Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-18
NO. l08
EASTER EGGS.
Remarkable Traffic In this Fruit-Origin
ofthe Custom.

New York Truth, April 10.l
OF late years the custom of presenting Eas-
ter eggs has grown to gigantic proportions
and the preparations for this particular trade
this season are tremendous. A decade ago
the custom was confined to the smallest scope
and people scarcely thought of buying Easter
eggs for presents. A very limited number OF
stores kept them for sale and clerks in places
where they are now leading features would
| have looked in amazement at the customer
who would have inquired for Easter eggs.
This lack of appreciation was due to The
fact that but few eggs were offered for sale, a
result that was the cause of itself. The Gus
tom OF presenting eggs was regarded as an In
stitution of the Catholic and Episcopal
churches, and was but little regarded by
other sects. Imported Easter eggs were ex-
tremely uncommon, and the presents were
confined to articles of but little cost. One of
the largest dealers in Easter eggs in the city
told Truth reporter that his business ten
years ago amounted to nothing. His reteil
trade alone in Easter eggs now amounts to
$4,000
SUDDEN POPULARITY.
This great change has happened within ths
1oo" nfO VI OLA JOdAo d ouu Ul1o ultuQc tlldL
the trade assumes this season is wonderful.
Formerly Easter eggs were sold only by few
confectioners and fancy goods dealers. Now
they are to be found in stores of all kinds.
No confectionery is complete without them,
and there is no fancy goods store but what
abounds in eggs of every description. Dry
goods houses make them q speciality, while
fancy grocers and fancy bakers ornament both
windows and counters with them.
The trade is so profitable and the demand 50
great that it is attracting the attention OF
dealers of all kinds, and the consequence is
that the city is now inundated with Easter
eggs. The sudden leap into popularity which
the custom Of giving these eggs has taken, is
both interesting in its commercial and relig
iOus aspects; both results are due to fashion
alone; and Easter, as an era of presents, far
outstrips New Years, and is coming fast upon
the heels of Christmas. If 1t continues to in
crease IN a corresponding ratio to Its recent
progress, it will soon stand out as the time of
year in which presents are to be made.
VARIETY OF DEVICES.
To any one who remembers Easter in the
time of dyed hens eggs, the gorgeous display
of to-day must be startling. The prices asked
in this exhibition are not the least noticeable
of Its features. There is an ancient record In
the British museum, showing that eighteen
pCuCC WdS cCb dsluC Wy buO IOJdl ludu0dtC "
purchase 400 eggs for distribution on Easter
day. The reporter yesterday found one egg in
an uptown store which was priced at 5000. 1t
was not an ordinary egg.
In size it was probably foot in diameter
and represented a broken shell, in which a
Chinese Joss sat, complacently moving its
hands and head. This automaton was made
of porcelain and was very ingenious. The
chief cost of the egg, however, was in the
hand -n9intinO which rnVpr6d the ehpIl
Flowers and birds abounded after the Chinese
idea, and there were three or four fancy
sketches of Chinese character. The whole
was very handsome and was designed as an
ornament
The most noticeable features of all the ex-
hibitions were the various devices which had
been resorted to in order to sell the goods.
Articles of every description were made in the
shape of eggs, and where this was impossible,
the article was trimmed with eggs, SO as to
bring it under the head of Easter. The pre-
vailing idea seemed to be to get an egg in
some shape or other, and 1t was we'll carried
out
SOME SPECIMENS.
In rambling about through the different
stores in the city, the reporter came in contact
with variety of eggs that would require
volume to describe. Only few of the
more striking can be given. One large piece
represented garden party of owls.
These wise birds sat about in spectacles, caps.
hats and. jewels, while song birds perched and
poised in the trees above them. Of course,
there was an abundance of nests and eggs.
The price of the piece was SIS. Ornaments,
however, were not SO prevalent as. the more
useful eggs. A magnificent satin-covered,
hand d-painted egg, with gold key and lock,
capable of various uses by ladies, was valued
at $50. Then there were satin-cO eggs,
which opened by secret spring and reveal
ed whatever they contained. There were
canopies and baskets of every description, all
ornamented with eggs, birds, bird-nests and
stuffed chickens just hatchcd.
Then there were broken eggs, alfhatched
chickens, bombs, wheelbarrows drawn by
birds, egg tape-measures, birds painting eggs,
ostriches with real feathers, Sedan chair car
ried by squirrels and containing q lady-bird,
real lace eggs, embossed velvet eggs, hand
painted satin eggs with marabout feathers
all of which were intended to contain presents
of bon-bons and candies. The price ranged
from 81 to SIS. Then there were candy
nongat, eggs on easels, on stands,
drawn by dogs and held by children
There were japanese eggs, SO constructed as
to be used for egg-cups, wine glasses; glass
eggs, bronze eggs, and gold and silver eggs.
The latter were to be seen in jewelry stores,
and were used to contain presents OF Jewelry,
magnificent diamonds being presented in
them. Indeed there were eggs in every shape
that the imagination of the designers could
suggest A number of dealers were asked as
to the retail business they expected to do in
eggs during Easter week, and they estimated
their business all the way from $1,000 to
| S20,000
ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM.
The custom of giving eggs on Easter day is
very ancient one, and seems to be Of Magan
or Persian origin, there being legend among
this people that Ormuzd and Ahrmian would
contend for the mundane egg until all things
should be consummated. There was also an
ancient heathen idea that the world was
Matched. 1t is generally considered, however,
that the custom was emblematic
Of the revivifcation of all ma
| ture It was an ancient custom to
90 out at Easter and hunt the eggs of wild
fowl, success in this direction being considered
a lucky omen. There was also a game among
children, which consisted of testing the
strength of egg shells. The custom has long
been greatly honored in France and other Eu-
ropean countries, and America seems now to
be following their example The most elab-
crate eggs offered in the market here are
imported
OFFICE OF THE ST. PAUL CITY RI. Co,l