June Carnival-dancing Round the Daisy Pole, Near Meadville, P.A.

Here is a scene of happiness. Fourteen little girls are dancing round the daisy pole. They have streamers of daisies fastened to a pole crowned with daisies. All about them is a field white with daisies. It looks like a Milky Way across a pasture field. Beyond lies the green wood with its inviting shade. All over the world people, and especially little people, have days set apart when they get out of doors just as these little girls are doing here. Long, long years ago the people of England danced round the May Pole. The first day of May was called May Day-a day for nature worship. But in England not only the little people danced round the May Pole, but their elders danced as well. It was at such dances that old ballads were sung. One girl generally was selected as the Queen of the May. If you were to go to Serbia, Roumania, or Bulgaria, where there are so many gypsy children, you would find that they have the same custom. On May Day they make wreaths for their heads and waists, and go from house to house dancing and singing. In Bavaria the people follow a similar custom. You know the daisy here shown. It is the common American daisy, sometimes called the "white weed," but more often known as the oxeye daisy. The black-eyed Susan is the large daisy with the rich yellow petals and the brown center. Some day you should read Burns' poem, "To a Mountain daisy," which begins like this: "Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r." But better still, when May or June comes round, go out to the fields and enjoy the daisies yourself. Keystone ID: 11404 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.