The National tribune., 1893-05-04

| merry makers proceeded to deck windows,
doors, and posts with the fragrant and bloom
ing spoils of forest and meadow, until the dull
streets were transformed into highways of par
adise. Later on the gallant May-pole was
| brought in from the woods In great state
behind 20 or 80 yoke of oxen, gaily decorated,
and with the CHEEKY accompaniment of pipe
and tabour.
Oftentimes the same pole was used every
year, when it was usually painted, not unlike
| the modern barber's sign, with black spiral
stripe over yellow background. After the May
pole was erected feasting and merrymaking
1 snsued for the rest OF the day.
As the poet Herrick sung:
1.-THE May-p pole is up.
| Now give me the cup;
| Tl drink to the garands around III
| But first unto those
| Whose hands did compose
| The glory of flowers that crown It,"
Dr.. Parr, tho famous old divine of the last
century, had a great reputation as patron Of
| May Day sports.
He it was who always led the dance at Hal
ton on the village green with as light step as
any Of his youthful parishoners.
The crown of the pole, when not In use, was
religously guarded by the good doctor in q
sequestered closet Of his own house.
In tho reign of Henry VIII. it 10 recorded
that the heads of corporations went out once TO
| gather the May" the King and Catherine Of
1
witch palace to meet the worshipiul dignitaries
| OH Shooters Hill.
| One of the most celebrated of London May
| poles gave its name to the church which Is still
| known as Saint Andrew Undershaft. This
| historic column was set up annually before the
south door of the church and during the rest of
| the year was suspended from hooks under the
caves of the neighboring houses
| Cbaucer evidently had 10 in mind when he
| wrote these lines apropos OF vain boaster:
Right we'll aioftc. and higher ye bear your head
As ye would bear the great shafte of Corn bill"
The Puritans in their infinite wisdom saw
| At TO destroy this ancient shaft in the third
year of Edward Wis reign. during one of
their relentless crusades against divers fool
| ish mummeries." In fact the slightly austere
! contem poraries Of our pilgrim fathers must
| have fairly shuddered with horror as they
| likened tire deadly May pole unto the golden
calf" and declared it to ba nothing less than
| "stinking idol"
These heathenish denominations were finally
| forbidden by Act Of Parliament on the 9Th of
April, 1914. But the pleasure loving Charles
| H., who, though of somwbat lax morality, at
| least enjoyed seeing others happy besides HIM
self, repealed tho harsh cdict shortly after he
escended the throne. SO it came to pass that
among many others, the historic column known
| as May pole in the Strand WAS resurrected in
| 1861 amid wide spread rejoicing. 1t was 134
| feet long and consisted of three pieces hooped
| together with iron bands. No doubt it was
! pleasing sight when erected and decked out
| with royal streamers and garlands galore.
/ This pole fell into the hands of Sir Isaac New
ton in 17I7 and was taken by him to Wanstead,
where it was utilized for the purpose of sup
| porting telescope, at that time the largest in
| the world
Stow, the antiquarian of Shakspere's day,
speaks of venerable pole in Basing Lane
near st. PauPs, which was housed for ages in
| Gerard's Hall. 1t was tabled to be the justing
staff of Gerard the giant.
The milk maids enjoyed sn especial privi-
| lege on May-Day. which they made good use
of for many years. They used to parade the
streets with garland or pillar decorated for
| the part with silver plate, while flowers were
freely interspersed to give festive appearance
| to the rather incoDgruous structure, which was
crowned by capacious urn for an obvious pur-
| pose.
1t was customary for the pawnbrokers to loan
the silver which figured on these occasions AS
many as eight or 10 different companies could
| use the same plate in one day, it being trans
/ ferred from one to another as they disbanded.
! We may safely assume that these damsels of the
| dairy took good care to be dressed in their
| Sunday best before starting out. And when
| the curious and picturesque professions got
| fairly under way TO the witchipg strains of
| pipe aud tabour, the yawning urn, too, was
| apt 70 provide tinkling music Of its own that
must have proved most welcome to the maid
ems.
Another custom highly priced and devoutly
| believed in by the fair sex was that of bathing
| the face and neck In the early morning dew,
| with view to ds5pating frecklss and gen.
orally enhancing feminine charms.
! So Pepys the immortal, who knew some
| thing about woman's weaknesses observes in
one entry that his wife had gone TO Woolwich
to lie there tonight, and so to gather May
| dew tomorrow morning"
| In the days of chivalry, that Ia, before the
| 18th century, the prime feature of May Day
was the sports of Robin Hood and his merry
men, with the assistance of Maid Marian and
| her damscs fair.
The lord of the manor himself superintended
the mask entertainment. gay pavilion
was erected on the greensward in front OF the
| castle for the Baron and his noble guests, while
| before them was staked out liberal space for
| the gambos of the heroes of the woodland.
Great was this day in the calendar of the
| village yokel, and the knight as we'll.
1t is strange that We know little or nothing
| OF May Day before Chaucer's time, for no doubt
the first OF poets was but tuning his harp to an
| ancient theme when he sang in bis Court Of
| Love" that, Forth goeth all the court, both
most and least, to fetch the flowers fresh"
Very possibly some forgotten minstrels OF
Saxon and Norman ages were inspired in the
same manner by Springs festival, for May Day
| Ia really DuL anotner OF Inc many legacle5
Christianity has received from paganism.
For example. the Romans had their Anthis-
terra Floralia, which lasted for about week
from the 2Sth of April.
Ovid gracefully intimated that Zephyr be-
came enamored of the lovely Flora, as lusty
old Boreas had, though hopelsssy, before him.
The goddess yielded at last to the passionate
plant of the former. When the pair were
united, Zephyr gave his bride dominion over
| Spring as q wedding gift.
Truly charming reason for tho Roman fes-
tival of flowers.
The Northern tribes also feasted In q similar
manner in May to signalize the victory OF
Summer over Winter.
Who knows then but that May Day may be
discovered again century or so hence and be-
come more popular than ever?
We must not forget to mention some Of the
rural observSucss OF the day, which in many
ways were quite distinct from those of the
| urban festival.
The Queen of the May" custom, which fell
into disuse before the May polo. was. ho doubt
suggested by Maid Marian, OK perhaps the god.
| aess EIorR