, 1877-03-30

.stta 1ork 7s,nts.
Tho present generation OF Ncw.Englandcrs
has ronti,iucl the custom of appoiutlng u stAsu
Fust-Day, but it has tlually bcrotue SO perverted
frorn iis original purpose ~ to bs tho l0cal
.Feast-DaY. Tho Ncw-Enela1,lcr still gpcs to
meeting on Fust-Dny morning to sonlo extent;
but the minister recognizes the changed char
Artcr Of tic day. and substitutes for tho old.
fashlonc0 sermon on son,o abstruse poiut 0f
doctrine, patriotic culogy OF the Now-Englahd
Pilgrims, or comprehensive answer tn all tho
political problems Of tho day. Tho AFTERNOON
aud evening arc devoted to social pleasures,
among which supper, tn connection with SPRING
chickens, and dancing, Inscrspcrsed With tec-
cream, arc prominent, Not only do tho theatres
offer entertainments Of especial nttractivrncss
on fast-DAy, but the Ncw-Engtandcr attends
them ~ though he weFe one OF tho 0rutcs that
perlsh. A. for the small oqy, hu regards Fast.
Day ~ . shadow Of Fourth Of July To rotuo,
aud dcyotcs 1t to open "mumbloty.pcg" and
blatant Gtc.nyIny. Thus, the festivities Of the
Thurs.,ay fast-Iay offer sharp contrast to the
so,emntties OF Good Frhlay, ~ observed by
Roman Catholics and Eptscopa,ians, and tho
day II meaningless, except as vague protest
Tile original I'urtll llls iare been dead for 80
Io,,g prrltat that they would doubtless hnd 1t
axtfe!ckf lullelitt u pSEtHEAt tlIH 'sAt ~ tutA
lug in Their graves. aud thus expressing, after
the custom III conscientious tnrpscs, their in-
ltsnat!nn against thelr degenerate descendants:
There euu b. no doubt, however, that they DID
nert!crt tsauctl ILL Fast-DaY. proclamation on
Thursday lust. and arpointed Good Friday az
the next Fasi-Day. 1t eannot ho pretended
that ile dtl this ln gnorunce Of the true ulean.
M o. his ast S expressly aisefen escl ta! non s
frldayt fur the rea,on that 10 largo past, ot
tie Christian world regards It ns al appropriate
DAY Iur fasting. This ts dtstiiltt nlid delt,er~
ate recognition of what Tue pnFstans segarasd ~
WIS nj doubt IN their uliritls that thy man who
tuste.i OH Good Friday would burn Protestants
iu his task yard, provided la had the power TO
DO -. They pufpo.s!y sclscted !huf'aaS W. f,I, as
tneir hprrus of Good Fraiay. And now the
sacrcl soli Of Connecticut |. 0e1lel BY Gov,
ernos who wlsked!y requests Protestantt aud
iamentab'c pass has analiy arrived tho thso;,
rIry plantc.l bY tbs Mayaower,. ara uourishe1
with tbs blood OF Quakess aud other pcsturnt
Lcretirs.
Of ssrirt Puritan views. he Is to bs sincerely
! plted. Either he must fast all alonc mud with
| OUT the Governor's warrant, Oh next rhursday,
or he must fast With RoMsn Catholics aud
iii attempts al iastiig. 0ss the o.hsr hand, tho
ordinary Connecticut. person, who eelebrutcs
Ta1tDay a. . day Of fcasting and pleasure VII!
4csnIalt1s h4 plous ne!ghh.fs who regard Good
Fr1Lay ~ the ilost sacred day " the SalSiidar
prove Of The Goyernor'A course, since 1t will put
. stop tu The absur1lty of turnlug All ustenstbl.
day Of "tastlug, humiliation, and prayer'n' intc
. lay Of e1co.s1!s dtnucFs aud 10 huin!l'atio,
whatever. Gould Lbu guotl Cotton Mather hlvi
toresern thai bis DESCENDANTS would recOQnizt
Pse!Acr by hanging up their stockings GU Christ
mas Ess, and homer PopSsy BY fasting u 0oot