The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-13
The MnX-Onren PnriY.

ne hni-vnten farll.
As sll readers of English history know.
the Romans came TO live I'm Britain many
hundreds Of years ago. and when they
came ,acy brought with them this festi-
val which proved quite as popular on
English soil as It had ever been I'm Italy.
But tho Romans were heathen and the
good priest Gregory tried TO Christianize
them. Finding them so much interested
in ;her games and festivals. he used
these as one means to convert them, and
therefore the heather feast, "Flordlia,"
became the Christian "May-Day celebra-
ton" And IL has been commenorated
in almost every country under the sun,
as well as by all classes and conditions
OF peopie-lords ladies, Kings and Queens,
those I'm the middle ranks or life, and
also the peasants, and coming over into
our own country, around the May-poie
and under the blossom branches, the poor
as we'll as the rich dance merrily
For this reason a May-Queen party is
conducted in a variety Of ways. Very
simply YOU may say. Il am arranging
for o May!ng party; will you come? l
shall be so glad TO have you, And with
out further form than the above invita-
ton. only mentioning the time. place OF
meeting. luncheon, etc, everything Tor
DAY outdoor lIOllt II duJhSNIN
But the correct fashion is vastly diff
ferent. The invitation is OF the same
character as that given for any other
party. The paper on which the invita-
ton is engraved should be decorated.
The decoration should be suggestive of
the occasional Wrimmed May-pose,
throne for the queen, or the Queen her
self. Also. In the left hand corner OF the
invitation state the time when the tally-
no or carriages will start: they start
from the house of the giVer OF the party
4 good hour is 10 o'clock. and the guests
should be there ten minutes earlier.
During the Middle Ages it was custom
AIRY to so very early I'm the morning OF
May list. and wash your face IN beauty
dew" and bring back hawthorn DIahch-
Is. called May-bloom; and later these
so,ne neople would erect a bower for the
| fairest maid of the village ana aitTI
crownirp her their queen, she would
81, in this bower 10 receive homage and
admiration. But I'm this nineteenth cen
tnrv few of us are as early risers as
| ,boso ip the oldpn time Chaucer wrote
! "For Nav VOL have no slogardie a-niKht'
| hut he would not have written hose
words had he been living now we VIII,
! thcr trv 10 think that our boys ana
Girls are wiser for waiting for the ue"
! IN drv from the grass and flowers hol
,,ithstanding the promised beauty Tor IN
Ga doing they save themselves from sore
,broats and colds. of one and another
| character. which. in our climate "ouln
he the direct result of wet feet and damp
| clothing. .,.o,~o
al Maying parties should be IN charge
! of a charerone. not only for Madame
| Crundv's sake. who would do a gIea'
| deal of talking. but because there Is 'h'I
| como one older than yourself to consult
with in case Of need, as also some one
TO superintend those who would arrange
the refreshment table. And as this party
| must
fall upon a day,
In the merry month of May
everybody should wear holiday attire al
ON the day when we went gypsying'
A long time ago.
The lads and lasses in their pest
Were dressed from top TO toe.
In France this day was dedicated u
the Virgin. and the most popular Gir
u,.e called the Lady Of the May sh'
was always crowned and adorned win
flowers. and sat in state on q mihialpr'
throne made OF flowers and branches
while her maids of honor begsed 10
money from all who passed that way u
he spent on the religious feast hell
later.-Harpers Young People.