The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-12
Lent in New York.

society lady to me at the Lotus Club
reception on Monday, Lent has been
thoroughly naturalized in America. 1t
has taken the first step toward it; that is,
you know"
Declared its intentions?" I sug-
gested.
Eyes, that's it, declared its intentions,
but it still is an Englishman, and per-
haps it is greatly to its credit. The in
huence of Lent here is over-estimated.
The number of those who obey it through
devoutness is not one-twentieth as large
as the number of those who obey some
of the requirements for other reasons.
Some rest from frivolity because they
are tired; some to save money; some be-
cause they have formed out their time
otherwise; few because their church
commands it, and the multitude affect
merely because their fashionable
neighbors do, and it is considered the
thing"
How about fasting?"
"Well, there is no modification of the
flesh among the Protestants, but high
church people and ultra fashionables eat
smaller steak and more black bass. The
fish markets thrive. 1t is getting to be
the thing now for people of religious
turn of mind to abstain from some pet
pleasure during this season instead of
changing their food. I know man and
his two sons who are great smokers, and
who do not touch a cigar during the
whole of Lent. know a young fellow,
clerk in bank, who goes to see his
girl only every other Sunday night dur
ing the season of penance. And l know
young school girl-bless her dear
eart!-who abstains from chewing gum
because she likes it so much. You may
laugh, if you feel like it, but it has a
pathetic side. / know a good, tender
hearted old lady, who always eats little
less than she needs every meal in Lent,
because she wants to deny herself some
thing. vet she always did, iu every seas
on. eat as if 1t was a disagreeable duty.
Her little granddaughter saw that she
hadn't hit on her favorite enjoyment and
said to her, Grandma. if you want to do
something that is real hard, why don't
you stay away from funt als?' You see
the old lady's chief amusement in life'is
ID going to funerals, just as you go to the
aters. She watches the obituary column
of the Tribune to see what's going on
V,
offers the best program and starts off to
sit in one of the front pews. Her son
told me that she attended more than 100
funerals in year, and the little girls
suggestion struck me as being quite to
the point"
dropped into Pinards. They are, rs
it were, artists of the appetite; marine
artists, one might SPECIFICATIONS of the
alimeu.ary canal. why, no." said
Pinard the younger, Lent is not spe-
cially a social obstruction. We have nine
parties, for instance, to. morrow-2ather-
ings of all sorts, including Harris ball of
500 over in Brooklyn; and l don't think
five persons out of hundred will send
regrets or stay away on account OF Lent.
We don't see a great deal of difference
between January and February in the
displays and dinners of society peoE le.
For instance, here is Miss Carolina King
Duers birthday dinner tonight. The
table is set in that back room"
glanced into the back parlor. The table
was almost round. Is feet long and IL
feet wide, with O vast expanse in the
middle. filed in with magnificent
oval bank of ferns and flowers q foot
high. and covering the whole area with
greetings spelled in blossoms. Twenty
plates were laid around it. and before
each gentlemsn's plate, was silken card
bearing his name. wreathsd with graceful
embroidery of flowers; and before each
lady's plate was beautiful handbag Of
white-satin, bearing upon it's side an ex-
ouisite painting of some tender or pic
turesque or comical scene in life, not
"store work, but every piece painted by
the yoong hostess herself. II Tiffany
had furnished them they would have
coat from tan 70 tvelye dollars apiece, 20