Greenfield Evening Republican, Greenfield, Hancock County, 4 April 1896 — Page 4

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CLAOGETT'S EASTER

[Copyright. 1SOO, by the Author.]

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R. CLAGGETT was a fresh importation at our boarding house. How our landlady came by him I never knew, but there he was, ^awkwardly eating with his fork as

though he wasn't used to it, talking to Everybody as though he had known them for years, making a merry little bluff of "Who's afraid?" and having terror and hayseed writ ten all over his middle aged, tfcraggy, rural countenance.

I concluded he was "a character," and toeing ono of them newspaper fellers," as he termed it, was Immediately interested In Clagtjett as so much marketable material for the columns of tho daily pa-

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er. I offered to show him the sights, and joyfulIv accepted. He wanted to go first to the theaters. I expected to have somo fun tho first night, but lust iad I10 just sat still and devoured the performance. When it was over, he remarked calmly: "Waal, 'twaa'fc near so bad as I expect•a."

It was then my turn to be amazed. I bad supposed it would be a great deal worse than he had expected. 1 "Seems roal tough, though," he added reflectively, "that nice, purty girls like 4tiet are probably all on 'em bad." "Bad!" I exclaimed, quite horrified. *'Why, they are not." And I rallied to £he defense of the stage and the ladies of the profession. "Waal, I alius heerd toll they were," was Ills discouraging comment after I had finished my burst of eloquence. I

was sorry to see after this that Mr. ^Claggett developed a morbid taste for In--Wetlgating the lowest haunts in the city, loluding opium joints and dance saloons.

Ie seemed determined to find something teal bad. I One Sunday morning we were walking •clown town together.

IVs pretty hard for a defenseless wornIn this town, the mon are so all fired lud," observed Mr. Claggett.

You mustn't think," I protested, ^'that New York meu are all fiends that fftbey all delight in pouncing upon defensejless innocence and dragging its white

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in the mire. Sometimes they actu

ally go out of their way to help innocence hnd keep it out of the mire. But those lit/tie affairs they don't talk much about, iftnd they don't got in the papers. I "I've a good mind to tell you a little experience of mine—yes, I will tell you. [Youought to beset right in somethings," II added a bit defiantly. "You were comSng down to tho office with me anyway, weren't you?" ''Yes. Want to see ono o' them big Jjiewspaper buildin's 'fore I go back."

Just then we turned into Fifth avenue. 1 "Waal, what's goin on? A percession or twhat?" asked All1. Claggett excitedly, "Oh, this is nothing. Only the usual orowd going to church. You see, I haven't (forgotten it's Sunday morning if I have [got to go to work," I answered. 1 "My I Look at them women with real Ijiat'ral posies on 'em," as some elegantly jattlred belles wearing huge bunches of 'violets swept past. "It's Easter Sunday, you know." "Easter!" he said, slackening his pace, and then again in a low, husky tone: "Easter! So it is. I "1 ustor alius oolor eggs for the children .—tied 'em up in caliker, you know, an

b'lled 'em. There ain't any children to do it lor now"— "Have you lost them?" I asked. "Yes, lost 'em. These wuz a boy a a a igtrl, an 1 lost 'em both." I ?n»e old follow spoke In a low tone without any dramatic tremble in his voice, jbat as I looked In bis face there was some*

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Ring, gladsome bells of Eastertide, Ten thousand pseans far and wide. From northern plains of frost and snow To lands where Easter lilies growl

Christ is risen.

Deep in the Tale the sun's warm beams Strike icy chains from swelling stream* And in the bursting buds are seen The coming summer's wealth of

Christ is risen.

Ana as the winter's night of sleep Haa ended for the fair spring's leapt 80 was the night of pagan gloom Dispelled by life from oat the tomb.

Christ is risen.

Then ring the bells In tuneful chime And sound them loud in every dim* Go gather blushing lilies fair, The altar strew in song and prayer.

Christ is risen.

O Easter day, glad Easter day! Our doubts and fears have passed awayi Eooannah! Let the welkin ringt Lift up your heads to praise and sing

Christ is risen! JKROMBW

tiling luuro bi-rjiiijjsiJy out of tuue wit.li 1 -id rustle of silks, tho bunches of violets and the joyotisness of Easter that seemed everywhere. It was not the resignation that looked toward the risen Christ. It was a hardness and bitterness that found no hope or consolation. ''Perhaps you'd lika to go in ono of tho churchcs," I paid. "Tho flowers will bo worth seeing, and tho music is sure to be lino. You can come down to tho office another day." "Ko. r'nn't caro for their flowers an

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their music an their fine flummery. If I could bo just set back there a-colorin them eggs. No," ho added hastily, as though ashamed of having shown some feeling, "I'd ruther go down there with you, an I want you to tell me thet story."

When we were settled in the office, I began: "It was like this, you see: Ono night I was coming homo about 13 o'clock from the office. I had got off the cars and had turned Into my street, when a girl, who had been walking along slowly, suddenly came up to me and stopped, looking in my face with a sort of mute appeal. I was about to brush past her when she caught at my arm. 'Oh, sir,' she cried out, 'I haven't a place to sleep tonight! I—I thought I'd rather die than beg, so I came out on the street, and I've walked and walked till now, and I can't go on atfy longer. I—I don't know what to do.' 'See here, my girl,' I said. 'You seem honest. You don't seem used to this sort of thing. I'll find you a night's lodging

AT THAT MOMENT SHE ENTERED, in a respectable hotel. Then tomorrow if ypu want work come to ine at my office, and 1'il try to find you something to do.' 1 took her to a botel and paid for a room for her and left her, thinking I'd very likely never see her again, but her face looked so sweet and fair I couldn't have done differently unyway. -M Well, the UQXt day she came and begged

tpr work. 81M told s»» her ftory, u) I must say I pitied her. "She had run away from borne to go on the stage. A young fellow In a traveling company had land her away. She thought he was honestly Interested In her ambitions, Instead of whloh he was a rascal, who wanted her only for himself. She was so Innooent she never suspeoted his evil designs till he got her far away from home. Then she left him and tried to find an opening on the stage for herself. "It was the old story of straggle and failure. Her money gave out, and homeless and penniless she had gone that night on the streets for the first time. It was that or the river. God be thanked, I found her In timet" "Why didn't she go home to her fatherf" asked Mr. Claggett, abstractedly balancing a pencil on the Inkstand. "She didn't dare to. He had told her when she went away never to come in his sight again." "Hard old fiend," muttered Mr. Claggett. Waal, her mother"— "She hasn't any." "Oh I Waal, what's her nameP" "Evelyn Gray. I believe It la a stage name. Not her right one." "Where Is she now?" "Doing typewriting for me." "Want to know. S'pose you'll be marry in her next?" "No, sir. There's a young man baok there In the old home. She fears he is relentless, like her father, but I believe her heart Is there." "S'pose she never want* to see that old devil of a father again." "Yes, she does. She'd give her eyes to have him take her back. Poor little girl! Poor little girl!"

Just then a voloe outside the door said: "Is Mr. Maynard here? I've brought him this oopy. Please give it to him," "By Jove!" I said. "There she Is now!" "Couldn't I just get a look at her?" asked Claggett. "Now, see here," I protested, "you're getting too fly. You'd better go back home."

At that moment she entered. Claggett started as though he'd been shot. Then be put out his arms with the single cry, Elviry!''

The girl turned very white then she sprang into those open arms and went sobbing on his breast. "Father!" 6he said. "Do you want me home?" "Ain't I here to take you there?" he answered very gently as he awkwardly smoothed the hair away from her brow. "An there's jJan"— "Yes, Dan," she faltered. I "Waal, Dan, he'sa-waitinana-hopiu"—

Father I" I She gave a little glad cry and went down again on his breast.

It was indeed Easter, for lovo is tho fulfilling of the law. ALICE E. IVES.

EASTER TIME IN MEXICO.

Pilate's Image Kurued on Saturday Before Eager and Straggling Crowds. The people of Mexico are much more coremonious in their observance of religious festivals than the people of the United States. The respect of the more ignorant Is based in some measure on an.almost superstitious fear, but even tho intelligent are more earnest in the outward manifestations of their belief than the less passionate people of the north. Easter is the most 6acred of the church festivals in Mexico, and from the half savage Indian to the wealthiest and most highly educated people of the City of Mexico all observe It with the ceremonies whloh have marked the season for hundreds of years. These ceremonies are not confined to Easter Sunday. The day preceding it Is of equal Interest, if not of equal solemnity. On tho Saturday before Easter the people of Mexico burn Judas Iscariot In efflgy.

In San Francisco street, opposito the. Jockey club, hangs the most pretentious rffigy. It is of pasteboard also, and it rides a pasteboard horse. But the silver .tnounted saddle, the bridle, the boots and spurs and the silver spangled hat are ail genuine. The horse and tho figure are I hollow, and within them are the 30 pieces of silver and many hundred more. These aro to be distributed to the poor.

By half past 11 o'clock the windows of the buildings all about are filled with well dressed men and women. In the street below is packed a hungry looking hordo of ragged Mexicans. At three minutes bofore tho noon hour a servant from tho Jockey club appears with a lighted taper. A murmur goes up from the crowd. Then there is expectant hush. At the first stroke of noon on the great boll of tho cathedral the flame of the taper is put to a fuse which hai :s from tho swinging figure. The mob sways as mon struggle for position. The flame sputters upward to tho mine of powder within tho horse. An oxplosion sends the fragments of tho two figures flying in all directions, and a shower of coin falls on the beads of the struggling crowd below. Some fight for the accouterments, some grab at llio silver and roll over and over, tearing ragged clothing In the struKglefor the possession of a coin. From tlu- burning wreck above tho silver cornea down in a lessening shower until nothing of lioive or vider is {eft. Then the beggars rai^» i\t:lr hands in supplication to lit) wuitktvv.- and haiulfuls of colli ire throw 11 tuovvii to them till tho spectators have r„j looiioy left.

GRANT HAMILTON.

C08TCY prayer books.

Dainty Barter Offerings Which Will Bs Sees In Fair Hands. The daughter of a famous New York millionaire will walk up the church isle on Easter morning with a $500 prayer book and hymnal In her hands.

It is the Easter gift of her fiance, and It was ordered from a New York jeweler months ago. It is not studded with gems. That degree of display has not been reached in prayer books yet. It Is bound In soft leather, trimmed with heavy gold, over whose surface the Easter lily has been traced in onamol. The metal In the book's ornamentation may not be worth more than $40 or $50. The cost is in thu artistic rendering of the special design. A monogram, half concealed among the enamel lilies, shows that the device was made to order, and possibly enhances the value of the gift in the eyes of the recoivcr. It is pleasant to know that you have something which is unique as well as boautlful. To some it is even plcasanter perhaps to know that their Easter gifts are costly, though I believe that many a prayer book mark, with its dangling silver ornaments, which cost tho thousandth part of wbat was paid for this book of prayer, is valued quite as I highly and has created as much joy in the giving and receiving.

It takes an artist to make a $9 book sell for $500— an artist in selling as well as an artist in designing and in executing the design. The shopkeeper probably calculatcs that a man who oan pay $200 or $300 for an Easter gift can pay $600 as readily. But for the man who had not hundreds to spend the Easter shopping this year has had its attractions. In fact, the popular taste at this season runs to what is comparatively inexpensive. Hundreds of prayer books with simple silver clasp will be seen in New York's churches at She Easter service. Individually they will represent but a hundredth of the cost of the gold bound prayer book. The prayer book with the silver clasp is the least expensive form of this kind of Easter gift. In the great shops near Union square these cost but $5 apiece. In the less pretentious plaoes they have retailed at $3 pud even less.

The favorite form of Easter gift this year is a combination of prayer book and hymnal. It has come in styles both costly and inexpensive. In the fashionable shops the least cxpensivo has cost $11. Both books are bound in flexible morocco or russia leather. In the flap of one binding is a slit, Into which the cover of the other book slides. Thus they become one when they are carried to church and two again nt a moment's notice. In the simpler forms these books are decorated, each on one cover, wi:h a plain corner of silver, such as decorates tho corners of ladies' pocketbooks. This is tho style which sells for $11.

There are books a little larger, with

,,-criunitea aesigii in silver bordering tne binding. At each corner Is across. These aro valued ar, $40. They cost more than tho bindings of solid silver—for there are a few people who want their prayer books cased in solid metal. One which I saw this year has a design in heavy relief on both sides, and on each are stamped the title, "Common Prayer"—oommon prayer from a very uncommon prayer book, it will be. The value of this was $30.

Tho most costly prayer books which will be carried on Easter Sunday will be those with perforated covers of' gold or silver, for the workmanship is valued far above the metal used. Books bound In substantial padded leather, with but a tbin veneering of silver, which will be seen in some of the fashionable churches, will represont an expenditure of not less than |40. Prayer books and hymnals adorned with perforated gold will have a value of $75 to $150, and those decorated in enamels will have cost $300 or $300 probably.

There is keen competition in New York to make things costly—just as there is an even keener competition in some quarters to make things cheap. In the first class are those who cater to the money princes. To many of these tho money cost of an trticle represents its value. Thore is a Jim it to the amount of gold and silver With which even a jeweler will Incrust a hymnal. So the cost of these Easter gifts was Increased this season in another direction. For the morocco-and russia leather of common use was substituted elephant bide for thoso whu wished "to pay for it— not in its original thickness, but planed down after it was tanned. There was the hide of the cassowary, plainly perforated whero tho feathers had been. There was monkey hide, stiff and clumsy. Thore was a honeycomb binding which was tho 6lippery tripe of traditional toughness, tanned and reduced to inako it. serviceable. And ther were lizard skin and alligator skin and M'.-.kc.skin, silver gray and black or dyed, my one of a dozen fashionable colors. Ail these were expensive, and tens of thousands of dollars will not cover tho coft ol' li'O.-uj which will grace or decorate tho Easter service in fashionable ohurches.

Tho tasto of Easter givers has run to prayer l.uu-:s nn.i hymnals and Bibles this year as in y-urs betoru. But the souvenir spoon, wit. 1 a cn» 3 stamped in its glided bow I, wt'.i adorn ir.auy an Easter diniur table, a: tim simple book mark, too, which wf.'.s j-jpiilar two seasons ago. has lost of ius attractiveness—possibly bf.:w!.OH

ie mo can be purchased fur

ft dollar and the olJirr for as Utile

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EASTER PHILOSOPHY

LEGENDARY ASSOCIATIONS OF THE QUfcEN OF CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS

How the Simple and Practical Teachings of Jesai Have Ramified Into Complex Strncturf of Theory and Organization.

Easter Customs.

[Copyright, 1806, by the Author.]

THE three great festivals of the Christian church Easter Is celebrated with a (splendor scarcely less than Christmas. Each year, too, It grows in public esteem and beoomes more closely

associated with social and religious observance. On the other hand, Whitsuntide, perpetuating the Pentecostal miracle of the gift of tongues, once under the old papal regime, orowned with quite as much Ceremony and romance, has been greatly shorn of its dignity. The skill of human artifice, by which the teaching of Jesus, 60 simple, practical and pellucid, has ramified Into such a complex structure of theory and organization is more wonderful than any marvel of steel and Iron. The one haa harnessed the spirit the other matter. The record of either is a more fascinating story than any chapter of wholesale slaughter from Nebuchadnezzar to Napoleon. These and all like them have been sent to grass, while the splendors of religious conquest shine with increasing glo.y and have shot their tentacles through all the parts of tho social body. Nowhere do we find a hotter example of the subtle polloy by which Christianity has subjugated the most intelligent sections of the human race than in the Institutions known as its holidays. While the growth of these was In part spontaneous it was further guarded by the wisdom of the serpent as well as by the Innocence of tho dove.

It was inevitable that the birth of the founder of Christianity should bccome a celebration of paramount importance. There was rio clew to tho exact day nor the month nor even the season in which tho "Prince of Peace," to use the most beautiful of all the titles of Jesus, was born into this wicked, bloodthirsty humanity of ours. At different times in the very early period it was supposed to bo about tho middle of September, from the 1st to the 5th of January, and again about at tho time of tho vernal equinox. Finally the primitive fathers manufactured a suit-

able date, which would connect the event indissolubly with the religious naturalism and symbolism of tho pagan world, thereby disarming opposition and linking the Christian faith with the whole continuity of religious belief. The time of the winter solstice witnesses the very earliest renaissance of dead nature. Tlien the sun begins his northward journey, which is to end in the fervor and exuberance of summer. That was the period of the Roman saturnalia, when universal peace and good will relaxed the iron discipline of society wherever tho imperial eagles were planted. Then tha Druids, crowned with mistletoe and holly, performed the most sacred sacrifices of the year in the depths of the forest. Then the Teutonic pagans lit great fires, and for a week worshiped with a sort of mad jubilee at the altar of the sun god, Balder. The philosophy of adopting this most universal and joyous of all heathen festivals as the period of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ is at once apparent. It helped to make the heathen at homo in their new religious clothes.

The date of Easter, commemorating the resurrection from the grave of the crucified Saviour, needed no such selective and Arbitrary choice. Its motive, being the final climax and consecration of Christ's mission in the minds of his followers, was not less thrilling and significant than that of his birth. From the earliest period of ecolusiasticism it was endowed with tho most gorgeous pomp and attire of outward devotion. Tne church then smiled benignly on its devotees, bade them dance to tho sound of pipe and tabor, enjoined tho wearing of the freshest garments as if going to a bridnl and permitted the free enjoyment of all reasonable fleshly as well as of spiritual delights. As one of tho fathers of the church quaintly observed, "For as by this day all flesh was raised from its swinish defoulment, to be cleansed in a spiritual fountain, so all its delights do become innocent and of sweet savor to tho children of God." This was before the day when savage austerity and hate of the harmless things of the body WLVO made by ehurchly teaching tho highest evolution of the saintly life.

Tho Biblical record, of course, fixed the dnte by its association with the Hebraic pa«sover. Whatever controversy there grew out of it was narrowed within certain definite bounds not connected wii.h any uncertainty as to time. Yet this tempest in ft teapot embroiled all Christendom for hundreds of years and is today one of tho cardinal poiuts of difference between tho Greek and Roman churches. It may he expressed In a nutshell. The early whi'ia u-isi uviiumtlv udopiocl JJ10 symbol-

lam of the situation. Christ waa the trni* Paschal Lamb, prefigured in the animal sacrifice of the ancient passover feasts So the Christian passover was the resurrection, and the commemoration of the season fixed itself by the analogy. Tboee churches of the first century most closely Hebraio in their sympathies followed the old rite exactly—that Is, made the celebration on the 14th day of the first month, being the lunar month of which the 14th day either falls on or next follows the verna! equinox. But the western Christian calendar attached more importance to, the fact that Christ arose from tho dead on Sunday, the first day of the week, ana go they celebrated Easter on the Sunday following the 14th day of the moon of March. From this slight rent widened a' great chasm, and the question of discipline finally hardened into one of dogma. After three centuries of battle the majority, of the churches aocepted the rule announced by the oounoil of Nice in 825, which allowed for the differences between the Jewish and Julian calendars. This constitutes the rule of the churoh today, so that the Easter festival mnges between the possibilities of March S3 and April 28.' So much for ohronology dressed up into a theological puppet, about which disoipleg of the Prince of Peace Imprecated the ter*' rors of endless hell on each other's head* for more than three oenturiest As Christmas gradually crystallized about itself other beautiful myths whloh had flowered ontof heathendom, so likewise Easter. Tht period of the vernal equinox, the begins nlng of the true or astronomical spring, was one of religious observance and rejoioIng in all the religions whloh Christianity supplanted in Europe as well as in the east. The name of Easter lndoed was adopted from that of the Teutonio goddess of spring, Ostera, or East re. The new Christmas brought with them the jocund thoughts and associations Inherited from the more beautiful side of the old paganry, and these were wisely accepted and assimilated. The meetings of the elves In their fairy rings on Easter eve (there was salvation even for them) the danoing of the sun in the sky (who will not reoall those lovely verses of quaint old Sir John Suckling entitled "The Bride," among which we find these:

And, oh, she dances such a way No sun upon an £aster day la half so fine a sight!)

the gifts and games of colored

A Movable /east.

Easter is one of the movable feasts. The prayer book gives the following rule "Easter day is always the first Sunday after the full moon which happens upon or next after tho 21st day of March, and if the full moon happens upon a Sunday Easter day is the Sunday after." Consequently March 22 is tho earliest date upon which Eastor can fall and April 25 the latest, this year the date being April 5. This rule was adopted at the council of Nice, A. D. 825, as the observance of the day bad always been upon tho same day as the Jewish Passover, which fell upon any week day, whereas the fathers of the church held that as Sunday was the day of tho resurrection the festival should be held upon a Sunday.

The Resurrection.

The time may never come when science will assert immortality as a necessary dogma. But It is doing something far morehelpful than that. It is declaring that beyond the utmost confines of its knowledgelies the source of all that is, which can only be apprehended by the Intuitions of faith. Not the Christian only today, but reverent science it is, which puts forth the cry of the poet:

Thou wilt not leave us in the dnst: Thou madest man he knows not why He thinks he was not made to die. And thou host made him thou art just.

Easter to the Unfortnnate.

To those who have small satisfaction in this life, whoso conditions are those of misery or of dull vacuity, to whom life is a sad mistake aud an injustice if it Is not, to give them further opDortunity, fullor expression, largor compensation, the day,! if it has any significance at all, stands as the pledge of existence under other oondi-| tions, whore their cramped and hindered' powers oan perhaps have fuller scope and' they have at least the hope of that.— Georgo William Curtis.

Had a Long Nap(

A ohick who had just learned to oreep Cam»' out of its shell and said: "Peepi It is good, I declare,

To breathe the fresh air.

tsnust have hud a loim 4leep.IL.. .ikgi-

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a hundred other charming beliefs and customs which fjot imbedded in the popular mind, sometimes varying, too, with different localities—all thoso wore inherited by Christianity as the heir-at-law of the world's antecedent estate, religions and social. The connection of the lily with Easter, on the other hand, tho consecration of this flower as a resurrection emblem, seems to have no root in the old,' but to belong to the new spiritualism of Christ, as representing best in tho flowerkingdom the ideal of stainless purity, conJoined with statelincssuf form ami beauty of line.

Easter customs are not widoly divergent in differ out parts of Christendom. Tho Greek church, however, particularly its Russian branch, still retains tho once universal salutation of Easter day between all thoso meeting in or out doors—"Christ is risen," with the response, "He is risen indeed," a resounding kiss. In Russia the beggarly tramp is entitled to this, if the chance occurs, from tho empress herself. The use of tho colored pasch, or pace egg, often elaborately ornamented, I9 everywhere prevalent, originally signifying the bursting of the year from its egg in the beauty of spring. Tho lovely dame or maid who delights themasculino eyo in new gown and bonnet on Easter Sunday scarcely imagines herself doing just what the ancient Teutonic woman did, who was enjoined by religious custom to dance around the bonfires of Easter in a newly woven woolen tunic.

Much more might bo cited about the historic and legendary association of this queen of Christian festivals. But enough has been said to indicate how it has drawn to itself sap and lustiness of life from facts and forces akin to its original thought* and with what consumm- ^e policy organized Christianity has vted building materia* out of the w* debris of religions which once u.. imagination of man. T. FEIUUS.

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