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Show BvbbT H ." B FRENCH QUEEN OF THE MAY. B" Pretty Custom That Prevails In HH Southern Villages. H Ad nnclcnt custom whlc still ob HI tnlna In many villages In tho Bouth ol Hi Frnnco Is n pretty vnrlntlnn at tlio HB choosing of tho May queen with HB, which wo are so fntnlllnr. At this BBT rcnsqn of tho jpar tho mnyor each BBj tiny Vlllnpo In France boasts of r BBJ mnyor nml sis. of hi political ofll BBj ccrs choose- from among tho vlllnpo BBJ mnklons the lmisl beautiful girl. Ah BBJ soon as the choice IS made known BH tho (moon. ilr&sl In whtto oon to a BBJ long white efl autt a wroath of whlto BH rosos, assembles with her parents nml BIB nil tho villagers Ih front of tho may BIB or's 'liousu. Htro be and six frlonds, BBS dressed In frock coaU nml top lints, BIB form In procession, tho mayor and BIB quocn loading, and march to the BIB churoli, whero tho re is a short core- BBj mony. VH They then march back to tho may- BBJ or's houso, whero a fnvorod few aro VB ontcrtnlncd at luncheon. When ho BBB proposes her health ho onumcratos BBB her virtues, kisses 'her on hotli cheeks BBB and hands her an envelope which con BBB tains tho prize, $200 In money. But VmVJ tho ceremony docs not end here. VH They form in procession, the hand VH leading this tlmo, nud In n sort of BB "follow my leader" gamo walk VmVM through tho village, up lanes and over BBB hills for threo hours. That evening ,n ball Is given at tho Inn, whero tho VVMVa queen dances first with tho mayor and MV- his six friends nnd aftorward with tho BBH lads of tho village, and so tho cclo VVMVMl bratlon ends. Tho queen's whlto veil, -J J and wreath, aro carefully folded nway VMVJ and aro brought out again only whon VmH alio becomes a bride. |