Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-01
OBJ ERVING MAY DAY
A Prominent Event in Old Time Washington
Life.
Fire and Military Companies Turned
Out and Celebrated The Last
Parade During the War.

In the ante-bellum days there was much
made of May day by the Neutrality-suspicious.
of that time, especially by the younger por-
ton of the community. and its approach
was greeted with happy antic.pations In
deed. SO much interest was taken that the
weather of the both of April was an object
of much interest. the conjectures that
day governed the preparation work of
preparation for the day following. Nor
were the old-time Washingtonans prone to
move at that season, for the fun of the
youngsters could not be spoiled, and while
there were none of the fantaStical OBJ
servances such as ruled St. Taminas day
at Annapolis. there were other modes of
celebra ting the month of flowers. The vol
unteer firemen were the first to usher in
the month. FIRST, soene. .. the in-.,.,e.. :,
would during the night before, remove the
spool containing the hose from the hose
carriage and in the early morning the ring
ing of the bells would call out the member
ship. Occasionally bonfire would be light
ed to brighten the streets.
Then the ropes would be manned and ere
the sun had arisen some fiowery dell or
nook in the woods would have been reach
ed. Here the boys would scatter and de-
nude tree and plant of blossoms oftentimes
piling the reel with such loads as to re-
qufre ropes to hold blossoms and careful
guidance over the country roads on their
return TO prevent an upset. Singing some
of the rollicking songs of the day the
companies would make their way to the
engine houses, awaking the slumberers en-
route, and the overs would be distributed
neighbors and friends of the companies be-
ing comp1imented. Each company had its
eoal-the Union company generally at kaIo-
rama; the Franklin, Stones or College
woods, Perseverance, Roach's spring over
the Long bridge: Columbia Hickey's woods.
on biadensburg road; Anacostia, Stickfoot
branch or Pencote near the insane asv
Il har iaS C,,,}+
street, or Berry's, near Glenwood.
Other Observances.
The military. too, observed the dav. and
the May day parade was such an event In
the oden times as to be looked for with
much interest The volunteer connanias
at times made joint parades, assembling AT
the city nall OF court house, and marching
over a route past the Presidents House
Al others each company had its own parade
ana IT quently there was target practice on
May day. This custom was kent I'm hy tho
older companies. the Washington Light In
Iantry, the National Grays afterward tho
National Guard, the Presidents Monntnd
GUARDS, and others, TIL the war of '61-'65
called them in actual service and az tho
war approached the number Of conons,;as
was greatly augmented, at least fifteen he
ing uniformed when Mr. Lincoln was in
ausurated' When the call was made for
troops the number of companies wac ,pora
than doubled, and by Nav they wara oil
uuIns uuty IN guarding government build
!hes ana property, the roads and bridges In
the District and vicinity "
ihey hau not, however forgotten the Nav
Jay custom, and efforts were made TO have
such parade by calling the matter to the
dltehtlon or Gen. Scott. That officer who
Had on many occasions reviewed the Nav
gay parades. acceded to the request and
renewed them for afternoon parade
mhlch TOOK place in the early part of Nav
~ was the last occasion of the kind, and
the only time the entire District force was
assetnpieo and marched one body In the
tiiee months service, on which occasion
the lne made up of eight battalions nassed
IN IL review before the President and Gen,
Scott. Gnu Heii'
May day was the occasion of school mic
mes, secular and Sunday schools often 60
Ing 10 me woods. The old-time omnibuses
were then here in limited number, and il
was dlftlcult to get them off the avenue
loutes. therefore the furniture wagon was
mostly u&ed for conveyance of the children
me elders walking. The May balls of
CaTusi and others were features of the day
ana but few nefghborhoods were devoid OF
d May party in the evening