The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-01
Observed as Marking End of
Winter Season-How Cclc-
brated TO-DAY.
ny LA sIAnaUIsp DE FoNTENoY.


UNTIL about twenty years ago.
May Day. which we celebrate to-
day, WAS welcomed by people OF
every degree on both sides OF tho At
lantic. as one Of the most popular of
public festivals, the origin OF which
dates back many hundreds and pos
sloty thousands OF years prior to the
Christian era IT was observed as
marAinE tho end of the winter sea-
son, with all It's hardships and trials.
and as signallzing the advent OF the
summer, with relief from al. the SUI
ierinRs of the bleak, preceding months.
Classes and masses may BIO said to
nave united in their celebration of the
DAY. Tho poorer people went n-may
ing, and can still recall In England
the mayDolcs and the iaci in-thc-
green, the latter consisting of gil
gantio sort of bottlc-shaped wicker
work arrangement. densely covered
with evergreen foliage and spring
blossoms, which would yyrate and
dance on the Village common and
along the roads, even In the London
suburban streets propelled by a man
from within, who was entirely con-
cealed from view.
Public parks were crowded with
children, to whom the holiday was es-
pecially dear, and In Vienna, as well
as in many other capitals OF Europe,
there was corso or parade OF equip
ages belonging to the reigning family
the members Of the court. the great
mobiles and grand monde. all carriages
and horses being gaily decorated with
maynowers and ribbons, while the fair
occupants OF the turnouts appeared
for the occasion in the daintest and
most attractive Of their spring nnery.
The spectacle thus provided by tho
Co.
ments of envy and ill-will on tile part
Of the people on foot. was. on the
contrary. always regarded by the lat
ter as one of tho most interesting and
attractive features OF the holiday: an
important element indeed, OF their
May Day celebration.
All this is changed. however,
during the last two decades. May
Day has ceased to be univer-
into an annual manifestation OF all the
bitter hate which misdlrected social
Ism has succeeded in arousing on the
part of tho laborng and unemployed
masses against their more fortunate
fellow citizens. May Day has now
come to be looked upon--in Europe
at any rate-as a moment of popular
disturbances, OF sanguinary disorders.
of attempted outrage, and of mob at
-
Troops to-day will be kept under arms
from morning till night in the lead
ing capitals of the Old World and In
the great manufacturing and Indus
trial cities and towns The police
strongly reinforced, will be on the qui
viveN from dawn, and 1t Is only when
the sun has risen tomorrow that the
authorities chosen by their respective
nations to maintain the observance OF
the law and TO protect life and prop
erty, will be able to relax their vigil
lance. and to congratulate themselves
on the fact that another of these My
Days-now the most i'll omened holt
day Of the year in Europe-has pass
ed and gone.
King George of Greece has lsrt not
only a will disposing Of his property,
but also a sort of political testament
to his sons. for the guidance of their
conduct. which deserves brief refer
encc here for the light which it sheds
upon his understanding OF the role OF
monarch, and incidentally also Of the
Greek character. He urges his eldest
son and successor. now King Constan-
tine, to be courageous, and. above all,
extremely patient. and to remember
that he is reigning over Southern
people, who are quick to excitement
and anger, and who then say and do
things on momentary impulse, which
they have all forgotten about on the
following day. Tt is better that the
King should suffer distress than either
the people or the country The in
terest OF these two must always be
superior in the Kings eyes to every
other consideration. fTe requests
King Constantine TO see that his
children and any grandchildren that
ne mry have receive m essentially
creek education, so that they might
be Greeks and nothing else. He urges
him to love Greece, and to SERGE |,
and Its people. and to have confidence
In both He entreats his sons always
to remain united. asks forgiveness of