The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-10
Approaching Easter.

We are now in the last half of Holy Week,
the last week OF Lent, and those who scru-
pulously observe the season of fasting are
more rigid than ever in their abstinence
from forbidden food, and more assiduous in
their attendance on religious ceremonies.
All fashionable society Is at a rest, and tho
churches are daily filed with dcvout pcnl-
tents, the great majority Of whom now, as
always. are women. The affairs are drapcd
in color5 emblcmOtic Of sorrow and MOURN
ing, and Tomorrow, on Good Friday, they
will wear funereal colors.
Next Sunday, however, all this will be
changed, and the Easter carols will be
heard, and icastng will begin, while the
fair penitents will bestir themselves about
their spring toilets on which their thoughts
may have been resting during the fasting
season, at. least when they were not occupied
with the solemn obscryances OF the period.
Easter Sunday has boon held in times past
ms the appropriate day for laying aside tho
garments of winter and the substitution Of
the brighter colors and thinner fabrics OF a
warmer season. People used TO expect to
see the spring bonnets displayed in the
churches on that joyful occasion. But Of
later years women are disposed TO take their
own time for changing their costumes; and
they are apt TO avoid the exposing OF them
on particular day when they are brought
into competition with their neighbors, and
perhaps classed with them.
Besides, Easter is never sure in our eli
mate to bring with it bright skies and a
balmy atmosphere. April must be far adj
vanced before it will allow us to forget
March tba moot tptriucr month ~ tba
md its changeable weather warns the pru-
dent against making any change in their
clothing which presupposes n continuance
Of the mild temperature which is scattered
through the month. Certainly until within
two or three days April has been far from
delightful. It opened with great and re-
markable storms all along the coast and in
parts Of New England there was = fall Of
snow scarcely exceeded by the heaviest Of
our stormy winter while In the far South the
frost nipped the vegetation and intcrfered
with the enjoyment OF the thousands of in
valids and pleasure seekers who had gone
10 Georgia and Florida from the North to
escape the season Of cold
With the incoming Of Easter we may OK
poet TO see the list OF marriage announce
ments lengthening, for the close OF Lent is
n favorte time for terminating at the altar
the engagements Of the winter or autumn,
md making brides of sweethcarts. The lat
ter part Of April and the month Of May
occupy leading place as the propitious
season for matrmony; and with improving
times we ought to see an increase in the
number Of marriages this year.
This is the season, too when tenants are
making their preparations for removing TO
new quarters, and the emigration Of bust
ness men especially promises TO be large on
the first Of next month. There will also be n
pushing Of housoholdcrs 10 the more north
ern part Of the island, TO which lower rents
and the facilities for rapid transit invite
them. But though the building in that re-
gion has been going on briskly for six
months past, the accommodations for any
very great emigration thither arc not yet
ready, and it will be another year before we
shall see in full working the changes in
dwelling places wrought by the elevated
railways But there Is in several kinds Of
business "A strong tendency up town. and
Union square, which has so rapidly devcl-
opod into an active centre Of trade will gain
many new tenants next month.
Tho health Of the city, which has not been
30 good since the opening of the year as 1t
vas in 1878. shows some Improvement,