White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-04-05
Easter,

Sunday next is Easter. This day. as
most of our readers probably know, de-
rived its name from Queen Esther, wife
of the ancient King Ahasuerus. (which
reigned from India even unto Ethiopia."
The name Esther was vulgarized by the
common people of that period into "Ess-
ter" as it is in our own day. Esther
was the one who first discovered the pro-
cess of coloring eggs. She was Jewess.
dwelling in the land ruled BY Ahasuerus.
The Jews. in those days. were far more
strict with regard to eating flesh. than
they now are and the prohibition ex-
tended even to eggs-they being consid-
cred unclean, in view Of the manner in
which they were produced. Consequent
ly, the articles were kept only as orna-
ments. Esther was keeping house for
her cousin Mordecai, and was one day
engaged in coloring stocking yarn with
onion peel. when an egg on the mantle
tree accidentally rolled off and fell into
the boiling liquid. She took it out, and
found it to be beautifully colored and
she broke the shell, to ascertain whether
the color had struck through; but the
inside looked SO nice and good. that she
put salt and butter on it, and ate it.
When subsequent events rendered Esther
I a fayorite with the Jewish settlers, they
adopted the practice of coloring and eat
ing eggs upon her birthday. but at no
other time.
In those days. King Ahssuerus annu'
ally gave great feast, on which occa-
sions his court and chambers were deco
rated with hangings Of various colors
At one of these feasts, Vashti. the Queen
of Ahasuerus, refused to present herself
when commanded to do so by her hus-
band. The fact is, shs had instituted g
Woman's Rights Association, the FIRST
organization of the kind ever attempted
For her act Of disobedience she was dis
carded by Ahasuerus, and Esther chosen
for his wife. This deprived Mordecai Of
house keeper; so he had handbills
printed, offering at public sale his "house-
hold and kitchen furniture, beds and bed.
ding, cooking utensils. wheelbarrow, ]
grindstone, ! shot gun, l Bowie-knife, ]
boot,jsck, and many other articles toe
tedious to mention. Terms Of sale-al
sums of S5 and under, Cash 4; for sums
of over IS, twelve months time, with
note and approved security" Having
broken up house keeping. he spent hi,
time sitting at the Kings gate. waiting
to be invited in. and managed to worn
himself into the good graces of the mon
arch, by reporting conspiracies to rob the
royal watermelon patch, which he heard
being concocted by some Of the servants
Ahasuerus and Esther were married OF
Easter Sunday, { Esther's birth day, and
thenceforward the great annual feasts wert
held on that anniversary and from tina
time, the hangings of various colors wer'
dispensed with, and in their stead, color.
ed eggs were served up at the table.
A certain wicked nobleman named
Haman, had planned the murder of al
the Jews in the Kingdom but through
Esther's interpositiOn. they were fore
warned, and authorized to defend them,
selves. In honor of their prsserver, they
adopted eggs as their weapons of defence
and pelted many thousands Of their as
sailants to death with rotten eggs. Henct
originated the practice of egging Obnox
ious persons.
The terms "bad egg" and good egg
also originated at that time, but not, al
might be supposed, directly from the ar
ticle of eggs. Hannah, who was despissd
BY the masses of the people. was. by de-
scent, an Agagite; and the people, wher
speaking of him, abbreviated the name
and derisively called him Haman, tn,
Ag., or the "bad Ag." The Jews con,
founded the name with the favorite article
of their beloved Queen Esther, and called
him the "bad Egg" When Mordsca
triumphed over HaEan. they called him
BY way Of contrast, the "good Egg"
Thus originated the terms which hav.
been handed down to the present day.
Another popular phrase. "gone up
is likewise said to have had its origin in
those days. Haman had gallows built
fifty cubits high, for the especial accom-.
modstion Of Msrdecai but by some IN
foreseen accident, he was elevated upor
it himself-in fact, was remarkably "higt
strung" The people, in speaking of THU
occurrence, were wont to remark thai
Haman had "gone up" which was lite
rally true. So, in our day, when ons
makes great failure. or steps out Of the
world, It is said that he has "gone up
Other antiquarisns contend that thephrast
originated from little episode in the life