TAT: FIRST OF MAY.
Mav-iser used to be a holyday for all classes in days gone by; more recently it was appropriated to the chimney-sweepers ; but since "the abolition of climbing-boys," the chimney-sweeper holy- day has degenerated into a spurious masquerade of grown-up idlers with fraudulent designs on the pence once destined for the boys. Thus May-day sank to the lowest dregs of holydaymaking. Next month, however, will be celebrated in the Metropolis by an extra- ordinary occurrence—the opening of the Great Exposition. Queen Victoria deigns to unbend from the affairs of state on purpose to grace that occasion ; of course enormous crowds will be drawn to Hyde Park ; and "A Bee-Master," who writes from the City, has suggested, through the Morning Post, that there should be a general holyday. " Holyday or no holyday, there will be no work done' so that employers may as well come forward with a grace in good time." Very true ; there can be no doubt that numbers will give a holyday to their workpeople, and that, given or not, num- bers of the workpeople will plead the occasion for taking "French leave." There is a very numerous class, however, whose release from work will depend entirely upon the extent to which the un- derstanding in favour of a general holyday spreads. Many em- ployers will follow the example of their rivals either way. If, therefore, no general understanding be come to, a large class will he deprived of holyday who might otherwise enjoy it. Probably it is not too much to say that thousands will be thus dependent upon the chances of a general understanding. In this country, however, it is not so easy to make an authorita- tive arrangement of the kind, or even to effect a general under- standing. In the City, the Lord Mayor can proclaim or recom- mend some course to his fellow citizens ; but outside "the walls" we see no authority which can be invoked for the purpose. No doubt, the Crown might issue a recommendation ; but perhaps it will hardly be thought worth while to ask the interference of the supreme authority for such an occasion or on behalf of the work- ing classes. " Fast-days " can be proclaimed and converted into bolydays—" days of humiliation" available for picnics and sub- urban excursions ; but there is always some solemn pretext, and the holyday is only indirect. Short of the Crown, there appears to be no local machinery for ascertaining the common assent even in a general wish. Possibly, if the principal tradesmen were to meet in the several districts to arrange an understanding amongst themselves, and thus to set the example many more might follow jet their wake ; but such an example would be interpreted at plea- sure, and it is tolerably certain that very large numbers will be forced to remain at work. There is no public machinery for arrest- ing the action of the public offices-?-for suspending commercial operations, and providing for the payment of " bills " due on the par- ticular day. It may be a defect in our rib& machinery, but the defect exists, and the Exposition of 1851 finds us without any in- strument for ascertaining the general desire of the inhabitants and securing for all that day of release which is probably desired by all.
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