New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-01

I'm large parties to the fields and woods In
time 10 greet the rising sun and to bring home
abundant flowers especially those OF the hawthorn
with which decorate the houses on the return ihe
hawthorn was and l. the English Mayhower. inc
custom OF a floral festival AT this time OF the year Is
Extremely old IL Is generally thought to be derived
from the Romans and lis origin is ascrbed to the wor
shin Of Flo goddess OF flowers To the haDlt OF
the Roman, Of sacrificing on this day to Maia' the
mother OF Mercury from whom the month Is generally
supposed be- named. II Is natural enough 10 hhVe
feast Of flowers this time and II the Romans had
not originated II some one else would have done So
People who loved flowers would be sure to celebrate
their rcappumncc. and among nations which persona
fed every natural force and incident with goh some
cod would naturally be associated with the occasion.
When the death Of MAY day customs Is spoken OF
II must be Understood that the term Is ONLY COM
paf;,iive The glory OF Maytav Is indeed Departed
but some relies ~ IL, Observance sill remain Inc
customs are pretty and 81 natural tm' 'h'S
scarcely help being kept up - some extent.
I'm New England northern Newiork and CANADA
Mnyng parties are still common. They do not start
nt sunrise but they do 60 I'm search Of flowers. The
flower mos. commonly sought is of course. the trail
Ing arbutu,. the American Mayhower. which pooms
al about this time and for only II few weeks. Within
the memory OF people who are not vet old. pares III
New England. and In northern New England mt that
u.ed 10 start out early and 20 about the houses OF
all were ready the party for the places where
the flowers were known to grow. Though there were
u.iully plenty Of them the not always
entirely of the ground and the devotion TO tradition
implle, I'm mi early walk ut such time Is thing
70 gladden. the heart OF an antiqmry.
These parties had Mavpol,s and no queens. but
both these institutions are known in parts Of the
country not lar distant. Indeed there are many May
PARTIES which set out from New York City Itself and
they have both poles and queens. IL may be re-
marked I'm passing that the homage done 10 the Queen
Of May i thought be- relic of the worship OF Flora
Almost any pleasant day this month, ana especially
OH saturdays little May parties of little people with
nth. May queens and little Maypol,S may be found
In Genital Park. The children are accompanied 10y
parents or teachers. aud II Is TO BE- feared that INC
classic details OF the celebration suggested by them
and are not the legitimate result of tradition Inc
little parties thus pleasing but are of no nore III
tcr,st the student than an exotic Is to u bonns''
ut much Is cOnsoling-thc customs oi gohs "'s
ing has lived from time imnemorial anu hVcs S'''''
\ word or two about MAY poles The Ehehsn
Puriians used to that they were not only relies oi
idoatry but actually idols. They fought against
them with all their strength and IL sometimes loohed
H. II they had overthrow them. Yet the MAY pores
rcappcared at every opportunity and "a falling se"i'
hlance Of them may still be Bnt there "e'c
giants In those days" huge and high poles, gorseouy
decorated with flowers and leaves and flags and paint
and any ornament which the ingenuity OF the rcvelers
could suggest and their means provide. some OF
them set mp on May Day and only for the spe'mI
day which they were to do service and Others were
kept standing year after year til there was danger
Of their falling and then they were taken down anu
others were put In their places. one Of this KIND sui
stands In n little not far from >tratoid on -ANoh'
or ut least IT did year two ago 1t might be
unsafe to say that there are not Others. but surely
there not many Others. The May poles of To-Day
are generally small affairs. In stage or schooi
exhibition the May pole commonly has number Of
long ribbons Of different cOlors attached to the TOP
the lower end of each ribbon being held by one OF
the dancers around the pole. who execute figure
like what Is known in the ballroom the grand
right and lcft' and thereby the ribbons ABOUT
the pole I'LL the ends remaining too short to he
handled conveniently. Then by reversing the hiouoh
Of the dance the ribbons are unwoven.
All this Is pretty enough but 1t Is chiid's play 10
the tine old poles and the fine old dances around thei
The pole on the left In the accompanying cut was
famous IL was remarkable that II added some
thing 10 the name OF the church IN front of which IL
stood, that II was called ST. Andrews lndcr,haft.
ON May l. 1917. there was an instruction OF appren-
tees, whence the day named the EVIL May Day NJ
ST. Andrews Understand, and after that the pole was
not set up. II was laid hooks over the doors OF
OF houses and also the entrance to an alley
called therefore Shaft Alley. But In 1872, one sir
stephen, curatc OF st. Katharine Christs Church,
preaching 1T 1t. faus Cross denounced the May-pole
even In this lowly position, and the naming or
church from It, and such effect had his sermon that the
pole was taken down and sawed into pieces, each 0c-
cupnnt Of one of the houses taking much had been
In front Of his own premises and those who lived In
Shaft Alley dividing the part their entrance. The
pieces were then cut up and the pole thoroughly
demolished A pole somewhat like this one. as rep