New-York tribune., 1891-05-03
REVTVING THE MAY-POLE

There Is no more pleasant diversion than that
of reviving past customs or manners wnich nave
fallen into dsuse True, they do not usually reVo'
but the ATTEMPT is entertaining and altogether
harmless We see notable illustration OF this In
the city every day. at present IN the enoros OIL 'e
Reverend Father Ignatius to revive monasucsh'
t. is hardly likely that he will be SUCCESSFULLY
is NOT for instance. probable that that eminent
scholar and philanthropist Mr. Jay Gould. let us
saw. will ever be observed pattering about wall
Street in sandals with the purpose working IN
side his shaven head of inserting knife unoer
the fifth rib of some rival railroad company 30,
too. the idea of the Reverend Mr.. Barlowe, Oh
BOSTON that he can revive the May-pole, Will
probably come to naught, but it can do no harm.
On the other hand. of course the reverend gentle
man may revive the May-pole and make IL a
permanent institution all over the land lie ex-
perimented with it this year in small way Win
some children, and proposes next year 70 extehd
his field of operations to grown people, IN one
meantime preaching the gospel of the May-poie
In both pulpit and press
It is the belief of the Reverend Mr.. Barlowe
that we have TOO few holidays aud 700
little recreation. He would have the people
dancing round the May-pOle with happy laughter
and glad shouts in every hamlet and city in the
it is we'll adapted to something of the kind, as
work in many lines is already suspended on that
day. He would have the strikers who go OUT
on that day join in the May-pole festivities, rather
than indulge in meaningless parades and weary
marches That there is something in this cannot
be denied-there would he no lack Of people to
swell the ranks Of the May-poe merrymakers
The housesmiths are out this year, and, Heaven
alone knows, the meatsmiths, the breadsmiths, and
the candlesticksmiths may be out next year
Let us suppose for moment that the Rev. Mr..
Barlowe is successful in his crusade, and that
May-poles are set up in New-York next year. we
certainly have a good place In Central fark.
There the green sward high pole Will DC
erected. Engineering skill has but little use
for wood nowadays, and doubtless hollow steel
pole will be found the most suitable. 1t Will
be gayly decked with flowers. The 18th Regi-
ment Band will be near at hand playing the
sturdy old English airs. The people will all be
there without distinction, rich and poor alike,
to revive the beautiful old custom Of dancing
round the May-pole. Mr.. Jay Gould will be
there. With a striking shoesmith or clothessmith
on either hand this able moneysmith will trip
about the pole with a song on his lips and
with ever and anon ripping rill Of silvery
laughter He will miss the delightful shade OF
his elevated road, which he loves so dearly, in
Battery Park but he will not let this throw a
cloud the joyous occasion. There will be
others of note, too-Chauncey Depew, railroad
smith; E. @. Stedman, pensmith; Mayor Grant,
politcssmith. Then there will be the Queen o.
the May to crown-but this must give us pause
it is not for us to predict who this will be-we
are not rash enough for that. But no one can
consider the May-pole without seeing that it is
going to be glad and beautiful occasion. To
the Reverend Mr. Barlowe we can only say: Go on,
and may success crown your efforts