Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-03
MAY-DAY CUSTOMS.
SOME oBsERyANCEs AND SUPER
sTITIOys IN SCOTLAND.
Guarding Against Witches-LookinG
Down Weli-How to Become
of MISUNDERSTANDING I'm New York.

Correspondence OF the Dispatch.)
ALTON, VA, May I've have bor-
rowed something else from the British
Isles besides impecunious noblemen. The
May-dsy festival is of English origin, and
door sports OF merrie England in 'ye
olden TYNE" Scotland Is the cradle OF
the bogey-man; the land for aud wives
tales and second-sght Many OF the old
customs. though not believed in, are yet
observed out Of respect to family tradi-
lions. In some parts OF Scotland on tho
first day OF May-there called Balthein,
or Baars ire-day-the boys OF n hamlet
meet on the moors and cut circle In the
green sod; H. the centre they build a
fire, and bake a cake Of oatmeal. which
Is divided into bits, and drawn by lots.
Whoever gets the brownest piece pays
a forfeit. and is sacrificed 20 BaaP' with
much merriment. This is probably
relic of ancient fre-worship. Though
real human sacrifices were formerly Of
fered, at this time the Scotch laddie
gets Off to-day by jumping three times
through the fame. When n Scotch
Highlander goes 10 some consecrated
fountain on May-day for a bath or a
drink. he must make his approach in
a circuit I'm the direction in which the
sun moves, or he Will have bad luck
for all that year. This rule must be
carefully followed, also in turni = a
boat around I'm the water
II is unlucky to be married on .Iay-
day. and a bairne vino first sees the light
on this morning will be delicate; yet. II
you find a snail on the first day of the
fiowery month. and lay il on sand. or
bed Of ashes, it will crawl about so as
to form the initials Of your lovers name.
AGAINST WITCHES.
To guard against witches hang IN YOUR
entry or on your gate, early on May-Iay.
branch OF blooming white thorn. for ON
that night witches doe assemble on
mountains, where they, together with the
devils. doe dance and feast" but they
cannot pass the magic thorn.
But on, to be bcautiful-wash your face
on May-day in dew, in which has been
bruised fair, white daisy, and you will
be as Lovely as Balder's own. Balder.
you must know, Is the sun-gOd-the
source Of beauty and gladness-aIl that
is fair emanates from him and from the
glory Of his countenance. Tho daisy is
Baicer's eyelash, and is the widows we'd
Qing flower the wide world over.
OF course, where the analogy between
the Widows flower and ones own for
tune comes in. 1t would take the oracle
OF an open well or peliucid spring on
May-dsy to find out.
LOOKING DOWN A WELL.
The custom OF looking down a well
on the lst day Of May Is an American
fad. though II was probably brought
over by some grand-dame, who did not
leave all Of her romance behind her when
she braved the perlls OF new country,
and II is Inherited In all Of its fascina-
tink superstition, by the maidens OF to-
day In the bottom Of the fateful pools
things have been seem" Of course. and
very reliable tales have been told by
very reliable people. We are fast getting
10 the bottom OF these mysteries however
On and out OF wells), in a perfectly nat
ural and scientific way. That We don't
comprehend the why Of the wherefore Is
small matter First, in the eucida-
ton, is thought photography; then there's
old optical Illusion" and the power Of
mind over matter think a thing. and
there you are-and the composition Of
some kind Of rays from the smooth sur
face Of a mirror to the troubled waters
below. All OF these and lots and lots
Of things besides. that have not as yet
even a name.
II all this high science could not ma
terialize a few half-made forms and
Joined hands and collins just once a year.
we'd better close in the wells and drink
our May water from a gum-stump. You
may bet a wedding ring against a spin
ster's cat that in one more decade il
viii all seem as simple as SIN.
MOVING-DAY.
There IS another Observance Of May
day that is happily confined t1 New York.
1t is that peculiar and unaccountaDle an
nual epidemic which makes people move
from one house 10 another This mostly
affects the feminine population. and f.,
therefore, iucurable when a woman
makes UP her mind to change her dwell
inS-place, she never rests until she does
70; except perhaps. IN the case Of Lots
wife, who Is resting somewhere by the
waysde yet.
The keeping Of May-Day as a festival
IS more general In New York city than
elsewhere in America, and. perhaps, more
50 than in some parts OF England. over
there May-Day has still its deyotees
among the rural folks. and especially the
children, but il would Doe difficult now 10
find a party Of young people who would
rise before dawn as their ancestors did.
10 80 a-Alaying in the woods, and return
with much blowing OF horns ere the
rising of the sun" The harmless May
poles never recovered the death-blOw
given them by the Puritan's act OF Par
Lament, more than 200 years ago.