The morning times., 1896-04-26
NOW FOR MAY=POLES.
Gay Professions to Floral Thrones
i'm Parks.
Copyright. 1867

4lAC W Ntulii liC may IdIty lOI It's OhIs
From time unuamabIc the park commis-
sioners have donated the public sward TO the
use OF the May folk and ever sinee gray
haired men were children the May parties
have Travelled up to the park early every
Saturday morning, during the month Of
flowers, armed with a permit that allows
them to trespass upon all the flat. out
stretching green grass in sight.
The annual privileges lies in the hands
or the park commissioners TO extend or
withhold as they see fit. AS the hosts OF
Central Park, they eau issue permits to a
few parties, or can allow the sWard TO
be crowded. They can limit the number or
May parties TO a sufficient number to dot
the green grass comfortably and prettily.
or they can crowd L so full that quarrel
and dispute take the place OF song and
lance. There are enough who wish TO go
a'MaylnS To pack Central Park from en-.
tIahce 10 entrance, mites apart though they
be, all the five Saturdays OF May. 1896.
The May party came from England in
old knickerboCkcr days. The United States
then was either Puritan or Knickerbocker.
according to section, and all who lived far
or wide boasted of being one or the other.
each claiming great superiority on ac-
count OF descent.
In the region OF the knickerbockers the
world got the sun soonest and the grass
got green earliest. It was only trick or
tide and wave, Gulf stream and wind, but
the nOwe bIoomed first for the little
Knickerbockers Just the same.
Therefore, as sports were scaTcer in those
early days, the knickerbockers made a
play of gathering the first wild flowers,
and in d few years they had established
the May party as securely as Plymouth
Rock was anchored. But they cid not keep
the privilege alone long. PostGn Common
ana BOSTON parks found they could grow
flowers also, and the luxurious cities a
H'tla further south caught on TO the
Ma yfIoweridca and added to it new beauties
ffou England.
Thus the May party spread. and now it
stretches across the entire country, ending
only al the fdt1fic Coast, where's tate OF
iiealisu as to china t. makes the MayIarty
| dull, only because every dag in the year.
wiuI plenty OF flowers and suD. %1w the
| American May party exceeds in beauty any
I thing kLOwn in the outdoor world.
| So wildly does the May party rage in
| Central Park that on the first saturday
| in May the park is crowded with car
| riagcs and equestrians. Beginning as early
| as noon, the carriages keep coming and the
1 bride paths keep filled with slowly nd
| ing men and women They want 10 take
| in the sights OF the first holiday in May.
From O'Clock in the morning the May
| parties begin TO arrive These apProa Ch
| the park in long procession. walking two
| abreast, all carrying baskets in one arm
! and flowers III the other. Ahead marches
| queen dressed in white with flowing veil.
/ and with pages carrying her lnnchaon end
| train. The king. in golden crown, walks
| by her side, or, like the car, steps ahead
| ofhis empress and leads the May rrOces>i IN.
| For a month before the May parties he
| gin there is a stir in the society OF the
| schools. May parties are forming. teach
| ers are being enlisted to escort them to
the park. menus are being planned and the
/ program is being made out for the May
| party. Never is this feStaI gathering a n
| impromptu one. and not even the corona
ton of the cZar has been rehearsel C:teuer.
| The Nav party that is best liked by
1 the board OF education is an instructing
one and as this is the NEST interesting
| party that can be planned most of the
| MayinC parties are COR Quoted on this
| scheme. 1t is rather expensive. though,
| and for that reason it deters many whose
| parents. though willing, cannot afford the
costumes OF other days. IT is all they can
| do to follow the fashions of So
For the instructive May party a period OF
long ago Is selected. That OF the court of
Marie Antoinette Is specially liked, Though
for what reason is not known, unless II be
| hat the queen was a very beautiful woman,
and the young people have an instructive
| taste for the lovely.
| The queen OF the party wears head
dress OF tulle and white gown as long as
| can be mana ged, over which the headdreSs
| rr'JS maxim. a robe like n communion dress.
This is made more earthly than commun-
ion robe by sewing daisy chains upon it and
| by CrownIng the queen with flowers that
fall in links to her feet on all sides.
Louis, Marie Antoinctte's King. wears a
crown cut out OF pastebOard and covered
! with gold. His pages wear velvet knee
breccheS. His body attendants are n lester,
with bells scwed upon ms legs and arms,
i and a prime minister in long robes This
| persons ge is supposed to be his spiritual
adviser ard the man OF iii iSnity of the court.
A bugler walks ahead of him Or tramps
upon { he kings heels.
I The Queen is attended by her sasiirS and
a cupid in white, with wings of gold, who
is supposed to shoot arrows into the Inn
questionable queenly heart
Behind walk the court and subjects, rs
many of the latter being invited aS the
| luncheon will embrace. All dress IN white
or in selected COlors-
The sight as the white proceSSiDns wend
their way through the streets TO the park
is beautiful one. PasserSby stop ~ watch
he prOc6 Ssion out Of sight ana windows
are filled with people on the ,0oSOnt foi
passing May parties.
1t is not only the children of those whC
| IdNt UO W u> vi tsitii ONh W AAp-~'i ei-n4tt1
ing in the park. The little ones of wealth
are delighted TO get into the green acre!
ana scamper around. They are the first tC
raise the May-pole, which, all wound will
ribbons. is part of every May party. and
though they may not be allowed To parade
the streets. they are let out Of the car
| riages at the entrance of the park, AM
| through the winding parks they, too. enjoy
the felicity of the May parade.
| Around every fine park there are hand
some houses, commanding great rental
| on account of the situation with the pdrl
| opposite. and pure. sweet air coming IL
| the windows. Inthese luxurious homes Op
posIte Central Park live the children Wit
| like best of all to attend the May parties
| Fifth avenue runs along Central Park OF
| the east. and on the west there is i Ions
avenue, Central Park West. that sends ou
the children for the May party In u few
weeks these same children will 90 TO Ba
Harbor. and Newport. but in May the,
go to Central Park
Grooms carry the luncheon to the Ma!
field, and maids escort the smiling young