Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-30
MAY BASKETS, NOW.
Augusta Children Have Been Prepar-
ing for the Annual Festival.

About all the spare time which has
come to the children during the past
week or ten days has been devoted to
the making of May baskets. In this
they have been able to show their ap-
probation of things artistic and their
ability to create tasteful decorations IN
a much better way than comes at any
time of the year, except Christmas.
For Valentines day they can create
tokens of love and friendship, which
are well supplied with hearts and Gu
pids, bows and arrows and little rhymes.
but in no way can they produce the
pleasing effects at that season which
are possible in making May baskets.
Could one be privileged to see all the
May baskets which will be hung upon
Augusta doors on Monday night by the
children Of the city there is little doubt
but what he would be surprised at the
taste which has been displayed IN
many of them and at the pleasing eff
fects which were secured with very
meagre amount and variety Of ma
terial.
When one little girl began preparing
for the festival the only material which
she had with which to work was half
q dozen sheets of tissue paper, of three
different colors, and a number of old
cards from 4 card index. Not Il very
promising foundation for artistic re-
suits, yet the creations which her dett
little fingers and bright little mind pro-
duced are entitled to rank as such
Simple, they are but isn't it always the
simple things which are the most pleas
ing? Seek as you will and you can't
find a thing which resembles writing
upon the old cards. SO carefully has she
covered them and in no case has she
put q strip of paper too much on bas-
ket.
And what this little girl has done has
been duplicated and in many instances,
no doubt. improved upon, for the great
er number of the school children Of
the city have been engaged in thi;
work for several days past. In view
ing these dainty little baskets one can
not help nut feel that in a great meas
ure the success of the little ones i'm
work of this kind is due in no small
measure to the kindergarten methods
of instruction so much used in the
schools and which serve to bring out
the pupils ideas of colors and pleasing
effects.
Monday night the products Of all this
labor will T. distributed. The makers
will Invariably. 90 the distributing and
the method followed will be that of
hanging upon doors, ring bells or
knocking and then running, so that the
recipient won't know who presented If
NO doubt some bells will be kept very
busy and some few persons will not
like it. but they should bear in mind
that it is az night of pleasure for the
little folks and not show their anger.
This should hold true if some fun
loving yOungster chances to put 4
block Of wood at your door instead of n
dainty basket. 1t is done in a spirit of
fun. not righteousness
w lle what has been said has been
concerning the young folks, it SHOULD
not be forgotten that many an older
person believes in the May day GUS
toms ana will send favors to friends
ana loved ones. One of the most do
llghtful creations of the year was made
oy person of mature years, for a
friend. 1t takes the shape of a canoe.
Is made of card board and decorated
with the daintiest of paper flowers
while for cargo there is n complete
load OF pure white marshmallows. AT
each end was q dainty paper lily. When
completed and ready to be sent if
would have been difficult to maggie
anything more striking in appearance
A New York life insurance comnanv
holds S. 900 ono worth IF Puec;,,. ,.,