The mirror., 1919-05-01
The Month of May

consisting of 81 days. In America May is consid-
cred the last month OF Spring; in Europe, the first
month of Summer. Its name is taken from the Lat
in. Maia, the name of the goddess of growth.
In northwestern states May is. perhaps. the
critical period of the year. for this section is
mostly agricultural and the prosperity of the people
depend to great extent upon the weather. During
the latter part of April the tender buds and shoots
come forth ready to be nourished and strengthened
by the expected warm sunshine of May, and many
the anxious days and nights that the farmer and
gardener pass during the first two weeks of this
month, for Jack Frost is always lowering threaten
ingly near, ready to strike and ruin everything at
any moment. And until he is driven back to his
cold retreat of the north by the onward advance of
the sun from the south, does the agriculturst lie
easily and peacefully in his bed at night.
From historical stand point, May is not as
interesting the preceding month"; April. In fact,
it might be said that fewer historical happened
during May than most any other month of the year.
Why this should be cannot say, but might sug-
gest the theory that, people living in the temperate
usually inactive a certain extent during
the winter. literally sleeping, it were, and when the
month of April arrives they throw off their winter
sluggishness and things begin to happen. But
towards the end of the month they appear to get
their first burst of speed" and with May comes
lull in their activities and they settle down
joy short period of quietness and peace.
Below give some of the customs of May and
brief chronology of historical events:
The Maypole
The custom of hanging baskets wreaths of
flowers at the door the first day of May, is the
survival of an old English floral festival which
observed for hundreds of years among Englands
rural population. The young men used TO 60 to the
woods. early in the morning May first, singing
the song:
Come lads, with your bills,
To the woods we'll away,
Well gather the boughs.
And we'll celebrate May.
Well bring our load home.
AS we've oft done before,
And leave a green bough
At each pretty maids door,"
The Maypole about which many songs and
poems have been written, of the features Of
the festival. The fowertwined pole was erected in
the village square, usually and the village folk. old
and young, gathered about it, for joyous singing and
dancing.
Mothers Day
On Saturday, May 9, 1914. President Woodrow
Wilson issued the first national Mothers Day proc
lamation asking that Sunday, May 10th (the I'd Sun
day in May 1910 be observed as Mothers Day. in
accordance with resolution. passed year before,
by the House and Senate. commanding the observ-
ance of such day.
The United States is the first nation of the world
to give such tribute to its homes and credit for
the founding of such movement should be given
to Miss Anna Jarvis, president of the Mothers Day
International Association. The day should be OBJ
served through distinct act of kipdness-a Wis
it, letter. gift tribute of any to show re-
membrance of the Mother and Father to whom
grateful affection is due. Mothers Day is equally
Fathers Day. and designed to deepen and perpet
uate all family ties. It's badge is white carnstion,
and its slogan, In honor of the best Mother who ev-
er lved-the mother of your heart
Event. of Great War, 1918
During the month of May, 1918. in the great
war. the Germans made considerable gains. but
| strongly resisted by the Allies. On the 9th they
! made attempt the Aisne 'front.' taking the
Chimin des Danes, bu: in making an attack between
Voormezeele and Locre in Flanders repulsed.
On the 2Sth the center of the Crown Princes army
crossed the Vesle at Fsmes but the Allies checked
the advance fanks. On the 3lst the Germans
reached the Marne at the apex of their salient.
| Decoration Day
| May 80. Memorial or Decoration Day, first set
| apart holiday in remembrance of the soldiers
who fought in the Civil War, by the members of the
G. A. R.. in 1868. is kept in all the States Gas we'll
as in the district of Columbia, Porto Rico, Hawaii
and Alaska) except Arkansas. Idaho. Mississippi,
| Texas and Virginia. In Alabama. Florida, Georgia
and Louisiana. April 26 Is kept Confederate
| Memorial Day. and III North and South Carolina,
May 10 s observed.
| Chronology
| May l, 1898, Dewey destroyed the Spanish