, 1875-03-28

that tho dlEnlhed orb w:1 lndn!rIng in tles0 u<1-
secnly gyrationa in ths SKY, behind their backs
Among the best known OF the popular GUS
toms OF Easter is that Of making prcaents Of col
cred eggs which are often e1aoorately o1n,-
mented. This is very ancient custom, and
probably derived, as were so many OF the early
Christian customs from rites observed BY the
Pagan NATIONS in periods long ante1or to tho
birth Of Christianity. Count De Geben- in tho
religious history OF the Calendar. says that tho
germ Of this custom may be traced to haif-a-doz-
en different nations. To the philosophy OF the
Egyptians. Persians, Gauls, Greeks, ADD Ro-
mans, the egg Is held alike as an emblem OF tho
universe. Tie Egyrtians symbo1lzed the reno
yaion Of mankind after the deluge by the egg
which is apparently dead and yet contains
within itself the germ OF al life to como. Tho
Jews used tho same emblem for their reappe.r-
ance among the nations after their long slavery
it Egypt and ate tho Paschal eggs atthe foast OF
tho Passover. I. is not strange that the Ch:ia-
tim should Likewise tyrify tho rising from tho
dead On which his faith and hope rests, in tho
enme way. and we find the Esatcr eggs used BY
NIL Christian nations. ancient and modern. In
tho Greek Church. from time immamorial. they
have been used "a gifts to be exchanged be-
tween friends. In the Ronish Church, an old
custom brought these eggs to the priest, wto
blessed them. In Italy, those holy eggs are laid
out upon a charger for the whole Of Easter-
week, and every visitor is obliged By politeness
to take an esq, In England, in > royal roll OF
tho time of Edward l., preserved in the Tower,
tbczo is to be eeeu an ont1y Of 18d, expended for
400 Easte: o9ga. Very ancient record is also
found Of the game Of rolling Easter eggs. to teat
the strength Of their shells, which il still prac-
tieed BY English children This game has been
tcapspianted to our Southern statos, and is there
one Of the rnro delights OF ali taa colorcd H.
fants, but: strange to say. ia scarcely known in
the North
Easter is. celebrated with solemn rites OF d.
votion and praise by the Romish and Episcopal
Churches in all countries but in Rome, tee c1s-
die OF the faith, it is observed with pomp and
srlendc1 Of ceremonial seen nowhere eliza.
There the Pope Is carried, in s. Peters chais,
On the shoulders Of the priests, to St. Potor's
Church to celebrate high nass- The a1tars OF
the church are profnsely decorated With flowers,
and the arches OF the vaulted root, and the
frotted pillarB of the naTcs. sparkle wlth the
Light thrown from thousand brilliant
lamps. The P9ps is borne IL; T. He, Ao j. j.
the triple elded tiara, synbozing his spiritual
and temporal power and their union. Beside
him are borne the faoe!li, enormous fans Of
peacock'B feathers, whoB9 countless eyes typ1fy
the increasing vigilance OF the Church. Over
him richly-frinsed canopy il carried. After
high nfes he is in the BA,no manner borne down
the aisle Of the church and to the balcony above
oua OF the naves where he prouounceB the beEe-
ciction to the immense concoarse Of peocle that
always I'LL up the street below. Thousands OF
spectators. natives and strangers IN the cis7,
flock to mass at st. Peter's every Eastar-Day
morning.
The Passover Of tho Jews generally occars
near the time Of the Christians 8 Easter. It fat|3
upon tho 18th OF tho first Hebrew spring mouth,
Nissan, near the time Of ou1 LIST Of April. Origin
ally it was observed With all the rites laid down
in The Levitical 1aw; now, and Indeed over anoo
the final destruction OF Jerusalem and the scst-
tering OF the Jews, it is ouly marked by eating
unleavened bread during tue eight Passover
dara bv ref,a ming from labor On the Gc:. and
last days Of tho weak, and BY observing
oa the first evening certain dcmes-
Ia fn$~