Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1895 — May Day. [ARTICLE]

May Day.

The first day of May was conseorated long ago, in England, to Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The villagers uqed to keep It then by dancing and shooting at archery. They set up Maypoles, around which they marched merrily, lads and lasses dressed In- I 'their best, and the pole was decorated with ribbons and with such May flowers ns wore In bldom at that season. The ceremony of crowning the prettiest giff'ttV the village Queen of the May was observed with much Inuocent merriment. The observance of the day began before the sun had dried the May dew, which was warranted to keep whoever drank of It In good health for the year. Besides being a tonic It was also valued as a cosmetic and a sure cure for freckles. The gathering of May flowers with the May dew on them was another cUßtom of the duy and tills was called going a-Maylng “Seeking A spell In the young year’s flowers, The magical May-dew is weeping Its charms o’er the summer bower.” Tbo stern Puritans caused the Maypole with Its dance on the village green to be abolished, and though after tho restoration there was an attempt made to revive the custom, It was never again ns frequently observed. In Ireland May day Is popularly called the birthday of summer. The May bonfire still burns there, and the May brush Is paraded in the public streets of some towns that cling to the old traditions. In some of the superstitious parts of the country cattle are housed to prevent them being milked by tlie devil, when no butter could be inndo by their owners In a twelvemonth.