Oriole and Tower-Light, 1922-1927, Part 82

Author: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Publication date: 1922-1927
Publisher: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Towson > Oriole and Tower-Light, 1922-1927 > Part 82

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Page 8

THE ORIOLE

May, 1925.

THE MAY FETE.

It was a gay day-such a day when the greatest worry is a mere trifle-and down over the green came the happiest procession of people we have ever observed. The Herald in all his glory, his trumpet high to his lips, proclaimed the coming of the Master and Mistress of the Green. Beside him were the Jesters, three of them, mimicking, romping and acting in such a way as only fools can act. The Pages were garbed in their holiday attire. Behind them came the hosts with their best singers and retainers, to prepare for their guests.

The first to arrive were the vil- lagers, coming from over the hills, the little ones riding in a gay cart drawn by a sturdy horse. They hung over the side waving to the spectators and proudly showing off the garments that their own tiny hands had made, "The Cornish May Song" pealed forth, and the Green rang with clear sweet voices.

Silence! A trumpet was heard- the Jesters danced, the Herald straightened up at every note he blew-it was Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, attended by the Lords and Ladies of high de- gree who were guests at Richmond Hall. The Queen was seated in

her royal chair, her beautiful auburn hair shone with the greatest splen- dor-making her crown appear a natural one.

"Robin Hood was an outlaw bold" -his appearance was made with bold gestulations, and Honest Little John came close behind him. Allan-A-Dale marched beside stately Friar Tuck, ,both giving the same admiring glances at Robin. The sword dancers, all prepared for the most gala dance of the year, and a band of brave lads noted for bravery entered singing Robin Hood's very own song.

Who comes! Beautiful music sounds upon the green and a very lovely maiden is led in on a big white horse. "That is Maid Mar- ian," whispers one lady to another, "the most beautiful maiden in the land." And Maid Marian, smiling her sweetest smile, is led to the other side of the green.

"Whoa - ho! Giddy-ap! Whoap, now"-cavorting horses, trying to dance with the Morris dancers they are accompanying-one man goes down. There he is, mounted again, controlling his horse as the other brave knights must do. The Morris Dancers show us how happy they are -their song Is a lively tune, "Come Ye Young Men, Haste Along," and it suggests dancing of all kinds on the green.

The Shepherds and Shepherdesses come skipping over the green, ,sing- ing of their supreme joy in being)

able to attend such a joyful affair. "Fair A Sight As Ever Was Seen" they sing, and their faces express every feeling of joy.

The most important property of the day appears on the scene, the villagers carrying a huge May pole, and beautiful maidens dancing two by two around it, singing "Come, Lassies and Lads, get leave of your dads and away to the May pole high," all the while waving their branches of the May.

Moo! Moo !! The Jesters shyly

peep to see what's coming. They jump and dance; it's the cow coming over the hill with the Milk Maids, who are being followed by bold Millers. The Milk Maids swing their buckets and sing, "Mary, Molly and I," while the cow chews con- tentedly at the vines that are hang- ing from her horns. The Millers flirt and sing "There Was a Maid Went to The Mill," all the while

teasing the too shy young milk maids.

Scores dirty little Chimney Sweeps come dancing, singing, jump- ing and skipping-they are free for the day! The air, how beautiful it! feels as they sing their new song.

Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle, and from behind every tree on the green come wraggle, taggle gypsies, run-

ning and dancing, waving their

tambourines. One of the very sly maidens is terrified, but a bold Mill- er comforts her, and she can't help peeping at the gay group from be- hind his shoulder.

The Strolling Players are led in by

Bottome the Weaver, and their

signs suggest an interesting time later on. They bow before the Queen, as every man, woman or child that entered the assemblage has done; even proud Maid Marian bent her head very low to the gra- cious Queen.

The flower girls, wearing their

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Page 9

THE ORIOLE

May, 1925.

prettiest dresses, dance toward the Queen with their baskets full of sweets aud flowers. The Beggars stroll in, the Pickpockets too, slyly glancing from one lord to another; and Jugglers come with the Tumb- lers, each showiug off a brand new trick.

More banners-"United Guilds,' says the first one; "Shoemakers," says the one followed by apprentice boys and their fathers; "Pastry Cooks," reads the third, and a fat, clean Master Baker appears with his purple cape thrown about his shoul- der and his black goatee brushed particularly for the occasion. The Tailors are there too, and one faith- ful wife straightens her husband's hat before he bows to the Queen. The Jesters laugh and mock till their attention is turned toward more Morris dancers and Hobby Horses-but a wonderful spectacle is about to be seen-St. George ap- pears with a huge dragon, the larg- est in the world, whose great mouth opens and closes in fury at the mas- sive crowd.

All are assembled, and at the sound of soft music, Titania, Oberon and Puck beckon their little fairies from under a spreading maple to dance and dance and dance. Tiny Puck romps with them, leaping about in a carefree manner while the pretty fairies danced in their daintiest way.

More dancers-Winter and his at- tendants dancing in all their glory till they are conquered by a more beautiful groupe whose lithe bodies proclaim the joy and splendor of summer. Winter shrinks away, and leaves them to their frolic.

The May pole is raised-Hooray! the people are more joyous than ever and some dance up and down, sing- ing 'Then To The Maypole Haste Away," but a silence reigns over the great crowd, and Robin Hood goes forth to claim Maid Marian and lead her to the Queen. She bows in all her glory, and bold Robin places a crown of the May on her head. The Town Crier calls for dances.

The Queen has asked for "Rufty, Tufty," and her request is granted by a fascinating little dance by the children, who know their steps perfectly, having been waiting and preparing for this day such a long time. Everybody dances; even the Chimney Sweeps, their clean little hearts leaping with freedom.

Ha, Bottome the Weaver takes his place in the centre of things. He promises a play-a scene, from

Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" and his characters appear. Fair Thisbe shys at the fearsome lion, but her lover gives her assured glances of safety. The play is in action and the lion roars. The lover stabs himself, when he believes

his fair Thisbe has been torn to

pieces by a lion and moans till she appears to die with him. The play is ended, and cheers rise from the audience,

There is a period of rest and re-

creation during which the pretty

maidens sell their wares and sing "Strawberry Fair." What man

could refuse a flower from such lovely maids? The Gypsies tell for- tunes, real fortunes, which no doubt are true, and everybody hurries to see the big attraction Robin Hood has to present.

There is a sword dance, then archery, wrestling and quoits, and in each Robin excels. Maid Marian awards him her token as the Queen of the May.

The dragon becomes restive and dashes fortlı, but just in time is he met by St. George, who excels in strength and alertness, and in a short time the monster falls to the ground-dead. St. George's sword has killed him.

Mid cheers and hand clapping Saint George modestly leaves tlie field, and everybody joins in "The Song of May," which makes Richmond Hall ring with its echoes. Queen Elizabeth leads the way back to the castle, while some of the groups are left romping on the green. May Day has ended. Our hearts are full of happiness for this brief space so filled with joy. Each member of this gay band con- ceded that this is the way to greet the glorious month of May.

ELSIE CORNER.

MAY DAY CUSTOMS.

The celebration of May Day is of very ancient origin. In the dim past before the dawn of history one may trace the spirit and the customs that later under the guilds of Mediaeval Europe developed into a civic civil- ization. The Druids celebrated the feast of Bel on the first of May by lighting immense fires in his honor upon the various cairns. Now, even to this day, similar customs survive among the Irish and the Scotch Highlanders-both remnants of the Celtic stock.

Some of the rites of Molochwor- ship still survive in several districts of the Scottish Highlanders. These superstitions are receding before the invasion of the railway and the English tourist, but it is not so long since the following customs might have been witnessed on May-day even as far south as Perthshire.

All the youths of a township or village met on the nearest moor. the green sod, and in the trench then formed about the altar the whole company stationed themselves. Here they kindled a fire and prepared a repast of eggs and milk, of the con-

sistency of a custard. At the same time they kneaded a cake of oatmeal, which they baked on the embers. After the custard was eaten they di- vided the cake into as many portions as there were people in the company. One of these portions was blackened over with charcoal. Then all the pieces were thrown into a bonnet. The company, blindfolded, drew out each a piece, the holder of the bon- net took the last bit, and the drawer of the black bit was made to leap three times through the flames of the bonfire. In the real Baal ceremony the person who took the blackened piece was literally sacrificed as au offering to Baal.

The Irish still retain the Phoenic- ian custom of lighting fires at short distances and making the cattle pass between them. Fathers, too, tak- ing their children in their arms, jump or run through them.

May-dolls, once common through- out England, are still paraded on May-day in Devonshire, and may even be found in Cornwall and other (Continued on Page 10)

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THE ORIOLE

May, 1925.

parts of Wales. The girls dress up a doll, sometimes with another doll in its lap, with many ribbons and flowers, and carry it abont on a small chair.

In Sweden, May-day is still cele- brated in a manner derived from its heathen origin. On the previous evening linge bonfires are built in every hamlet, around which the young people dance, while the older ones draw auguries from the ap- pearance of the flames. On May-day a sort of sham fight takes place be-

tween two parties, one representing winter and the other summer. Win- ter. however, always gets the worst of it in the end. He is buried in effigy, and ashes are strewn over the grave. The children on this . day make a point of wandering into the woods for the purpose of robbing the nests of the magpies. The eggs and young are put into a basket and borne to every house, the children singing a song which runs thus:

"Best loves from Master and Madam Nagpie,

From all their eggs and all their fry, Oh, give them alms, if ever so small! Else hens and chickens and eggs and all

A prey to the magpie will surely fall."

Every housewife gives them some- thing for a May banquet. May Day is really the only gala-day of the Swedish children. On this day, also, the Easter witches are wont to send their "Troll hares" to suck the

In England the resusitated May- Day games gradually neighbors' cows. The usually confined in the cow-houses, which are fumigated with brim- cattle are fell out of fashion, and now they survive only in rural localities. In London the celebration was abandoned first to stone. In the evening they are carefully inspected; and if any in- jury is found upon them it is put down to the account of the witches, and a light is made by striking two flints over the creature. This sure preventative avoids any further evil consequences. the milkmaids and then to the chim- ney-sweeps. From about the middle of the seventeenth century it grew to be the custom for milkmaids to dress themselves up in their best and call l on all their customers, from whom they received some trifling gratuity. Later the chimney-sweeps made it a The date of the institution of May games in England during the Middle practice on the same day to parade the streets togged out in tawdry Ages cannot be traced. A poem of finery, ribbons, and green boughs. the fourteenth century, "The Ro-| Hence the London name for the first mance of Kyng Alisaunder," says: Mery time it is in May; of May is Sweeps' Day "Jack in the Green," with "Dusty Bob" and The foules syngeth her lay; "Black Sal," the latter being usually The knighttes loveth the tornay; a man dressed in woman's attire Maldens so dauncen and thay play. (probably a relic of the milkmaids), In "The Court of Love" (about 1450) we read: who would go dancing and capering through the streets, the centre of an admiring rahble. "Jack - in - the

Thus sange they all the service of the feste,

And that was done right early, to my dome;

And forth goeth al the court, both moste and lests,

To fetch the floures freshe, and braunche, and blome;

In Cheltenham the chimney- sweeps hold high revels on May-Day. And namely hawthorn brought both page and grome, The dancers have their faces black- ened, and their band consists of a With fresh garlandes party bley and fiddle and tin whistles. The centre white;

of the group is formed by a large

And than repoysen in their grete de- bush, or hollow cone bedecked with light, leaves, out of which peers the face

Eek eche at other threw the flowers bright,

The primrose, the violete, and the gold.

This extract shows that the king and queen mingled with their sub- jects in these fine old English cus- toms. Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon once came from their palace of Greenwich to meet the heads of the corporation of London, who had been into the woods of Kent to gather May. The custom seems to have been for people to go into the woods in the night to gather flowers and branches and return with them at sunrise to decorate their houses.

Other observances were gradually added. The May Queen was crowned and held one day's sway over court. This performance included Morris- dancers, Robin Hood and his band, and generally the villagers and townspeople. A pasteboard hobby- horse ridden by a man was sent around among the spectators to col- lect contributions in a ladle stuck in its mouth. Everybody who wished might dance around the Maypole.

The Maypole was usually made of birch, and adorned with flowers and ribbons. In the villages it was often set up for the occasion on May- Day Eve, but in London and else- where Maypoles were planted per- manently in the streets.

of Jack-in-the Green. The dresses of the attendants are red, blue and yellow, and they dance around the bush. The leader of the party is a clown, who wears a tall hat with a fantastic dress. There is also a

man representing a gridiron, with a fool's cap. and black figures fastened on his white pinafore. Two boys complete the group, one wearing a girl's

hat adorned with flowers. They obtain contributions by holding out iron ladles or spoons, and by striking the bystanders with blad- ders fastened to a stick.

The Cambridge sweeps evidently used to have a similar festival, as the children still go round with a doll, hung in the midst of a hoop wreathed with flowers, singing the ditty :

The first of May is garland day, And chimney-sweepers' dancing day; Curl your locks as I do mine, One before and one behind.

In many Cornish towns an open stream of water flows through the principal streets. As soon as the "May" has been secured, and break- fast hurried through, all the boys of the town assemble at this stream or "gutter," where each is furnished with his "dipping horn", which is thus manufactured. the point of a bullock's horn is sawn off, and the end of a stout stick, about four feet long, was firmly inserted into the aperture, which is made water-

tight. The weapon thus

made is

any reserved for inhabitant sợ thoughtless as to appear without the correct May-Day sprig. Wayfarers happening into town were the usual victims.

As soon as a non-conformist ap- peared, whether inhabitant or stranger, male or female, the guar- dians of the rites shouted in chorus, and in tones not to be misinter- preted, "Ha, penny or a penny, or a good wet back"; and, if the coppers were not instantly forthcoming, the unfortunate wayfarer was drenched without delay or mercy, and the baptism was mercilessly continued until his or her greater speed had left the pitiless pursurers hopelessly behind.

With the passing of the guilds much civic pageantry died and later

Green" was a bower made in the shape of a pyra- mid about ten feet high. Sweeps' Day is not yet entirely extinct in London. man enclosed in ajin Puritan England efforts were made to suppress the May Day re- vellers. Thus it was that May Day fell out of fashion. But, like all good things, it has survived in the hearts of people and at any time may find expression with all the old world joy and abandon. Just such a May Day as charmed the heart of good Queen Bess in those gala days of Merrie England we hope to revive upon the campus of the Maryland State Normal School.

Page 11

THE ORIOLE

April, 1925.

SCHOOL 14.

First Grade.

All the members of our crew, Misses Nellie D. Smith, Beatrice Wheltle, Lucy Weise, Martha E. Mays, with Miss Josephine Krager, wish to say "Hello" to those at the Maryland State Normal School.

Nobody knows, but just we four, How Practice-Teaching we adore; We'll he sorry when the time is o'er, And Practice-Teaching is no more.

Of course we girls love it best, Because of Miss -, I shan't tell the rest ..

She is so kind and lovely to us We never think to worry or fuss.

But if the people don't try to guess Her name to keep silent I'll try my best.

I dare not begin to tell it-Iest You'll be quite as wise as the rest.

Just a few amusing incidents to afford everyone a good laugh:

The youngsters were all very en- thusiastic over the fact that they were to give some health pledges, which were to be combined into one large pledge for them to recite to- gether just as they recite the pledge to the flag. After explaining the meaning of a health pledge, of course, Joseph, always the first one ready to contribute to all discus- sions, was the first one to give his pledge: "I pledge myself to eat Hot Dogs every day."

The teacher, while teaching the poem "All Things Bright and Beau- tiful," was stressing the point that God gives us all the beautiful things which they see on their way to and from school every day.

Teacher-"Now, have any little people here ever stopped to think who gives us these beautiful things around us ?"

Brilliant One-"Miss gives them to us."

There was an old mother cat and her little baby kittens in the base- ment of the school. The teacher of Practice told the children about them and some of them said they would like to take them home with them, so several were given a

kitten to take home. There was one little person who happened to be absent that day, so the next morning she came running in breathlessly gasping to Miss "I c-c-came after m-m-my k-k-kitten; I heard y-you w-were g-giving away c-cats yesterday."

a. chair; then they'll have a really truly library, completely furnished and ready for use.

The last notable event was their trip to Druid Hill Park, mainly to see the squirrels, about which they have been studying. They were very glad to see so many of their old friends, such as the white rabbits, zebras, pony and camel. They also enjoyed seeing Mary Ann. From this trip we expect to have several interesting oral composition lessons. MARTHA E. MAYS.

Student in Practice.

SENIOR THIRTEENISMS.

Hark ye all and listen to ye ex- Ploits of Senior 13.

Out of a class of 32 we were well represented on every team in ath- letics, our girls winning the Inter- sectional and Inter-class basketball championship.

We have accomplished artists, poets, writers, dancers, elocutionists, actors and musicians, so we repre- sent every phase of life in M. N. S.

We have three honor students aud two students in the student teachers' contest for the Baltimore County Bank Prize.

We challenge any section to equal or improve this record. We hope that the new Senior 13 will carry on our work and improve it, if possible.

BUTTS-HARVE-TRIXY

PENSIVE THOUGHTS

I know a girl; her name is Peg; She's not too short; her face is reg; Her hair's not black; her hair's not white;

Her hair's not red; her hair's just right;

Her feet ain't hig; her feet are small;

They don't point in. And that's not all-

She's Swarthmore schooled; seen Paris, too;

She has a line. But boys, I'm blue; To tell you why, I'll not decline:

She wears a ring, but it's not mine. -The Log.

Johnnie- Pa, won't you please buy me a microbe to help me with my arithmetic?

Papa-What good will a microbe do you? Johnnie-I just read in this paper that they multiply rapidly .- Owl, Westminster.

"Pardon me, but I think we have some common ancestors," began the

Our little First Grade people are now busily engaged in working out young man in the bright green cap. their library project; they are com- pleting the book-case, after which "No doubt you have," replied Miss Cutting, as she turned her back .- they will make the library table, and Colorado Dodo.

OFF TO MAINE.

I was off to Maine for the sum- mer, off to the land of many lakes and rugged mountains covered with pine trees! So it was with buoyant spirits that I boarded the train at Union Station for the North. There were the usual crowded, dusty seats and the

usual conglomeration of races aboard, but these factors did not disturb me in the least, so in- tent was I on plans for the future. My train reached New York at mid- night and one of those grinding, rushing subways whisked me over to the other side of the State in an in- credibly short time. There I board- ed the sleeper that was to take me straight to Maine. I immediately sought my berth and slept blissfully en as we sped through several States and into Massachusetts. The min- ute that the train passed from the latter State into Maine I sensed a

difference. Perhaps my imagination tricked me, but the very air seemed to be more bracing. Picturesque stone fences came into view and the number of pine trees was noticeably increased. As the train sped on, I became conscious of a growing feel- ing of exhilaration. My eyes eager- ly searched the landscape for famil- iar names and places. The quaint names such as "Kizar Falls," "Sa- co," "Sabago" and Issipee seemed to me like greeting old friends. Fi- nally, I reached Brownfield, which marked the end of my journey by steam car. Here I was met by a

hilarious crowd. After the babbling

had and excitement of greeting somewhat diminished, we all board- ed an extremely ridiculous looking Ford truck. The gaiety the of crowd, supplemented by several bags of stale chocolates purchased from a country store, combined to make the twenty-mile ride over dusty road altogether too short.

What a picture greeted our eyes then! The beautiful little town of Denmark was surely a satisfying sight to find at the end of a long day and night on the train. In the heart of the town there was a flourishing hotel. To the east of this inn Moose Pond stretched out its long length for about ten miles. If we followed the pond in one of the motor boats which was busily plying up and down the water, we would have passed by Pleasant Mountain on our left and on our right we would have had a glimpse of white tents and rustic cottages peeping through the pine trees, for six camps for boys and girls lined the water's edge. Only a small part of this in- viting scene can be observed from the centre of the village. We could perceive more clearly the trim little white houses on either side of the road, with their borders of old-fash-

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Oriole and Tower-Light, 1922-1927, Part 82

Author: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.) Publication date: 1922-1927 Publisher: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.) Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Publication date: 1922-1927
Publisher: Maryland State Normal School (Towson, Md.)
Number of Pages: 1024