The May-pole In England

Great were tho doings ín the old time around the May-polo, for which the tallest treo was eeleotea. It was drawn to its place by as many as tliirty or forty yoke of oxen, tbeir horns decorated with flowers, followed by all the lads and lasMes of tho village. Thepolewaswotind or painted with gay colors, and trimmed with garlamlB, briglit hamlkerehiefs, aud ribbon streamers, from top to bottom. With great ceremonies, and shouts of joy, it was lif ted to its place by ropes anti set up firmly in the grouud; and then the people joined hands and danced around it. The whole day was given up to mcrriment, every onc dressed in holiday clothes, doors and windows viere adorned -with groen boughs and ilowers, thebells rang, processiocs of people in groteeque dreeses were arranged, and the famous morris dancers performed. In this danoe the } eople assumod certain eharacters. There was alwnys Robn Hood, the great lieio of rnstics; Maid Marian, the Queen, with gilt crown on her head; Frinr Tuck ; a fooi, with his fool's-cap and bells; and, above all, the hobby-horee. This animal was made of board, painted a sort of pink color, and propelled by a man insiíe, who made him perform vnrious tricks not cominon to horses, such as threading a needie and holding a laule in his mouth for pennies. The various oharacters laborod to support their part. The friar gave solemn advice, the Queen imitated ladylike manners, the ïool jokcd and made fun, and the horse praaced in true horsey style. This morris dance is supposed to have been brought in eariy times from Spain, where the Moors danced it, and where it still survives as the "fandango." In other place wreaths were made on hoops, with a gayly-dressed doll in the middle of each, and oarried about by girls, the little owners singing a bailad whicli had been sung since the time of Qaeen Bess, and expecticg a shower of pennies, of course. All this May-day merriment came to an end when our grim Puritan fathers had power in England. Dancing around the May-pole looked to them like heathen adoration of an idol. Parliament made a law against it, and all the May-poles in the island were laid in the dust. The common people had their turn, when, a few years later, under a ncw King, the Prohibitory law was repealed, and a new May-pole, the highest ever in England (Ï34 feet), was set up in the Strand, London, with great pomp. Bnt the English peofle were fast outgrowing the sport, and the customs have been dyiDg out ever since. Now a very few May-poles in obscure villacres are all that can be found. -