Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-06
THE FIRST OF APRIL

March, one entire and perfect chrysolite
of gloom, who ordered her Court into mour-
ming and flooded the world with tears,
has abdicated, with consistent soberness.
All the winds Of heaven precede her-a sad
orchestra, uttering fitful wailings, or fierce
disharmonies. The sunshine Of April, in
deed, fringes her melancholy robes with
brightness and braids her hair with gold,
but, to the last her stubborn face is clouded
and her breath unkindly.
There are no tears for her memory, for
the new month opened with the beautiful
memorial Sunday, Easter, the festival Of
Hope, as Christmas is the festival Of Love.
Ii is n charming fancy that the sun dances
in the heavens on Easter morning. Any
body who locke with the eye Of faith will
nee its beautiful gambols For on that day
the dead earth wakens TO life again, there is
benediction in the breeze and in the sunshine,
and the miricle Of the Resurrection is ex-
planned in the lovely procession Of the sea-
sons.
But ifthe First of April were not, by ac-
cident, sweet and sacred day, il wouId be-
by inheritance, the Carnival Of Fools. From
time whereof the memory of man runneth
not 20 the contrary this capricious moth
has entered the world with a grotesGue
AeAhNN VI tOiA1s TIC DtllH Aii nNI ZAP iAiikluB
the canty music and horde Of practical
jokers, clad in motley, in her train.
All through Europe, and wherever Euro
peans have settled, people are sent hither
and yon, on fools errands and laughed at
for their pains. Oriental scholars declare
that the custom forms the huii feast of the
Hindoos, which has similar usage But
IL Is delightful 20 believe that there is neither
reason nor sense in the observance, nor ever
could have been. In world so dreadfully
rational and conservative, and among peo-
pie who 30 heavily feel the responsibility Of
the Creation, a premeditated lunacy like
that of All-Fools-Day, is 20 inspiring. 'Tis
true, tits pity, and pity It's It's true, that
the celebration Of this festival is fallen al
most entirely into the children's hands.
How delicious was il once TO rise whole
hour before the first bell rang, and spend
the time in devising small yillainies for the
penance and modification of the elders of
the household. What exhilaration attend
cd the placing Of unauthorized covered
dishes on the breakfast table, while being
opened with an air, by paterfamilias, were
found 10 contain emptiness. Nothing in a
long and varied existence could be so funny
as pining the legend "April Fool" TO the
coat-skirts of that patient man, and seeing
him unconsciously betake himself TO his
omnibus beaming smiles on US young hypo-
critics 10 the last through his lambert spec
tacles. Eheul for the mad delight, forever
departed, Of sending uncertainties a note,
from her dearest friend, entreating her pres
ence on a matter Of life or death, and Of see
ing that Helena put by her work and set
forth, TO return speedily with the intelligence
that her Hernia was still dancing the
nights away at Washington, where she had
been the whole gay season. O. the felicity
Of sticking feathers, undetected, in the hair
Of the Oldest brother, who was such dandy,
that the back parting Of his brown curls was
a perpetual arrangement, and despair to
the young barharians all at play, who long
cd with .heart-aches TO be 20, and wear a
diamond pin. O, the unutterable rapture
of fur:ously ringing the door-bell, and rush
ing down the nearest area for corcealment.
fall the days in the year, what Mr..
Emerson calls ''the joy Of eventful living"
crowded the Isl Of April. Alas there are
no such exeitements now. Life is pallid
and bare, and one is obliged TO behave ones
self But ii il were not forbidden, and
possibly because il is, how delightful it
would be TO tell all ones acquaintance the
most stupendous lies of which one was capa-
iASht ntroNhif anu VIVIAN NJ hNHNs
and through the blessed day, hover on the
verge Of idiocy. Because we, who are wise,
are apt to become a little grave, and hard
and oyerbone with cares, and to find our
homes a WEAKNESS and not crown of joy.
Approximations alright us, and our clear
eyes, that see more than the moments, pierce
the shadows, and know that danger turks
there. There IL ine truth in the old saw,
"A fool for luck" 1t is the happy souls
that laugh at cares 10 whom care does not
come. 1t is the natures which delight in
stiffness that keep sweet The children's
laugh Is the best medicine for us, and we
may well join in the merry homage to the
Patron Saint Of All Fools Because, il we
do not voluntarily add ourselves TO these
gay ranks, but wear long faces in the midst
OF mirth, we shall assuredly be numbered
as kindly with the class on which he smiles,
whether we will or not.