The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-25
MoNTGoMERY. ALABANA. -sUNDAY., APRIL %,

ers was an eye-sore to the solemn
visaged Puritans. and certainly the
equipment for this dance was most
elaborate. In the reign of Henry VIII
these dancers wore skirts OF gilt leath-
err and silver paper and sometimes
coats OF whfte-spangled fustfan with
streamers futtering from their sleeves.
They wore carriers to which bells were
attached and carried purses at their
girdles. and often bells upon their
legs and In their hands. The Maypole
was sometimes OF oak. sometimes of
elm. and again OF birch painted yell
low and black In spiral lines and or
often 1t stood untouched for the whole
year until the coming of another May.
Milkmaids and chimney-sweeps had
their separate professions and tabieaux
in which were con~picpous the hobby
horse, which was man of pasteboard
with head and hinder parts of horse:
the Fool who played the buffoon; OF
course. Tom Piper who capered like
clown: Maid Marian, with a golden
crown on her head. and Friar Tucks.
In full clerical tonsure and equipment.
Never was such a juggler and perform
er of antics as was this hobly-horse,
saystne quaint old chroniclers. but the
triumph of the Commonwealth over
the Crown, proved the utter demoli-
ton of this Maytime festivity. and May
poles were ruthlessly cut down from
one end of the Kingdom to the other.
These symbols OF sin could not stand
under Puritan rule. and not until the
Restoration was the Maypole permitted.
when one was erected on the Strand
in the presence OF Charles II and his
brother, the Duke of York. Another
pole was erected in commemoration OF
the marriage of biacksmith's daugh-
ter to Monk son of General Monk. who.
after his marriage, became Duke OF
Albemarie, and the humble maiden
became Duchess. and the general res
toration OF Maypoles might be accom-
plished IL one was erected each time
daughter of an American millionaire.
This suggestion acted upon would not
leave England without the police so
dear 10 the hearts OF her common peo-
pie. At this day,naught OF the old
merriment remains save the process
sion of chimney-sweeps. bearing jack
In the Green, a figure inside box
Of wicker-work. Occasionally on this
side the water we hear OF Mayp9ie
dance among children who wind rib
bons about the pole as they pursue
the mazes of the dance. hut the fes-
tivity which was 80 loved by Queen
Gunevere and sung by Chaucer, Is
thing of the dead past. Herrich Stills
stirs our hearts by his invitation to the
fair Corinna. but nobody In these days
goes a-Maying. At Temple Soweriy In
England, IL was the custom for men
to practice the noble art of lying
seeing who could utter the most stu-
pendous lie in honor OF May. II is
said that Puritan preacher once pass
ed by a group OF youths who were
yieing with each other In telling lies.
and the reward of the. successful one
was an iron pot. Horried at their
wiekedness, the preacher censured
them severely for their infquity Ly-
ing, are you. for pastime?F What
crime. why, never told a lie In my
lifew GIVE him the pot--give him
the potr' cried one of the youths, ana
forthwith they thrust the reward into
the preachers carriage. and compelled
him 20 carry It with him as his iegiti-
mate winning. There are doubtiess
quite as stupendous lies told now as
in that time, but they are not In honor
Of the month of May. A few super
stitions linger, such as washing the
face In Nay dew to get thereby
beautiful complexion and belief that
marriage In May Is uilucixy. TO wnfen
maidens are wont to cling, but save In
song and poetry. the world no longer
goes a-Maying.