New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-30
EASTER.

The genial, hearty joy which at Christmas time
lgbtens the eye and makes mellow the voice has
quality quite different from the exultation which marks
the period of Easter. In the one case there hope;
for Child ia born, and by Hin man shall be saved.
Before Him lies life among whose probable events
reproach pryRtion, disaster, shameful death do not
in anticipation nrude; the bright possibilities Of the
future are ceraiates to the sangune world therefore
this Birth with its accompaniment Of celestial midnight
song calls forth satisfaction tranquil deep, without
nlloy In the other care sad Life has ended In pam
full death in agony Of mind in the darkness OF despair
tho Savior Of the world has given up his BREATH the
ransom has bean stolen by the great destroyer and the
hopes Of all who looked Him for their help are ex-
changed for a dreary, wretched grief. Then, In the
midst of this universal SORROW the grave gives up ts
dead and again the Lord appears triumphant, having
conquered the enemy and mankind bursts forth into the
ubilsnt shoa Where is thy sting, Death and where,
o Grave, thy victory Man, conyalescent from u
heavy Illness or escaping appalling danger, or re-
ceving good tidngs Of unexpected fortune, naturally
and nvoontarily bounds with an exuberant joy, And
this expression is the characteristic of the we
call Easter.
There being among but limited Observance Of
this great feast Of the Church passes almost unnoced
Catholic religion maintains hs supremacy the case IL
widely different. We In Catsnia, the beautiful
Schan city at the foot Of Ens, whose lava has once
and again ovorrun il. destroying the old and laying
firm foundation for the Few. 1t Is Passion Week.
The unusual quet Of the streets broken by no sound OF
carriages only disturbed by the football Of the people,
attracts our attention. end AJAX the reason Of the
stilnes Don Placido, the waiter at the Corona Inn,
says with solemnity-the good Lord is dsadl-snd
crosses himself as be speaks Stepping upon the bal
cony We look down into the street IL s nearly filed
with laee and peasant women, The former wrapped IN
the long black sk mantle which forms their picturesque
outdoor sttre. Whittier are they soingf Don PIa-
edo says that they are visiting the churchss We &c
cordingly join the throng, and coon enter church.
Here In front Of the altar, surrounded BY countless
taper lies agy of the Savior, yet uaburied about
the railing stand the visitors sleusiy A-ns scattered
over the atone floor oilers kneel at their deyotions
booking behind VS. that Don fihcido, also sez-
ing moment when bis services ne guide are no, re-
suirsd, inelines himself and repeats prayer. The
crowd, perpetually changing, moves on TO another
church. there 10 and do the Tie only variety
hroughou, the city in the costumes of the egy and
ts surroundings. In some churches there is added
wsxeD figure Of the Virgin, bending in her
teres and converts the display is magnificent and
costly in those Of the mendisant orders is poor and
awdry but yet showing an effort to fifty honor the
cascn which has in it much of the pathetic For hours
the people throng these churches the numbers ncreas
ing AZ the twilight deepens into night and upon al
sadness unfsigned presses heavily.
Another day comes. In the splendid church Of the
Benedictine Convent a full service 10 held, with all
the imposing ceremonies Of the system, and the rich
parapheralis of this wealthy brotherhood. The
service less brilliant is going throughout the city,
The tone Of sadness before noticed has increased the
wonderfully transparent atmosphere, the gittering
sunshine, old Ens, smoking among its vineyards and
olives the sea in the distance, TRANQUILITY sumber
ing all wear by association brooding melancholy. At
evening from the chief Cathedral, the "Duomo along
and splendid procession eoesout with lighted tape and
mourful music, winding through the lava-paved
streets. In the church Of a Franciscan Convent the
nuns concealed from the eyes Of the world they have
renounced chant the Mserere and the impossible lis
break forth in sobs ths understandable wall OF
the music utters its monotore of sorrow. Still another
day. dazzling, but mournful, s here. The stiffness
now is most oppressive. No bells sound no music is
heard The crucifxes are shrouded in black. The al
tars are dark and vailed Mental gloom covers, as
with PAIL tho city. And 90 the time passessombery.
On the next morning the churches are early filled
with expeetsn and eager crowd though hushed and
reverent- At moment when the repressed excite
ment almost too strong for restraint, the vail
falls the altar again lighted shines Respondent wthits
gold and gems, the bells from every tower ring mad
peals she people burst forth into murmus CALCULATIONS,
shouts of joyful congratulation-the Lord is risen
As if by magic the streets, minute ago 70 deserted,
are filed with rushing throngs; where the carriages
come from 10 suddenly one can tell but they 90
tearing up and down with the recklessness peculiar TO
the country each driver trusting to his power of lungs
10 keep the way open. Bands Of music playing In
spriting quck-marches, go rapidly hither and hther
across the squares, and the laughing exutng people
follow as happy az If they had escaped, 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 supersous observsnces which prevail IA
the Old World are almost unknown; oolored Eggs,
strange games and sports the singular custom which
allowed 10 the privilege Of raising every woman
in the streets thee times from the ground, the bitter
herbs mingled in the ant-Jewish sast Of pork, the
greetings to each other as or no day of the New
Year-all are only traditions bele. Nevertheless, the
recurring festival makes is nfaenee felt in the social
life Of the metropolis with freshened appetite soci-
ETY. ngan receives the world to its drawngroomi the
opera sezes upon the occasion 10 reopen M doorsi the
busy hands of the miliner fly swiftly than ever
tue light fabric which blossoms into fashions Of the
Spring; snd in fine, tic bands Of Winter aud the bonds
Of suffering are loosened while joy comes with the
returning birds.
mu. c~..xsu,n p,,vv,,rr-Wa ara reouegtAd 10 /