The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-25


do not see how 1t was that I was so
careless as to forget 1t at the time; but
l must have been very busy. ! suppose
l should have spoken of the way they
celebrate May Day over here. The old
fashioned English custom of "going-a-
Maying" Is not quite so obsolete as one
Is led to suppose, as there still stands
May-pole in several parts of England,
and the May Day festivities are carried
on with great ceremony in these places
just as regularly as May Day comes
around, and in fair weather or foul
The little May queens are elected by
popular vote from year to year. and
have really an onerous lot Of duties to
perform ,and many tedious little
speech to remember and deliver during
their short reign Of day. Not only
the children indulge in going a-Maying
In these three or four old towns of Eng
land, but the big folks join in, too, and
complete all the arrangements for the
occasion, drill all the children most
carefully, and see that all goes off all
right and according to the revered old
customs to which they are bound to
stick and keep going from year to year.
l am told that the custom will not now
be allowed to die out, but will be kept
up as long as England herself lasts, on
account Of Its historic value. 1t Is a
sort of society for the preservation of
antiquities, you see, or rather antiqui-
ated ceremonies, and. so long as the
ceremonies are as pretty as those Of
May Day, why, there is no reason why
they should not be kept up, / suppose.
In London itself, however there are no
May Day festivities of any account to
be seen, except the little professions
which have for their center of interest
a "Jack-in-the-G This article Is
really some man out of work, who has
dressed himself up in fluffy tarleton
garments and bedecked himself with
roses and other flowers, and carries a
wand. He is very awkward, indeed,
about 1t all, as are also his satellites,
who are some more men, also out of
work, and are dressed up as attendants
to this "Jack-in-the-Green," or make
believe May queen. They are often
very funny indeed, and collect great
by.
have discovered that there is over
here a tree that is called "the May"
and which is supposed to flower by the
first of May, for the benefit Of the May
merry-makers. 1t always disappoints,
in these modern times, and is Towering
now. in the middle of the month, in
stead. Going-a-Maying used to mean
going for the Mayflowers, just as they
go for arbutus in Pennsylvania, at
home.
Besides the occasional professions Of
acks-in-the-Green," we had the So
ctalistic orations and demonstrations in
Hyde Park, which 1 merely saw as
passed by. without going in to hear
what they were about. Miss Radical
says they are quite mad affairs, any
way. and do no good, even though they
are not allowed to do any harm. 1t
seems odd what an affinity the Social
istic cult have for May Day all over the
continent. l wonder why it is that they
are so fond Of that particular day for
their demonstrations. Besides being
May Day in England, the first Of May
is also called Sweeps Day" on ac-
count of the unwillingness Of the
sweeps to sweep chimney on that day,
which has practically resulted in their
having a holiday from all work on May
Day.
Wonderful viOlinist.
The other evening my landladies took
n haar Harr Wil1V
Burmester play the violin at st. James
hall, where he was giving an orchestral
that night. 1t was wonderful
indeed, and never wish to hear anoth-
err violinist after him, now. The men,
ory Of it Is a joy all by itself. / never
heard such a perfect performance in
my life. 1t just satisfied every musical
desire, from a to z. Cowen, that prolific
song writer, conducted the orchestra
done, and Herr Burmester is simply
His violin is perfect
gem of ITSELF and his tone marvellous,
while his technique Is so unapproach-
able as to have drawn upon him the
appellation Of "Paganini redivivus,"
given him by the critical and phlegm-
attic Berliners themselves, this winter,
from whom he just comes, after having
simply charmed their Teutonic hearts
away. He played the Paganini things
and people were beginning to
think that he was better on his
than on anything else, when
the dear young man simply astounded
them by doing his expressive pieces
with an almost supernatural spiritual
lty. 1t was a night / shall always be
thankful for. The hall was crowded
and the people were simply beside them
selves sometimes, and even sat still and
to go home at the close Of the
until they had had more.
They say there has not been such tre-
mendous success made in the musical
world since Paderewski. which Is saying
a very great deal, should think.
~ Glimpse at tho Queen.
have seen the Queen. Think of 1t.
went with Miss Radical to see the
pretty ladies who were to be presented
at the drawing room last week, and
enjoyed 1t very much indeed. Hyde
Park was simply crushed full of peo-
pie, and the crowd in front Of Bucking-
ham Palace would have swelled my
heart with pride, IL 1 had been the
Queen, to see so many loyal British SUBJ
|ects collected at my gates. We sue
,eeded in getting pretty good places,
and watched the carriages drive UP
with their lovely ladies in them. Some
Did dowagers had their coronets on and
actually wore ermine, on that hot day.
others wore their tiaras and all had the
prince Of Wales plumes in their hair, be-
sides the aigrette and veil. Some of
the young debutantes looked very
sweet and fresh and pretty, but the
beauties were very few and far be-
tween.
The pomp surrounding this function
Is something impressive in the extreme,
[ assure you, and as never saw much
pomp in the United States you may be