Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

J OW. boys," said the Sunday I school teacher after a pains- I taking lesson on the origin A w and history of Easier, "can you tell roe anything about Good Fri day?” "Ves, ma'am." replied the smallest v boy In the class. "He was the servant at Robinson Cru'oe.” About as pertinent as the small boy's answer would be any attempted ac count of the real origin of Easter and the beginning of its celebration. It Is a festal day certainly as old as the his tory of man. Every nation that has or had a written language contains refer enco to the celebration of a splendid spring festival in honor of whatever deity of abundance and beneficence the particular nation believed In. Japan has had from time immemorial a beau tiful cel. hration to commemorate the giving way of winter cold to warmth and light and growing green things, though the Japanese knew nothing of the Christian Easter. Of Mythological Origin. The very name "Easter" Itself comes from the name of Ostara, a goddess of •Id Norse mythology. In the times of the world’s early peoples the new year began on what Is now March 20 be cause then the sun entered the sign of Aries the Ram. The new year thus marked the beginning of spring and the resurrection of vegetable life of all kinds; hence the Lamb became asso elated with the spring festival. Nature and human history correspond. Th death and spring reappearance of plant life correspond to the death and resur rection of the Christ. When the church fathers established the Christian Easter the only change necessary was one of names. The joy of Easter day, the rev erence for a loving, beneficent divinity, were there already. Even the Easter egg, typical of the tomb inclosing an immortal spirit which bursts Its confining walls and rises to a new and glorious life, is as old—well, as old us the story of man himself again. In the gray twilight of the race Hindoo cosmology made the universe a great egg, with the power of life and creation within It. The most ancient Chinese and Japanese believed the vis ible world and all it contains sprang from an egg which held within it the germ of created things. Persons of finely strung nerves some times see surrounding a human being a faint egg shaped cloud or aura in which varied colors occasionally play. Hindoo philosophers call this atmos phere the auric egg and declare It sur rounds every object, animate and inan imate. From ancient Chaldea, through Zoroaster and the fire worshipers. Egyp tians, Chinese and Japanese, down to Christian times, when it symbolizes ths Christ resurrection, the egg as a mys tical emblem has prevailed and sur vived. So It is quite proper that we should eat eggs and give our friends presents of ornamental eggs at Easter time. A Suggestion to Collectors. A collection of Easter eggs through several generations or even of those re ceived during one lifetime would be as interesting as a lot of historic fans. In fact, the empress and dowager empress of Russia are both making such collec tions. In Russia, where Easter gifts are made so much of, an Easter eg, amounts to something in the imperial family. It Is not a real egg at all, but an egg shaped receptacle Inclosing some costly and beautiful jewel or other gift. For generations it has been the cus tom of the czar on Easter morning to present his wife with a splendid gift of this kind. The dowager empress has kept those given to her by her husband, Alexander III., and they make a daz zling array. Antedates Christianity. It may be interesting to recall that the very custom of celebrating a sol emn mass with lighted candles on Eas ter Sunday comes from the ancient practice of lighting fires and candles during the spring festival to symbolize the triumph of fire, warmth over cold, spring over winter. Flowers, too, gorgeous blossoms, decked the ancient temples of the pagan deities at the spring festival as they do churches to day. All was joy and worship. The undoubted origin of Easter Is pagan, but not very much more pagan than are the thoughts of twentieth cen tury ladies when they go to church on Easter morning and study the details of one another’s new hats; not much more pagan either than the thoughts of the florist who decorated the church for Easter, or than the thoughts of the maiden who wonders how much the Easter gift will be worth which her sweetheart sends her. Oh, dear! This is rather a pagan age, after all! Somebody with a head for figures has counted up that 10,000,000 eggs are eaten in New York city on Easter Sunday. That is probably counting in the un fresh ones that go into cakes. Tho Teutonic Way. The prettiest ideas in connection with the children’s Easter come from Ger many, where the kindergarten originat ed. There the eggs are not given to the little ones outright, but are hidden in nests, and the children must have a merry hunt till they find the nests. A hare, or rabbit; as it would be in Amer ica, is supposed by the children to come and lay the eggs in a nest the PAINTING EASTER EGGS IS A POPULAR FAD. night before Easter. The custom of hiding gayly colored eggs for children to find on Easter morning comes down from old Germany. It is said that one _________ __ Easter morning a long time ago a little : odd connection of rabbit and Easter girl, hunting the customary nest of egg began, so ’tis said. When the bushes where the nest had been hidden. ] outdoors they are concealed In nooks "I know now where the Easter eggs and crannies inside. The children al* come from!" cried the little girl. "The ways have the fun of hunting for them, hare lays them." And that is how the Some Modern Deve | opments . There is infinite variety of Easter eggs, saw a hare spring out of the | weather is too stormy to hide the eggs i eggs. There are no prettier ones than those painted at home In water colors by the woman or girl who uas some knowledge of art. It is delightful en tertainment painting these Easter eggs. Another.good way to prepare them is to take the end of a burnt match, dip it in grease and write with it the child's name upon the egg. Or some comic figure, as a donkey or a Teddy bear may be drawn upon the egg with the greasy match point. After that dye the egg in the usual manner. The part where the grease was rubbed in will re main white. The same effect may be produced by pasting wax- upon the part of the egg you do not want to be colored and then steeping in some cold coloring fluid. A fine green shade is made by boiiing spinach leaves a quar ter of an hour,, after which put the leaves into a sieve and squeeze out all the juice. Eggs boiled in this liquid will be of a pretty color. Artificial eggs of all kinds contain ing toys or candies are among the nicest gifts for the children. Some times neat little silver watches are hid den in, the eggs for specially favored or fortunate school pupils. Homemade I candy eggs are among the most deli cious of EaSter confections, especially those with chocolate shells. Tin molds of the shape of half an egg can be got it confectioners’ supply .stores and else where. Each half of the egg shell is molded separately then cooled and filled with very small candies. The two halves are stuck together with soft can dy paste. Some of the costly Easter gift eggs one may buy are two, feet high, and the price of them is even higher than tho eggs. Flowers Play Their Part Along with Easter eggs with all their variations flowers are among the things appropriate for Easter gifts 'o women and girls. The true woman is never better pleased than when she receives a basket or pot of lilies and roses or a bunch of violets. It is now quite the fashionable thing for women to sew in Lent and make Easter gifts for tlieir friends. As to the children, there is hardly any end to the variety of gifts for them every year. This year the Teddy bear has to a considerable extent taken the place of the Easter rabbit in the child ish heart. A new hat for a little girl, a new suit of spring clothes for a boy will fill their hearts with joy. It is to be hoped the pretty German custom of hiding the colored eggs and letting the children hunt for them will become general in our country. Grotesque faces painted upon eggs amuse young ones immensely. By all means we should give joy to the children at Easter. The Japanese devote one whole day of Easter festivi ties to the children. People of western nations do not give halt enough time to making their offspring happy, always, that is. excepting mothers, bless them! As to the Easter Hat, Lastly, even the new hat for Easter is not a modern idea. Ages and ages ago. when the race was young, so much love and reverence were felt for the deities who presided over earth's fruit fulness and the spring festival that it was deemed only fitting to enter their temples at this time of Joy with freshly bathed bodies and new, clean garments. So you see— As it was In the beginning, so it shall be world without end. LILLIAN GRAY. NURSES OF THE ROYAL BRITISH HOUSEHOLD. Queen Victoria it was who set the exnhiple of having a trained nurse per manently attached to the royal house hold, and King Edward has also adopt ed this wise precaution of having on the premises a well trained person whose presence is so desirable in time of accident, such as that, for instance, when the king sprained his ankle. The nurse is one of the two chosen by Sir Frederick Treves during the king’s ill ness of some years ago. Needless to say the lines of this particular nurse have fallen in very pleasant places, for she usually travels with the queen and Princess Victoria, the latter riot being very strong. The second nurse is now matron at the Officers’ Convalescent home. Osborne. All the members of the royal family are extremely thoughtful and kind to those connected with the household and take a sympathetic per sonal Interest in their welfare. HIS TENTH BIRTHDAY. He has said good by to ids rocking hors# And the games he used to play. While the house of blocks lies a tumbled heap— He is ten years old today. The soldier of tin In its suit of blua With trimmings of finest gold Is behind the door unnoticed now— It's owner Is ten years old. The top and drum have lost the charm Which was theirs for many a day. And the woolly sheep give a lonely "Baa!” For tho boy who has gone away. His mother sighs as she looks at him And knows that all earth's gold Cannot restore the curls and kilt Of her boy who is ten years old. The little lad who sat on her lap And rocked but yesterday— His feet now touch the floor, of course, For he's ten years old today. WHAT WOMEN ARE WEARING, DOING AND SAYING I HAVEN’T been saying much about fashions lately, and I fancy It’s about time for mo to do so. They’re loud, if you want to know tho truth. Far be It from me to bewail the good old days. There is no surer sign, of advancing age or of the fact that you date back far- you Doing around rilher striped or spotted. ther than will admit. Not me! I’am young (in case you doubt it) and largely optimis tic, but not about the season’s dis play in the shops. Time was when the woman of moderate means could corral a certain sum of money, go down into • the shop ping district and fit herself out from head to foot stunningly one-half the cost of having the same things made to order. And the colors and materials would be in excellent taste Not aa of Yoro. Now you can’t do It to save your life. Let us take up the question of tailor made suits, for Instance. The prices are higher than ever, and the patterns —mercy upon us, checks, plaids and stripes of tho loudest description. I have not seen a solid color in a simple style such as you would get in tho workshop of any first class tailor. It looks to me as If every one were going around either striped or spotted this season—that Is. all but the really well dressed women who will think twice before they caricature themselves In the new "novelty’ materials. cost twice that sum. Then I have seen pretty blouses from $5 to $7 that looked positively handmade. Some of them had quite a bit of embroidery too. Hats That Are Worth While. When I come to the subject of hats I become positively enthusiastic. They are as pretty as the tailor mades are ugly. Decided tones may not be pretty in costumes, but they are charming in hats. The shapes are nearly all short In front, designed to show the waves of the hair. Brilliant blues and russet browns, mingled with orange, are used to trim ecru straw shapes very ar tistically. I notice few ostrich plumes, but a great many fancy feathers on the paradise order. The brims of many imported models show a tub effect, quite as If the brim of a small sailor had been bent down all the way around. As to the Hair. To be strictly up to date one must fix one’s hair In three puffs (bought at the hairdressers) and wear the tiniest of little bangs below the pompadour. Although many of the chapeaux are small, yet large hats are always worn later on, and so I selected my new straw hat with this in mind. It is an imported model. I might as well tell you I shall economize in other things, but not on what comes nearest my face. The brim is fairly large, and it has one fetching dent in front. There is regular crown, the top of the hat being wrin kled up like folds of cloth and held down with vel vet straps. At one side there is a cream bird of paradise effect drooping over the hair. The straw is a rich gold tone, very coarse, and the velvet reddish brown. By the way. speaking of hats. And Now Prices Soar. As for gowns, there is little or noth ing to be had under $65 or $75. and I wish I could show you a dress I brought home from Paris at the former price. It Is of finest chiffon voile, trimmed with I She trill Hare a purse of a friend, accom- fino vamneiennes. piai'.ings of red taf- the same shade. panied by her feta and cherries embroidered by hand. ! mother-in-law. For the same sum here in New York I ! was trying on small effects. The moth- am shown a "jumper dress’’ of none I er-in-law remarked quite innocently (?): too good material either and strictly i "My dear, I don't quite like those little machine sewed. i things. There are 3ome faces which We have something to learn about ; ought always to be under broad brim- ready made costumes from Paris it would seem. There Are Bargains Still, Linens and lingerie frocks are delight ful exceptions to what I have said. I want to tell you that we are catching on to the French embroidery effects wonderfully, and we are also learnini med hats!" Can't they say things, though? A Popular Brown Shads. There Is one color above all others which Is stunning this spring, and that is the leather shade of brown which goes perfectly with tan belts, purses and shoes. To be strictly smart with to get up pretty effects cheaply as they ] this sort of costume everything should do over there. | match. I have just purchased a pony suit of A friend Is having a leather brown blue linen for $14.75. and It is most I voile princess dress made to be worn prettily ornamented on both jacket and ! with different guimpes. With this goes skirt. I am sure It looks as if it had ' a little pony coat of renaissance lace m - - /. "t * f •, \ > ^ ; f • .* j T'',' \ -- A ■ \ '• ' - * - * . i >P m0m*: 1. "M fr.-M : .-s' -’V - : \ Hi-'* "'V: r 3 .. * Mi , ir- - ' ’V\ (3 ' ' White are the Caster lilies, white and pure and fair, White as the soul of a maiden, pure as her inmost prayer. Clad a the Caster spirit, glad and sweet and bright, Glad and good as the morning after the somber night. dyed th# same shade of brown and trimmed with velvet ribbon and tiny gold buttons. Then, of course, she will wear a burnt straw hat trimmed with brown and tan stockings and low shoes, also elbow length gloves of tan ar.d a purse of the same shade. can indulge In one of the dotted fou lards in a shade of blue. I have seen one at the dressmaker's trimmed with red to be worn with a hat trimmed with cherries. It had the long arm scye simulating a cape effect, which is the very latest for emaciated—otherwise get your commission. Only I shall. around a bit I could get one for $2.50.“ pick the color out myself and then | Ultimately she had to go back to the bring you the sample. How much shall I tell them to reserve?” “Ten yards,” she said without a blush. Now as the material was forty- five inches wide and $2 a yard, I hesi tated. But, yes, she needed ten yards—not an inch less. So I picked out the goods and told the clerk to reserve ten yards. Later in the day I was going through the same store when the clerk spoke to me. “What shall I do with the remain ing two yards. Mi?s Clyde?”, he said. “Two yards?” I gasped. “Yes, the dressmaker has just sent for eight yards, and you reserved ten!” “Oh—ah—m’m—and I pay for ten,” I remarked as the truth broke in upon me slowly. The clerk felt sorry for me. “They do it all the time, ma’am,” he said, with a sad expression. store and buy the $3.50 parasol. In the meanwhile I am sure she had worn out the difference in shoes and silk stock ings. x One day she rang me up on the tele phone and asked me to go to lunch with her. We went to an expensive place and the bill came up to a good “Ten yards,’’ she said. But She Is Outwitted. An hour later I stood at the dress maker’s door. "Madame, there has been a mistake,” I remarked crisply. “Your errand girl ordered only eight yards for my gown. Now, to be sure I told you I wished to be economical, but not as economical j as all that. So since you told me you j wear the hat all spring, ten yards kindly send for the' figure. Afterward she took me to a very shabby little millinery shop where she fussed and worried for an hour over a cheap little turban that was be ing made for her. I didn’t like the hat at all and said so. “Well, my dear,” she confided to me "I am not crazy about it myself, but T can’t afford to go to a good place.” J thought of the lunch and said nothing The lunch was gone, but she woulc If you are a tall woman then you 1 fashionable—figures. Don’t the dressmakers enjoy them selves in the merry springtime! "Twenty-five for the making if I fur nish the material,” said one modiste to me. "but if the customer furnishes the material, why it's thirty-five." j "Oh. get the material by all means!” I innocently remarked. “I want you to I need other two, and I want a very full skirt! ” At the beginning of my speech she had turned a delicate pea green, now she was blushing like a peony. "The idea of her having made such a mistake.” she cried and dashed into the sewing room. There in loud tones she berated the fcoor little scapegoat, and then as the latter feebly remonstrated I heard a whisper which sounded suspiciously like, “Shut up, you little idiot!” Why didn’t I take my goods away? I think she is a good dressmaker. Any woman who reads this well un derstands. Our Little Peculiarities. Isn’t it odd how some people have queer streaks? “We are all of us shoddy in some one J thing,” remarks a friend, and I he- j lieve she's right. You, of course, have read how John j D. Rockefeller’s daughter believed she I had a good chance of dying of starva- i tion, and she used to beseech the serv- I ant to be more careful of saving the ; crusts. ! Well, without possessing her money ; a certain acquaintance of mine pretty j well off will shop a whole day to save a few cents. She wanted a particular shade of pink parasol hard to find all ready made, and we saw one in a win- | dow marked $3.50, which I thought was so reasonable I wanted to rush right into the store and get it before any one else did. But, no! She hesitated and finally said, “Do you know I think If I looked learned on good au- keeps a roll of bills her top bureau Subsequently I thority that she amounting to $500 drawer. Won’t even put it into the bank—just hoards it. Can you beat that? A Further Instance. Another woman I know—well off, too—hates to spend money for cut flowers when she entertains. Still ono must put something in the center of the table to be sure, so she has bought some artificial pinks, which I must say are perfect imitations. They are even perfumed, and she puts them with real maidenhair fern in a cut glass bowl containing a tiny bit of water. The other day she gave a luncheon and everybody admired the flowers. One guest especially who is very fond of blossoms kept worrying because there was so little water in the bowl. She was afraid they would wilt. "My dear, do send the maid out for more water,” she entreated. "I posi tively can see those lovely blossoms wilting. You don't know how to take care of flowers.” Then she readied forth her hand, touching one of th# pinks tenderly. And a strange, peculiar expression came over her face. So much for the economies of the rich! tieSL New York. OF INTEREST TO THE FEMININE SEX. Mistress vwho had given her maid a | been sent to prison and fined, merely the object of opposing teams being to project them through the air over ele vated tape lines representing goals, ticket for the theater)—How did you j for protesting against disfranchisement, ' The exercise of looking upward and like the play? Maid—Oh. it was fine, j decent men would come to their sup- . raising the arms above the head is ma’am! You should have heard how a ! port and help them. Miss Smedley is servant sauced her mistress! j the founder of the Lyceum club. "Women are going to get their rights | A prize offered in New York for the 1 S. Ames ar in England,” says Miss Constance : best schoolroom game for girls has of Boston. Smedley, an English suffragist and a ; been awarded to Max Liebgold for a Miss C. J. Alexander, a practicing brilliant writer. She said that after j game which he call? bailoon ball. In- phyiician. and her friend. Miss Mary; the brutal way in which women had stead of balls, small balloons are used,' Doley, took a daily plunge in the ocean ' raising the arms above beneficial. Mrs. Jack Gardner and Miss Mary the rival orchid growers t P off the Massachusetts coast near Win- : tiirop all winter and declare they en- | joyed it. They have excellent health. Miss Mary K. Benedict. A. B. t Pb. D.. . has bc-cn appointed president of a col- ' lege at Lynchburg, W. Ya. Mrs. Ogden McClurg, a daughter-in-J Jaw of the- lijte Colons! -V. C. McCiurg ; of Chicago, recently secured paper? to I act as pimt on a boat on i.rke Michi gan. There are s.iid To be forty women , civil engineers in the country and thir ty mechanical and electrical women engineers. In answer to an advertisement offer ing for sale certain public lands in the southwest Mrs. Alice French of South McAIester, I. T„ put in a bid for 1.S20 tract.; in various places. The bid its* if covered eighty feet of paper. The women of Iceland have full mu ni' e.i suffrage and vote, in ail church ft<! parish matter-'. Women are employed as gatekeepers. j clerks and telegraphers on the twenty- five state railways of Russia. The clerks are the best paid, receiving $230 a year. The English Royal society for the first time in Its history has awarded a medal to a woman for scientific dis covery. The woman is Mrs. Hertba Ayrton, and she got the medal for in-: vestigations of sand ripples and the electric arc. "Have you noticed that I always dance on my toes?” asked a conceited young fellow at a ball. "Not always." his fair companion replied bitterly. “You have been dancing on mine th* greater part of the time!” Dr. Irene B. Bullard of Radford, Va., recently appointed by the general hos pital board as third assistant phy sician at the Eastern State Hospital For the Insane, Williamsburg, Ya.. is the only woman physician in the state holding sl government position.