New-York daily tribune., 1858-04-05
e 8 TER.

In TIE genefa dong away, in thiS basT ssW
word, with old-sme cerernon.es and custons, d .
somewhat remarkable ths, for the reservation OF the
three most memorable s,s-Chismas, New Yssr
ard Esster-we s,e indebted for The most part to the
lively sympathies AMI quick memories Of the little
fox Father may bs buried in business csrss and -
the hurry Of NswYork commerce; Mother frctsed pei
rccolt ction with the peculiar srnoysnces OF EevYost
bousekeenipe; but to the children, Santa Claus sAd
New Ye@ cakes and Easter eggs are ever preseat q
vivid s,,ic;pstiou: ard with oil reverence bs 4
spok.u) ws firmly believe that the stocking 10 be huag
up. tie cakes 70 be baked and the eggs to b dye.
have more TO do with the perpetus.ion OF thess ami
versariee than grown-up" vcnersioa fer tho eve'u
they commemorate.
OF all festival seasons. the presen. one Of Esster
most pete with associations dear TO the heat OF q
Chiisiendom. Every denomination. We believe, psys
some respect 10 the Ct blessed Lords Pss-
sion; but in the nature Of the ceremonial the Roman
Catholics are enabled to celebrate il with the most i'm
pressve soemnity To this day they mako much Of
Easter but in the early history Of the Church its cee-
braton was carried to excess, nothing being lef ua-
done to effect the most vivid realization Of tie articles
of the Christian faith. In the Cathedral at Durhsn.
for instance the staue of the Virgin was made y opsn
at the breast 10y Of linked fastenngs. and wnhn
was al imsge Of Savior "marvelously 6aely git
which was exhibited 10 the multitude on evcry Good
Fndsy.
In some churches sepucbres were erected nex tas
altsr, representing the tomb in which tho body OF
Christ was laid the scenes described in the New Tee
tsment sppertaipng to the burial and rcsurrectioa
being minutely enacted by the officiating priests and
altar bo,s. There sowc curious memorials Of old
Easter customs still in existence in register book b.
L. i,.b cafhAIval Ann okhAx
entries Of tie same nature, there Is one:
Item For xiii. spsu unto the ysht .bous the ~ps'ers
,sens, the a.te OF Eastern wsyins xviii iA"
Ard two Others, which give touch Of the !udcroxs
to tie practical part Of the paraphernaha OF thess
holy shows, run thus:
nc-. Hell m,de Of timber srd iron wort hsse.o' "iA
Et~ -Four pair Of Angels siuss fr fur ADsss mss' S
Item Lonseth IbeIOnsirs) TO the four Angola bW Pc
yukes"
These lights about the sepl1ers" wers OF tho
first Importance and constituted the most brilliant feA
ture of the Easter spectacle The psscbal or great
Easter taper at Westminster Abbey weighed throe
hundred pounds. Some were wound about rods IN q
spiral fom and others were built up Of wax til they
reached almost to the rocf, where they were lighted
by a " fine convenience" These waxen eaormkies
were, of course very costly, and special cosibuaoes
for the purpose we're levied upon the cougregstoos.
As theaters, then, were not, religious dramas wers
frequently got up in the churches during Easter. tho
monks constituting the dramas persoae and another
quite universal practice among the clergy was ths
preschpg Of a "Fabuls Paschalis, or Easter Tale
This was discouse on welknown ScIipturd events.
made purposey a. amusing ss possible, and admins
tered after the seventies OF Lent, as sugar-pums arc
avished after correction by foad psrcnt.
These Easter tales would scarcely be tolerated By
the good taste Of the present generation, even opea
to no stronger objection but we are told that In those
DAYS they were received with peas OF Easter laugh
ter" These Fathers of the church. fearful lest tho
long. continued fasting and morcatoa should repsa
their locks from religion, deemed wise to set an ex'
ample of returning cheerulness by making fun for hem
en- from the pulpit and to this end they did not scts
pie 10 introduce the most sacred pevopagee.
The maids and msirons bad also their own share il
the making Of Easteride; then the fairs weSc'
held and, airsyed in their best gowns, and smart with
flying knots of gay ribbons, they, with sweethesrts.
and husbands, and children, sailed forth to spend
holiday of delighted wonder amid all the Punch sad
Judy hustle of Greenwich fairs.
But their most lucrative Easter frolc consisted OF
the custom Of Lifting. This was performed oo Ess-
ter Tuesday by the womeD who, in Amszooan equsds.
pmsued every luckess man who ventured out Of doe.
Once caught, they placed him in chair, and. having
lifted him three times above their heads. feloni-
ously robbed him of kris apiece, and adding insult
to injury forced him to pay for it all. As On carly OK
ample Of the enforcement Of womens righh, there 10
record of payment exacted from English monarch.
who, being surprised by some ladies OF the royst
household not forgetul Of their Easter privileges wss
" lifted" kissed and fined according to law.
This lifting or heavirg was Of course, vulgar TYP
fcation of the Resurrection.
revival Of outdoor sports took place ct Easter. The
weather then becoming favorable 10 an indulgence ia
them. Ball play seems to have been tho fsvonte,
and is sad to have been played during service In tho
Catholic churches the Continent by the priests-
the organ and choristers keeping tme DsDcing stool
ball and trsp-snd. ball were also popular amusemsatl
at this season. and were entered into with greet hanty
even by citizens Of renCwn."
The children, too-Heaven bless them!-revelsd In
their oolored eggs bot cross-buns and holiday from
school. Eggs and holiday have they pertnsciousy
fought for and preserved unto themselves but, sas
for the Good Friday buns, except in ono ortwo candy
chop windows where they are epitaphed consp,cuousy
and lie in state-net buns but relics Of hy-goos sss
they are as if they had never beea. The street.
music of "one-a-peDny, twoa-peuny hot cfoss-buus,'
which ssluted the Of the rising generation at the
early dawn Of the Good Fridays In years sgone, died
With tie voices that then 30 Justify cried them.
And now for the qualification Of our little friends who
are not already provided with Pace eggs We will tel
how TO color and TO ornament them 70 hearts delight.
First put the egg in hot water for few minutes;
take out, and with the sbarpered poiat Of tAuow
candle write name you please, or mako any fssci-
ful marks; then boil the egg good while in water
which has been prepared with cochinesl, og-wood or