The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-01
[ From The N. Y. Forl.

lle genial, hSaTty Joy WGicn at ChrlStT2iaS time
lightens the eye and makes mellow the voice.
has a quality quite different from the exulta-
tion which marks the period of Easter. In the one
case there is hope; for Child is born, and by Him
man shall be saved. Before Him lies life among
whose probable events reproach, privation, disas-
ter, shameful death do not in anticipation intrude;
the bright possibilities Of the future certaintes
to the sanguine world; therefore this Birth, with
its accompaniment of celestial midnight song, calls
forth satisfaction, tranquil, deep, without alloy
In the other case a sad life has ended in painful
death, in agony of mind in the darkness Of despair
the Saviour of the world has given up his breath;
the ransom has been stolen by the great DESTROYER,
and the hopes of all who looked to Him for their
help exchanged for dreary, wretched grief.
Then, in the midst of this universal sorrow, the
grave gives up its dead land again the Lord appears
triumphant, having conquered the enemy, and man
kind bursts forth into the jubilant shout Where is
thy sting, Death, and where, o Grave, thy vic
toryl Man, cOnvalescent from a heavy illness, or
escaping an appalling danger, or receiving good It'd
ings of unexpected fortune, naturally and involun-
tarily bounds with exuberant Joy. And this ex-
preston is the characteristic of the call
Easter.
There being among US but limited observance
OF this great feast OF the church, it passes almost
unnoticed BY the multitude. But iu countries
where the Roman Catholic religion maintains its
supremacy, the case is widely different. We are
in Catania, the beautiful Sician city at the foot
of Etna, whose lava has once and again overrun
it, destroying the old and laying firm foundation
for the new. 1t is Passion Week. The unusual
quiet of the streets broken by sound IF car
riages only disturbed by the football of the people,
attracts attention. and we ask the reason of the
stiffness. Don Placdo, the waiter at the Corona
Inn, says with solemnity-the good Lord is dead =
and crosses himself as he speaks. Stepping upon
the balcony, we look down into the street; it is
nearly filled with ladies and peasant women, the
former wrapped in the long black silk mantle which
forms their picturesque outdoor attire. Whittier
are they going? Don Placido says they they are
visiting the churches. We accordingly join the
throng, and soon enter a church.
Here, in front of the altar, surrounded by count
less tapers, lies effigy of the Saviour, yet
unburied; about the railing stand the visitors,
silently gazing; scattered over the stone floor,
others kneel at their devotions; looking behind
us, we see that Don Placido, also seizing a moment
when his services as guide not required incines
himself and repeats prayer. The crowd, per-
petually changing, moves on to another church.
there to and do the same. The only variety
throughout the city is in the costliness of the egy
and its surroundings. In some churches there is
added waxen figure of the Virgin, bending in
sorrow her dead Son; in those attached to the
Benedictine monasteries and converts, the disp
| is magnificent and costly; in those of the mendi
cant orders it is poor and tawdry, but yet showing
effort to fifty honor the occasion which has in it
much of the pathetic. For hours the people throng
these churches, the numbers increasing the twi
| light deepens into night, and upon all a sadness
| unfeigned presses heavily.
| Another day comes. In the splendid church of
the Benedictne Convent full service is held, with
all the imposing ceremonies of the system, and the
| rich paraphernaa fthis wealthy brotherhood. The
service less brilliant, is going on throughout
the city. The tone of sadness before noticed has
! increased the wonderfully transparent atmosphere,
| the gstering sunshine, old Etna, smoking among
its vineyards and olives, the sea in the distance so
TRANQUILITY slumbering, all wear by association a
| brooding melancholy. At evening, from the chief
| cathedral, the "Duomo,' long and splendid pro-
cesson goes out, with lighted tapers and mournful
music, winding through the lava-paved streets. In
the church of Franciscan Convent, the nuns, con-
oIa1 thn nG In tlnyh hatra
| nounced, chant the Miserere, and the impressible
listeners break forth in sobs the indescribable
| wall of the music utters its monotone of sorrow.
Still another day, dazzling, but mournfu, is here.
| The stiffness now is most oppressive. No bells
| sound, music is heard. The crucifxes are
| shrouded in black The altars dark and veiled.
Mental gloom covers, with pa the city. And
| so the time passes somberly.
On the next morning the churches are early filled
| with an expectant and eager crowd, though hushed
and reverent. AT moment when the repressed
excitement seems almost too strong for restraint,
! the vail falls the altar, again lighted, shines re-
| splendent with its gold and gems, the bells from
every tower ring mad peals, the people burst forth
! into murmurs, CALCULATIONS, shouts of joyful con-
gratulation-tbe Lord is risen! As if by magic,
the streets, minute ago so deserted, are filled with
rushing throngs; where the carriages come from
suddenly one can tell; but they go tearing up
| and down with the recklessness peculiar to the
country each driver trusting to his power of lungs
| to keep the way open. Bands of music, playing
| inspiriting quick-marches, go rapidly hther and
| thither across the squares, and the laughing, ex-
ulting people follow, as happy as if they bad es-
| capped themselves from the pressure of personal
| grief. And thus the feast of Easter begins.
| The ceremonies and the services appropriate to
the season are, with us, confined to few churches
| the peculiar and superstitious observances which
| prevail in the Old World almost unknown; COL
ored eggs, strange games and sports, the singular
custom which allowed to men the privilege of rails
ing every in the streets three times from the
! ground, the bitter herbs mingled in the anti-Jew-
| :,bF Co, of porlr tir1c 70 hotha
the day of the New Year-all only traditions
here. Nevertheless, the recurring festival makes
its influence felt in the social life of the metropolis;
with freshened appetite 'society" again receives
the world to its draWingroom the opera seizes upon
the occasion to reopen its DOORS the busy hands of
| the mner fly more swiftly than ever over the
! light fabric which blossoms into fashions of the
| Spring; and, in fine, the bands of Winter and he
| bonds of suffering are loosened, while Joy comes
with the returning birds.
HORRIBLE MURDER.-Dr. Williamson, a very
wealthy planter of Assumtion La, was murdered
on the 10th inst, by Henry and Frank, two broth
ers of his wife whom he had adopted, having no
children of his own. They had quarrelled with him
in the morning. The New Orleans Bee says:
In the evening, Dr. w. went out to visit pa
tient, taking with him his little negro boy. On
returning, just as the boy was raising the bar to
let the carriage In, two men rushed forward
While one seized the bride of the horse, the other
| asked if it was DR.. Williamson who was in the car
rage. On receiving reply in the affirmative he
discharged six barrels of revolver at the Doctor,
who fell bathed in blood. The little negro fed,
and when the noise of the firing attracted the at
tention of the household DIR. Williamson was found
stretched on the earth in the agonies OF death, hav
ing received four balls in different parts of his body
Suspicion falls on the brothers Henry and Frank,
| especially the former, when accused of the deed,
replied in his confusion ait not that fired at
him: it was my brother" Both have been arrest
ed. Public excitement is at the highest pitch. and
special constabes have been appointed to guard the
prison and prevent the accused from suffering the
| rude and summary justice of Judge Lynch.
A RAILROAD CONDUCTOR AcouIrrKD. have al
ready stated the fact that s. B. Jones' conductor
upon the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, was uudergo-
ing trial for murder, at Memphis, for causing
| the death of lad who run over by his train.
The jury remained in consultation some three days.
but hnally returned verdict of not guilty. The
length of time they out shows that there were
grave doubts in regard to the verdict.