The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-02-15
THE LEHTES SEASON.


Chicago Tribune: The Titualistic
church has entered into the shadow OF
Lent, and society rctires from the world.
The most Of the world will continue on
its accustomed way as if life were one
continual carnival and there were no
such day rs Ash Wednesday, but the
votaries of society and the high flyers OF
fashion will pause in their wild career
10 mediate upon their follies. to fast
and morlify the flesh and do penance in
their cells for the sins of the rest of the
year, until Easter morning calls them
out again into the sunshine of spring
and the fianboyance Of personal adorn-
ment.
1t is we'll as q matter OF social econo-
my that there is such church ordain-
ment as that OF Lent. The wild whirl
of fashion, the routs, soirees, and recep-
tions, the giddy nights at the opera and
the theatre, and the crushing, madden
ing competitions in social life would
otherwise exhaust the stouiest Of vota-
ries and make life burden.
Fortunately the days of penance are not
very exactIng. The notifying of the
flesh need not go far below the cutIcle.
The sack-cloth need not be worn con-
tinuOusly, nor is it needful to seriously
disturb coiffeur with ashes. No great
gayeties are in order, but there are
minor designations which may be in
obliged without interfering with the
penitential attitude of the LonIon vc-
taries. Receptions may be had on the
quiet. Lectures and readings are in
order. Papers may be read upon Dante
and Shakespeare, and designations of a
mild sort can be had There may be
modest breakfasts, proper dinners. and
quiet teas, and under cover of the 'little
dinner Of Lent, with the curtains drawn
gossip allowed, even the most exclusive
of church circles may come perilously
near to the edge of an improperly.
Mondays and Saturdays. which are not
and offset the abstinence of the rest
Of the week, but even then
it will pot be in good FORM
to Indulge in large receptions.
dinners or balls. Ii would be ungracious
TO scrutInize too closely the real observ,
ance of the Lenten season, or to doubt
that all the wild and giddy Adolphuses
and Aramintas are actually clad in ashen
raiment and satisfying the flesh with
humble menus, or to question their pen
itential CONCENTRATIONS as they look
back upon the dissipation of the past,
and their deyout reflections as they look
forward to fresh campaigns in the bou-
doir and drawing-rOom. Let us rather
assume that they are as honest as they
can be; that they are passing through the
Lenten eclipse In a sober frame of
mind, though concealed from US, and
that they will emerge from the penum-
bra on Easter morn all the better for
their temporary retirement from the
vanities of the world.
Unfortunately, as we have said, the
most of the world will go on just as
wildly ss ever. There is no Lent in the
market, ON the street, in politics, or in
the great world of commerce. Men
will buy aud sell, chatter and cheat,
drink and be drunken as usual,
and folly and knaVery will not be the
less abundant because it is Lent. The
burden of suffering will not be dimin-
ished. The rich will add TO their treas
ures, the poor will diminish their stores.
Vice will flaunt herself in her old gay
colors. No Ash Wednesday interrupts
its Mardi Gras. II would be blessing
if all the world were compelled to take
a forty-day's rest and go slow. 1t would
60 all the surer and steadier when 1t re-
sumed. There would be less of folly,
perhaps less of crime, while the general
progress would be more even and stable
1t is only the few, however, who may
enjoy the repose of Lent, and rest from
their wearisome duties until the daW n
of Easter gives them liberty once more
to plunge into the designations of socie
! ty. May no thoughts OF the pomps al a
| vanities intrude into their quiet cells
until once more they can hang out the
banners that announce the reopenIng OF
Vanity Fair.