The National tribune., 1893-05-04

reveries so she was wont to sit apart on a sort
| of throne to bask. not unwillingly IL may be,
! in the sunlight of general admiration.
Amongst the peasantry in the south of
| France they still consecrate the month of May
| to the Virgin, and il is customary to elect q
pretty child in each village and station her in
| the church porch as the Virgin of May. Pass
ers- by are expected to make small contribu-
tions.
In Cornwall the young people met at mid
night on May Eve after which they made the
round of the principal farmhouses, where they
were invited to indulge freely in junket, q
preparation of milk and rennet. With day
break the many bands hied them to the woods
to gather the MAY" While some busted
themselves with breaking off the boughs, others
made whistles and furnished what they called
May music.
The Scotch and Irish peasantry were by no
means behindhand when the 1st of May came
around.
On May Eve, for some reason, special care
ia even now taken to avoid the lurking dan
gers of the Evileye. Youth and loveiness
being particularly liable, women take pains to
keep in hiding as much as possible. Even old
age is not always protection. The blast !"
is supposed to assume the form of large,
round tumor.
May Day In ireland was anciently called
La ma Bsal-tina," and May Eve "Neen-na-
were made to jump over lighted fsgots to
save the milk from the Evi-eye. Bon6res
were kindled everywhere, and superstitious
crowds assembled about them until far into the
night. One about to start on journey leaped
back and forth over the flames three times for
good luck or, if about to enter matrmouy. etc.,
as the fire sunk low the girls would trip lightly
across, hoping thereby to procure good hus-
bands.
On going home each one endeavorcd to carry
away an ember which same, II extingushed
on the way, BODIED ill.luck. These honfires
were probably relics of Drudical worship.
May poles were common in some parts OF
Ireland, and any girl who accepted an invita-
tion to dance around 1t could be kissed by her
partner as often as he chose.
The chimney sweeps of London formerly re-
garded the 1st OF May as their especial holiday,
and only subsidized in the early part of this
century when their trade was taken frem them
by modern inventions People were willing
enough to smile and bestow copper or two on
the poor little sooty urchins once a year In
consideration of their highly unenvabe lot
the rest of the time. 1t remained for Ella,
however, to sing THE Praise Of Chimney
Sweepers," which means that these young
Africans of our own growth" VINO were the
familiar spirits of London freplaces q century
ago. never be entirely forgotten while Eng.
lish literature Is read.
The following poetical fragments serve to
suggest something of the innocent pleasures
and pastoral charm of May Day In old Eng
land:
"It is pleasant sight to see
little village company
Drawn out upon the first Of May
To have their annual holiday;
The pole hung around with garlands gay;
The young ones footing It away;
The aged cheering their old souls
With recollcctens and their bowls;
Or on the mirh aud dancing failing
Their oft-times told old tales retseing.
Come, lasses and lads, take leave Of your dads,
And away 10 the May pole hef
For every he has got him a she,
And the minstrel's standing by;
For Willy has got his jill and Johnny has got bis
Joan,
To Jig it. jig 1t, jig It. jig it up and down."
But the last is the best of all: