fête are very great, yet a very handsome dividend remains from year to year, when all bills have been duly paid and the balance-sheet issued to the public.
May-Day, 1889.
The May-pole Dance by the Characters.
The "May-Queen" for each year is chosen by ballot, by the ladies and gentlemen of the committee; and she is always selected from the "maids of honour" who have attended on the previous "May-Queens." We give here the portraits of several of the May-Queens of former years. Whilst writing this article, the new Queen for May, 1892, has just been chosen, Nellie Lee, daughter of Mr. Robert Lee, Knutsford, whose portrait will be found at the end of this article.
Whilst rude carts and quaint vehicles pour in at noon on May-Day, their loads of rustic visitors, special trains every half hour are discharging well-dressed thousands from the large towns near at hand, and of these children form the large proportion, since it is par excellence their special festival. Shortly after noon, the children begin to gather in the Town Hall, which is close to the railway station. As two o'clock approaches, the vast crowds are kept on the side walks at the entrance of the town, and by the efforts of a host of constabulary (imported for the occasion) the roads are all cleared and the processions come forth amidst the sounds of martial music of two fine bands, the ringing of bells, and the admiring plaudits of the multitude. Here is the order of the cortège, which goes slowly around the chief streets, and reaches the Green by three o'clock, the hour fixed for the Queen's coronation:—
The Marshal of the Procession, on a white horse.
Battalion Band (3rd Cheshire), R.V.
The "Morris-dance," dancing as they proceed.
"Jack-in-the-Green."
Standard-bearer.
All the Schoolgirls of Town.
Children of the Workhouse.
All the Schoolboys of Town.
The Representatives of various Trades, viz.: butcher, baker, clogger, sweep, saddler, joiner, gardener, constable, lawyer, &c., each with their proper emblem.
Carts adorned with leaves and flowers, containing the Infant School Children.
Knutsford Temperance Brass Band.
The two Royal "Court Fools," in State carriage drawn by two donkeys tandem.
The Royal "Blue-Jackets" of Queen's "Navee."
The Boy-Soldiers of the Royal Foot Guards, in red.
Band of Flower Girls.
