The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-05-01
MAY HERE WITH TITS
LICENSE OF NEGLIGEE
The Season of Straw Hats and
Cool Raiment.
A Special Significance in This Day
for Americans.
The Memory of Dewey and His
Achievements-Orig of the
Spring Festival.

This is straw-hat day. 1t is also May
Day, and better than all else, it is Dewey
Day. 1t is day of such import that it will
go down into history as the anniversary of
a greater victory than was Trafalgar. The
poets. from Chaucer to Tennyson, have
sung merrily of May l, and have asked
to be called early that they may enjoy
the fullness thereof The nations of all
the world have been thrilled by the history
of May /, 1898, and no hostile steps will
ever be taken in future without careful
consideration of what Dewey Day brought
forth.
In ancient times the Celtic peoples Leld
the festival of Beltin on the first day of
May, probably because they knew that his
tory would repeat itself and that Dewey
would give the enemy a beltin on that
date.
However this may be, old Chaucer HIM
self states that it was the custom for all
TO go out on the first May morning Ito
pluck the fresh things" and who will
deny that the Asiatic squadron failed to
go out early upon that morning and pluck
some fresh things? For all OF which the
people Oh America are utsouliS tnahhhui
TO both Chaucer and the Celts.
May is from the Sanskrit nah, to grow,
therefore May is the month of growth.
The new life and beauties of nature are
forced out into the fuliness of spring at
this season. The trees, the grass, the
flowers, all are affected by May, and 1t is
without doubt the most beautiful month
of the year.
AS the month of growth, May has been
very generous TO the United States. The
Louisiana Purchase was agreed upon or
May /, 1S03 and Uncle Sam grew to sucf
an extent that nothing was large enough
for him. And the growing pains mani
tested on May /, 1898, developed into new
growth to the extent OF several bales o.
young islands and things
May has always been great month ant
it is growing greater every decade Cen
turtles ago the Romans celebrated theil
Floralia, or floral games. in May, ant
those were big affairs. Now the Ameri-
cans are celebrating their Peace Jubilee II
May, and is much greater affair. The
first picnics and excursions are always heiC
| in May. The first duck trousers are in
ficted in May, and the first straw hat ap
peareth.
Now may the simple swain don the air,
/ headpiece of light material, and no mar
| tile," nor may any man manifest fear o.
surprise at the head raiment of his brother
For it is May. and May is the limit. 81
enter the straw hat
Then again. May hath other uses. 1t il
also fashionable to take the first opel
air bath of the season in this month
| Those who have any doubt as I,
! the etiquette of the matter may res
| at ease and take the bath. So can sus
penders be avoided and the gridiron yes
taken of. The belt and the neglige'
shirt are it. for May hath appeared.
The ancient customs of May Day have
POLE and the May dance were as sacred a
is the Fourth Of July. The damsel and thu
swain, attired in the happy dogwood bios
som and the select dandelion. with a spri!
OF lilac, were wont TO appear and dane,
about the May pole and have a real nict
time generally. All this may seem super
| fluous to the cigaretted Fauntleroys ant
the high-beeled Macs of today. but it wa
real excitement to our ancestors.
For all time TO come May / will b.
known and celebrated as Dewey Day. AL
ready the day is a legal holiday in Penn
! sylvania and California. Exercises will b.
| held in the public schools of New Yorl
today, and many other cities will holt
| demonstrations. In the mean time tn
trees will grow radiant. the flowers NOR
| beautiful and the weather more balmy
II is the greatest month of the year in tn
| greatest country in the world. Therefor
| all will rejoice and be glad.