The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-04-07
Washington Letter.

Easter Season-Easter Sunday and Seruices-
Louisiana C5mmission-Soum Carolina, etc., etc.
From our special Correspondent.
Washington d. c., April 4, 1877.
The Easter season appears to grow Ia import
ance from year to year, especially in the larger
cities Of our country. Catholic and Episcopal
churches universally observe the time and of
late the services in nearly all churches are
Rrander and more impressive than ON ordinary
Sundays. There was hardly church in this
city yesterday but was decorated more or less
with flowers and vines. The Catholics have
their brightest and best day on Good Friday or
the Friday before Easter Sunday Then their
affairs and vases and pulpits are bestrewn with
the rarest and lovltest flowers their music is
the most joyful, and the scene presented in their
church Is a most pleasing one-so striking a
contrast to the day before. "HOly Thursday"
the anniversary Of the day of the crucIfixion.
they are mOurnful services, and everything in
sight indicates the deepest gloom and sorrow
and sadness only sufficient light is admmitted
through the closely drawn shutters 10 allow the
dOleiul grouped wOrshlppers TO half see their
way ABOUT and a single taper, dlmly burning,
nehts the page from which the priest reads SER
vice. The altar ID heavily uraped in mourning,
and the robes OF the attending fathers are OF
purple and black. Ever thing suggests the
deepest sorrow and the heaviest afhiction.
Everything tends TO carry the thoughts back
/ even through elEnteen nunufeu ana 1Ofty
| years to that bitterly cruel dying Of GOlgOtha.
! But all this Is changed on Easter sunday. IL il
| the most Joyful Lords day IN the whole year.
Christ the Lord Is risen today" Yesterday
| our Episcopal churches were particularly beau.
| tiul in their decorations. AT the Church OF the
| Epiphany the centra floral ornament stand ing
upon the centre of the pulpit platform, was
cross fully ten leet high composed wholly OF
white flowers 1t was given by The sunday
| school and was suTmOunted 10y an exquisite
| crown OF lihes-Of the valley, which was the
offering OF the infant class in memory OF IT'S
| teacher, who mas died within the yea. AT its
foot was placed a large star OF Iich white
h0wers, which WIS sent from Boston by the
mother Of member OF the class VINO has also
died with the last year, The panels back OF tne
| ehance were filled with flowers OF all cOIOrs
and varieties, and the large vases IN front Of
the altar were filled with magnificent oalas.
! At the Church OF the Ascension there Were
huge vases OF Callas and on the rear wall OF the
chancel fora letters formed the words "Christ
has ilseu from the dead " large evergreen
cross on one side of the altar was surmOunted
Dy a crown ioImed of gas Jets. Nor was The
visible For week past most extensive prepa-
ratiOns have been going Oh IN the millinery ana
dry goods line, and almost everyone appeared
on kaster sunday IN new spling clothing. New
hats, wells, gloves and tul suits-eveiythmg
light and bright and sunslnnY In appearance
Easter, within and without was joyful, happy
day.
The Louisiana Commission left Washington
this morning tOr New Orleans. Its task Is Q
graccless one aud grave doubts are entertained
as 10 The probable accomplishment OI ITS pur
pose. should Z fail 70 suggest any acceptaOlt
the troops wth probably % AZ once Withdrawn
. and the rival governments lett 10 their own de
| structOn or salvation, as the case may be.
This mornings Republican says in regart
TO 1T "rhe general idea has obtained. wttnlI
day or two past, that the secretary OF Stalt
has been directed TO marx out and define TIT
line OF policy to be followed by the Lumsiaui
Comm ssiOn IN their INV myestigatiOn OF matters II
That STATE This. however, IL not the case
The matter has been fully discusse lY th'
President and Commissioners, ana the subjec
has been under discussion at every Cablne
meeting OF late. II shOud be understood tina
7 this Commission goes to Louisiana, not to taxi
J aCuOn IN The premises, but simply 60 ascerta I
all the facts concerning the difhculties existing
, to consult with those of Doth the NlUOlis aut
Packard factions, aud to receive and make AN
, suggestions that may tend TO bring about tn
peaceful solution 80 much deslre,i, They arr
not even regarded as Official commissioners
Q but simply friends OF the President VINO vii
exert their influence toward taoIltating som
I adjustment"
{ one of the South Carolina Governors has ais
d lett tins city. The course the President has dc
clded TO pursue in their case has not been MAD
public, but II Is believed that immediate order
. | Will be gwen tor the removal OF tne troops iron
the state House IN Columbia but that the
| will DO kept IN the Sta.e for some time lOngel
; M. N. W,