1900 
A May-Day Fete at Bryn Mawr 
College. 
Imagine an ideal Summer day, as was 
May 1, 1900, with an assemblage of 
thousands of people, richly and fash¬ 
ionably dressed, seated on the green 
sward or in folding chairs on the col¬ 
lege campus, the college buildings hung 
with flags, draperies and varied devices, 
students in balconies showering confetti 
on the pageant—and such a pageant, 
taking you back to the time of Henry 
VIII. or Queen Elizabeth—heralds in 
gorgeous garments of white and gold, 
blowing trumpets, preceding a flower- 
decked wagon bearing a Maypole “deckt 
with oowwes and drawn by oxen”—then 
‘‘flour girles”—“boyes and girles, May- 
pole dauncers”—chimney sweepers—the 
Lord and Lady of the May on horse¬ 
back, with attendauntes—Robin Hood’s 
Merry Men—the Morris Dancers fanci¬ 
fully attired, the chorus singers, the 
"Clownes of the tragical interlude of 
Pyramus and Thisbe (from Midsummer 
Night’s Dream)—the Rustics of the 
‘‘Revesby sword plaie” with their hobby 
horse, the persons who are to act in the 
plaies of St. George and the Dragon— 
Florizel and Perdita—trains of shep- 
heards and shepheardesses. The plaiers 
in the excellent pastoral of the Arraign¬ 
ment of Paris—Grecian gods and god¬ 
desses, gypsies, donkeys, musicians, 
drummers, hunters, archers, and all 
sorts of costumes contrived in the past 
400 years, and 300 college girls wearing 
them—guiding their sheep, riding the 
horses, or donkeys, walking—a wonder¬ 
ful train to see and to remember. The 
onlookers had each paid a toll of $1.50— 
the fund to be used toward the erection 
of a students’ building—for social pur¬ 
poses only. Fifty cents more paid for a 
supper—the supper room on the green— 
little tables set with dark blue china, 
and With a bill of rare reading thus, in 
old English text: 
“What there is to Ete.” 
Brothe. 
Capon in gelye—Mortreuse de Vele. 
Sallet of Chykens. 
Cruste rolle—Jammes Tartes. 
Strawberys served with Creme. 
Cakys. 
The observance of May Day as a fes¬ 
tival is of very ancient origin. In the 
Roman calendar it was the third month, 
and if the name of it came from Maia, 
the mother of Mercury, it would explain 
the reverence with which the Romans 
celebrated it. It was even considered 
unlucky among them to contract mar¬ 
riages in May, because of the supersti¬ 
tion pertaining to a certain feast. In 
the first half of the present century May 
Day festival declined in England, but 
Ruskin revived it, and chose for the field 
of its rejuvenation Whitelands, a col¬ 
lege for women. One marked change he 
made was that of substituting spiritual 
qualities for physical beauty in the can¬ 
didates for Queen of the May—the girl 
most likable and lovable, sweet tem¬ 
pered, unselfish, earnest and helpful. 
The very last maypole erected in Lon¬ 
don was more than a century ago; it 
was 100 feet high, and was subsequently 
removed to a park in Essex, where it 
served as a support for a large telescope 
set up by Isaac Newton. 
Perhaps if Bryn Mawr College had not 
been in such dire need of a students’ 
building, a May Day festival of such im¬ 
portance and elaborateness had never 
been given in this country. But in 
order to raise a goodly sum of money, 
something novel and inspiriting must be 
hit upon that would attract not only 
Philadelphians, but the whole country 
around. The result was magnificent, 
and illustrated in a notable fashion the 
remarkable versatility, accomplishments 
and executive power of modern college 
women. Possibly the greatest gain of 
college training for a woman is in mak¬ 
ing her know and appreciate her own 
ability, and to rely upon herself as being 
the most available individual she has 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
anywhere to rely upon. If De Tocque- 
ville could say, 50 years ago, when asked 
to what he attributed the singular pros¬ 
perity and growing strength of Amer¬ 
icans, “it was to the superiority of their 
women,” one cannot but wonder what 
would be the measure of this praise to¬ 
day, when our women are taller, strong¬ 
er, making larger use of their capabili¬ 
ties, and have tremendously increased 
their influence in civic affairs. Individ¬ 
ual women in all ages have been dis¬ 
tinguished and powerful, but never, as 
now, have women as a whole half of the 
human race been of such importance. 
Naturally a festival of such historical 
interest as a May Day fete had a larger 
educational value, and sent a good many 
people to their dictionaries and encyclo¬ 
pedias to find out or to revive their 
memories concerning the Morris danc¬ 
ers, the Nine Worthies, Robin Hood, 
George Peele’s Arraignment of Paris, Sir 
Philip Sidney's Ladie Of the May, 
Shakespeare’s matchless fun, and even 
to the rereading of Tennyson’s “May 
Queen.” The May Queen on this occa¬ 
sion was a tiny little woman in a pink 
gown. The pole was planted in the mid¬ 
dle of a large green space, and at each 
of the four corners of the large area was 
a smaller pole, to be danced around. 
From its top streamed 24 ribbons, of 
yellow, blue, pink, green and white, and 
the style of dancing was for every two 
A HANGING PINCUSHION. Fio. 125. 
dancers to take hold of hands, so form¬ 
ing a ring, and holding to the streamers 
with the disengaged hand. As they 
danced round and round, the ribbons 
were woven into basket plaits, covering 
th poles. They sang, as they danced, 
the May Pole Song: 
I. 
To the May-pole let us on, 
The time Is swift, and will be gone, 
There go lasses to the green 
Where their beauties may be seen; 
All fair lasses have lads to attend ’em, 
Jolly brave dancers, who can amend ’em. 
To the May-pole let us on, 
The time is swift and will be gone. 
II. 
Come together, come sweet lass. 
Let us trip it on the grass. 
Courting, piping on the green, 
The bravest lads are seen; 
There all day on the first of May, 
Lads and lasses dance and play. 
Come together, come sweet lass, 
Let us trip it on the grass. 
The programmes of the plays were 
printed upon slips of paper of the coloys 
of the rainbow. The stage with all ap¬ 
purtenances was in full view, and it was 
very amusing to see as well behind the 
scenes as in front, although the ground 
chosen was on the brow of a small 
declivity, and the descent formed a 
slight retreat for the actors to skurry to 
when not acting. Too much praise 
could not be bestowed upon the acting, 
the singing was excellent, the archery 
practice good, the fencing with swords 
and staves expert, the horseback riding 
—astride, as Queen Elizabeth rode, and 
as all women should—the spontaneity, 
heartiness, da'sh and intelligence with 
which everyone discharged her part, was 
very delightful. A good many mothers 
and fathers were unable to recognize 
their daughters in costume, and some of 
the funny spectacled was that of very 
smart young men in frock coats and 
silk hats walking the campus with fig¬ 
ures dressed as gipsies, hunters, chimney 
sweeps, or even in skins with a masque 
to represent a wild beast. The fete, 
which began at three, lasted until six, 
but the supper tables were thronged to 
a much later hour. And so ended a beau¬ 
tiful and interesting day. The net pro¬ 
ceeds of the festival were about $8,000. 
MARY WAGER-FISHER. 
Hanging Pincushion 
This pretty pincushion is five inches 
square without the frill. Fig. 125, Which 
shows the construction, is reproduced 
from the Young Ladies’ Journal. It is 
first covered with silk in some pretty 
color, and then a canvas cover put over 
this, the threads being drawn and 
worked over to form strips like inser¬ 
tion, the narrow plain strip between 
being worked with a single line of cross- 
stitch in silk. The canvas covering the 
back is put on plain. Fancy-edged rib¬ 
bon, 1 y 2 inch wide, is used for the frill. 
A brass ring is buttonholed over with 
silk, and sewn to the edge behind the 
frill; ribbon passes through this frill, 
and forms a loop to hang the cushion 
by. _ 
With the Procession. 
He who cannot preserve the equanim¬ 
ity of his soul in patience, despite the 
raspings of circumstances, can expect 
but little comfort in a world like ours, 
keyed though it is to grand possibilities. 
—Eli Fay. 
Good words do more than hard 
speeches, as the sunbeams without any 
noise will make the traveler cast off his 
cloak, which all the blustering winds 
could not do, but only make him bind it 
closer to him.—Leighton. 
Infidelity gives nothing in return for 
what it takes away. What, then, is it 
worth? Everything valuable has a com¬ 
pensating power. Not a blade of grass 
that withers, or the ugliest weed that is 
flung away to rot or die, but reproduces 
something.—Chalmers. 
Education is a companion which no 
misfortune can depress—no crime de¬ 
stroy—no enemy alienate—no despotism 
enslave. At home, a friend; abroad, an 
introduction; in solitude a solace; and in 
society, an ornament. Without it, what 
is man? A splendid slave, a reasoning 
savage.—Varle. 
The most solid comfort one can fall 
back upon, is the thought that the busi¬ 
ness of one’s life—the work at home 
after the holiday is done—is to help in 
some small nibbling way to reduce the 
sum of ignorance, degradation and 
misery on the face of this beautiful 
earth.—George Eliot. 
I love the acquaintance of young peo¬ 
ple because, in the first place, I don’t 
like to think myself growing old. In the 
next place, young acquaintances must 
last longest, if they do last, and then 
young men have more virtue than old 
men; they have more generous senti¬ 
ments in every respect.—Johnson. 
With child"cr we must mix gentle¬ 
ness with firmness. They must not al 
ways have their own way, but they must 
not always be thwarted. If we never 
have headaches through rebuking them, 
we shall have plenty of heartaches when 
they grow up. Be obeyed at all costs, 
for if you yield up your authority once 
you will hardly get it again.—’Spurgeon. 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
B.*B. 
when it pays people 
in Hawaii, West Indies, Alaska and other 
faraway places to send here for Dry goods, 
shows that distance cuts no figure with 
the great goods-and-price advantage to 
be gained. 
Shows something more—that the 
recognized approval of this establishment 
is widespread—and increasing. 
Not only mail orders for Silks, Dress 
goods and Wash goods, but all the various 
lines of summer fashions. 
We’re determined to serve you best— 
with best styles—best for the money— 
best for the money anywhere. 
New Wash Skirts 75c to $10. 
Girls new wash skirts 75c. to $4 50 
Colored shirt waists50c. to $4 50 
White shirt waists 75c. to $10. 
Golf or outing Skirts— doubled faced 
materials—handsomely tailored—$5 to 
$15 
Finest assortment ol parasols $1 
to $20 of the season. 
Pictures and prices of these lines in out- 
new catalogue—together with goods-and- 
price news of what GO other departments 
are doing to make it pay you to send 
here. 
BOGGS & BUHL, 
Department C, 
ALLEGHENY, PA. 
The World’s Standard. 
All Jewelers sell Elgin Watches in eases to suit 
every taste. An Elgin watch always has the word 
•‘Elgin” engraved on the works—fully guaranteed 
Our new booklet about watches Is ready to send 
everyone who desires it—free 
Elgin National Watch Co., Elgin, III. 
Brass oana 
laHtrumentM, Drums, Uniforms, 
Ac Mupp.iec. Write for catalog, 446 
illustrations, KKKK; it gives in¬ 
formation for musicians and new 
bands. LYON & HEALY, 
80 Adams 8t>, CHICAGO. 
“ Wood treated with Creosote is not subject to dry- 
rot or other decay.”—Century Dictionary. 
Cabot’s Creosote Shingle Stains 
are 50 per cent cheaper than paint, and 100 per cent 
better for all rough woodwork. Mado in all colors, 
and durability guaranteed. Samples on wood and 
Illustrated catalogue sent on request. 
SAMUEL CAUOT, 81 Kilby St., Boston, Mass. 
COE’S 
ECZEMA CURE, Jftl at druggists. 25c, 
size of us. Coe Chein. Co., Cleveland, O. 
WATCHJND CHAIN FOR ONE DAH WORK. 
Boys and Girls can get a Nickel-Plated 
Watch, also a Chain and Charm for selling 
IX doz. Packages of Blulne at 10 cents each. 
Send your full address by return mall and 
- - — we will forward the Blulne, post-paid, and 
... .TvT. . a largo Premium List. No money ream red 
BI.UINK CO. Box GUO Concord Junction, Mas*. 
Thrice-a-Week World 
Gives you all the news of the whole world 
every other day. It’s the next best thing to a 
dally paper—18 pages a week, 156 pages a 
year. It Is Independent, fearless, and Is with 
the plain people as against trusts and mono 
polles. We can send It In combination with 
Thb Bubal Nbw-Yobk*b, one year, for 11.66. 
A Darning Machine. 
This is the only successful darning 
machine we ever saw. We have tried 
others that were absolutely of no value. 
This one is little short of perfect. It 
enables you to mend underwear, stock¬ 
ings, curtains, table linens, clothing, and 
does an endless variety of art and fancy 
weaving better, easier and quicker than 
by any other way. Full directions ac¬ 
company each machine. When a lady 
has once used this little machine, she 
would not do without it for any con¬ 
sideration. We will send it postpaid for 
$1, or for two new yearly subscriptions 
at $1 each. All money returned if not 
satisfied. 
