92 



THE HAWTHOKN. 



May-day circles, and the interest with, which it was origin- 

 ally regarded had faded away, it was given to Sir Isaac 

 N'ewton, and by his directions removed to "Wanstead, to 

 support the then largest telescope in the world.^ 



Of late years the celebrity of the Hawthorn as the 

 symbol of May-day festivities has greatly declined. In 

 London the number of those 



' ' That do the fair and living trees neglect, 

 Yet the dead timber prize, " 



is so vastly increased, that the May-bush " swells its gems " 

 and " salutes the welcome sun" without exciting a passing 

 thought. The only class who, nowadays, 



"With due honour usher in the May," 



are the poor chimney-sweeps, who, on this their single 



1 Knight's London, vol. i. p. 174. 



