Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-30
BROOKLYN BRIEFS.

-Michsel Sweeney and Miss Bridget
Griffin were married this morning at st
Patrick's church by the Rev j. u. Duggan.
Miss Bridget Griffin was bridesmaid and
Bartholomew Sweeney was best man.
Bridget Spellman, aged as years, was
found dead in one of her rooms at ~ Mag
ner alley shortly before l o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Mrs Spellman lived alone aud
not having been seen during the morning
it was decided to try the door which was
found locked. Not receiving an answer to
repeated knocks Henry O'Loughlan. who
lives in the upper part o. the house, broke
open the door and there found the old lady
beside the bed in a kneeling position with
her face down on the bed. Medical Ex-
aminer Axtelle was notified and said he
should judge by the position in which the
body was found that the woman died while
at devotions. He will report the case to
Coroner Mix as case of aPoplexy. The
funeral will take place tomorrow morning
with interment in Terryvill.
There is likely to be some trouble
arising from the disappearance of City
Treasurer P. F. Bannon's dog. 1t is I'M
derstood that he is now confined in the
house of Mrs CLARK on Washington ave-
nue. who claims that he is hers, having
strayed away from her last fall. Mr.
Bannon could not be mistaken in the
identity of his dog he got him when a
puppy" from George Lewis of the Farrell
foundry and he is not now over nine or
ten months old, while Mrs Clark's dog. if
he could be found, is three times that age
What puzzles both families is that each
dog had game" leg and walked with a
halt, and to render things more puzzling
both animals were affected IN the same
limb. 1t is stated that DIR Bland will be
called in to decide how old the dog is and
if it is shown that he belongs to MIR Ban
non he will be replevined. The proper
thing to do is to let the dog out and We
think he would settle the dispute as to
whom he belongs by taking straight line
for home.
In several countries of Europe, not
| ably Ireland and England, the first of
May is regarded as one OF the most joyful
! holidays of the season. Much of the lu-
terest attached 20 the occasion is due to
the fact that the handsomest and most
popular young lady in each of the villages
Is chosen to act as Queen of May, and
once this honor has been conferred upon
| a young woman she at once becomes the
admired of all the gallant swains in the
neighborhood and is sure to be made bride
before the next year, so that the same per-
son has never been known to act in that
capacity a second time. The queen is at
| tired in a gown of white satin, with a long
veil, wearing white slippers and crown
\ of the choicest flowers that can be had
\ for miles around. The latter is the gift of
the male members of the community,
the young ladies acting as attendants to
the queen, and strewing bluebells,
| buttercCps, cowslips and daisies
about the place where the festivities
take place. which is usually beneath the
shade of an outrageous elm on the road
side. Aside from this there is the May
bush, in Ireland, the hawthorne is pre-
ferred, and can be seen in almost every
door yard in the country on May morn
ing. laden with wild flowers gathered
on the green hillsides, in the pasture lot
and marshy glen, by groups of happy
children, each anxious to see which viii
secure the choicest blossom to deck the
May bush, round which the remainder o.
the day is made cheerful with merry
laughter and sweetest melody. All these
have their religious significance and the
exercises are all gone through to hail the
advent of the sweet month of Mary. Ii
the evening when all the villagers return
the fiddler puts in his appearance,
and the affair comes to close with dane
in which the queen is the central figure
The young ladies in this section are ar
ranging to revive these time honored Gus
toms and the leading question among thos'
in charge is Whom would you have u
name as the Queen of May"