departure silently. year after year, OF one after
another OF lie older people 10 join the great
majority.
One OF the first, If not the very first picnic
held IN the county was in 1852 or 1853 on the
island belonging TO ii. q. Ellsworth, now covered
by an apricot orchard. 1t then belonged TO
Daniel SanbOTn, and, being covered with grain,
three or Tour acres were cut, rude floor laid
under the great sycamores close by the waters
edge, young man hddled" and The fun began.
COnveyanceS of all kinds, from the great, rude
Ox-eart TO the gayly caparisoned pony, brought
The plcnlckers. They tramped over the uncut
fields Of grain, Dathed III the sheltered pools,
fished in lazy fashion, stroed up the lovely eau
yOn in happy fashion as he men and maids or
youths and maidenS do to-day.
Within year or TWO Alter the Dicnlcs we're
held at Dry Creek, most romantic spot about
three miles from Haywards, on the road leading
10 Niles. Here year aft year, until four airs
ago. The comfy people have met. 1t has been
essentially a county picnic; people dressed Ia
their best, their silks and Satins or brOadcloth,
II they had them, aud taking all the family spent
The day. School children had appropriate eXer-
cses, dancing was INDUCED III, etc., but The
main duty and pleasur' was the visiting OF dear
ola friends. About fifteen years ago the Pioneers
began 10 Eod their annual reunions or plcncs,
usually about the last OF May, and since then
the glory OF May day has been gradually decln-
ing. The Older people gather few upon either
day. watch lie younger peoples pleasures,
perhaps look III vain for the kindly faces they
loved so long ago. and before another year are
gOue themselves, Oh sadly stay away rather than
miss tie old faces. The descendants OF these
eaIly settlers are the owners to-day of many OF
the broad aces OF the county, and yesterday
cniidren and grandchildren by the score min-
gled with the thousands OF newer corners In The
valley.
was closed and a cOmmOdious ground IL our
canyon was prepared. From early morning
until late III The day the roads to and from the
grounds were crowded with teams. Buses
drawn by four horses, tlled with children, came
from HaywaIds from Newark, Warm Springs,
three came from the Mission, and In fact every
town sent lis quota, with flags aud banners, with
music aud laughter, until there must have been
fully 5000 OF more people on The grounds during
the day.
warm, the thermometer registering $50 and $50
upon several afternoons. The fruit prospects
remain good; no fruit Is dropping; 1t Is TOO late
for iiOSts and IL is hardly posS0 that rain
W, u
cherries are ripe.
Several new canneres are reported as having
been established aud ready Tor the seasons out
put. The more the better for the frultmen.
Each one represents. 10 sense, new maj ket,
and the flut can be led II prices are not salts
factory
Good prices early in the season make the
farmer feel quite cheerful. Prices do not 20
down for green fruit az general thing; can
ners are 100 we'll informed Of the demands OF the
market, and II Is only when The open fruit mar
krts In San Francisco become glutted that the
prices fail TO The seller OF II ults IN those markets.
The matter is the same as regards dricd fruit.
Tie law Of supply ana demand is not YET thor
Oughly understood oy either The grower, the con-
sumer or The commission man, and until II Is
prices must 1ucIuate 10 degree.
The many towns on the line OF the railroad
from San Jose To Oakland are wondering what
supeTior attractions The narrow gauge road can
show that President Harrlsons train should be
sent through while he himself took the other
route. The narrow gauge Is one OF the most
bleak and uuln leTestIug runs on the coast from
San Jose 10 OdkiaDu, Mnllo Tie DToau gauge iOl-
lows close 10 the hills, and every mile Is through
one Of the most beautiful ana Valuable lfult val
leyS IN the Stale.
Miss susie Ellsworth Lave a progressive
euchre party last Friday evening 10 her friends.
There were about six tables oil players, ana the
pIizes were won by Miss Abbie Barter OF Oakland
and Clarence Marleustein, aud by Miss Maud
Mosher and William Jarvis. The young folks
fingered for some time after the refreshments,
sorry 10 leave for nome at last.
The Spare Minute Circle met last Saturday
evening at Harry Moshers. The subject for the
evening was balloon TIP from Niles 10 New
were present 10 make report aud the evening
was not as int estlng as IL would otherwise have
been. The next meeting viii be IN TWO weeks at
Mrs FOd's, when the Boomerang Will be read.
San Francisco has proved g. eat center Oi al
traction this week for Nil sites. as u Is not often
that such attractions as Harrison and Bern
bardt are In San francisco IN one aud lie same
week.
Tie floral exhibit TO be held in the Academy
OF Science in San Francisco next wednesday,
Thursday aud Flday, Is Of much interest TO
Niles people. John Rock OF The California
Nursery Company Is TO compete Tor The rose
prize. The exhibit Is to be under the manage
ment OF Mrs. G. B. Overacker, whose exquisite
TASTE In handling flowers Is so well known. Inc
nursery has no less than twenty-five acres OK
roses, with 250 varieties, and the chances are
good for The prize.
Last Friday evening about twenty-five young
ladies' and gentlemen tripped the light fantastic
al MIS- G. +. Chittenden's. Mrs. Percy Jacobus
kindly played for them.
The gardens are filled with roses. The soil
and climate seem TO be peculiarly adapted 10
them, and there are roses, roses everywhere
MRS L. Il, THANE.