The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-30
LONDON IN LENT.

LONDON. March 12.-Lent has not rs yet |
materially interfered with the animation OF
London That portion Of the winter following
on Christmas has been 30 unusually dull this |
year that the dividing barrier Of Ash Wednes. |
day raised between the gayetles Of Carnival and
tho austerities Of Lent has barely been ielt. |
Indeed, II is not till lately. during the revival
OF High Church tenets. that the relative claims
OF festivty aud penancs have boon recognized
at all. Tho name of Carnival belonged excu.
sively to foreign clmes. and represented only
Q spades OF exotic fooling. not unconLected
with Popish idolatry. and from the Queen. who
gave servants ball on Good Friday. down to
the numerous professional receptions on Ash
Wednesday, no account whatever was taken OF
the forty days set aside by the prayer book for
fast and abstinence and not much more OF
the gay season hsralded by Epiphany. while
neither " Greasy Sunday" Blue Monday" nor
Fasten Eve" brought any perceptible acces-
sion to the pleasures Of society.
Tho ancient custom Of making presents Of
green nosegays. Of planting tir trees before
houses during Carnival timo. has long
faded. as will eventually fade the decora-
tons OF Yue time: as has fortunately dis
appeared the less innocent medigval rec
restion OF scourging women at this season.
Now society gathers In London for short pre-
liminary canter OF dissipation in FEBRUARY.
nominally TO be present at tho opening
OF Parliament. and fingers till Easter.
whom Easter Is early. being thus enabled
TO put In show at the boat race before retiring
IN order to recruit Tor the real business Of he
regular season. This Is the time for innumer-
new. plays at the theatres. u good attendance at
the Row. and the elucubrations OF sprlng eos;
tunes. The concerts are too much multiplied
a n n.
different. the fresh comedies worse than the
old. the horses and riders as good as ever. and
March warrants checkers the aspect OF land
scape and humanity SO that you meet blue
light dresses in the afternoon. and see obtru.
slye!y green shrubs shoudering black and bare
A desperate effort was made by, the fast
ocIlate the letiargis British circulation with
q southern races Tue new , club. mined one.
under the highest patronage. Injured TO shock
nf e &ae ssk stSvs u e
So II. in vain did the ladies'. who are his
Willing sb sxert to tue
to BE- a dismal failure. Unre!ieved by wit.
mirth. or intrigue. it became gloomy parody;
o! the Missrieordia ian institution on the eve
Of being established herel than a carnaval-
Sowsysr ONE Bright consteis,on rose S!9f the
social horizon. one confidently predicted YEA
sa who ipl Mhe t1 hs
the dawning sovereignty Of acompatriot equal
sumptivs rights were reooEnizsd that nxhs.
and ratified on the morrow over the homely
We miss in LONDON the quaint conceits and
Independence Of ideas, Of the French painters
ss MaS main %Sn
s.s%'is wss 's5sfsr
Mnlaaharhaa Moieennior tod htu
The Interior. Q, Moorish design seems an i'm:
the threshold the Illusion Is not dispeed.
Paris with Us modern grandeur and meretri.
spsn AROUND h"H ire
isis The halls ., tho Absmsrrssss The s sGua re
tinssd walls. around which runs gallery. SUP.
ported by graceful slender colonnade. raised
wide glazed corridor leads to the lone. easy
staircase. with Its massive wooden ,bannisters |:
u art
the studio. which has the proportions OF a
church eoauetry maybe q Msissonisr con- On
diminutIyeness q his works. The room wears
az r IF s'ess asSorder !,
window stands an easel with its miniature
eWns bsard 0e'fs mase s p 0 ad ar sss
his voice Is loud and Imperative. recalling those
uOW utSthut uhSe ~ tIlo SieSe Oh fhTlb. when
he rode through the streets in mis- brand new
uniform OF Colonel Of the Staff. Kindly and
hospitnble withal. he Is always ready to well
come friend or to assist a beginner
ing in that favored part Of Paris. The Flemish
house Jostled the Swiss cottage the Italian
Palazzetto with Loggia. and colonnads elbows
the Gothic keep, and the construction OF the
time Of Louis XII contrasts with the florid
arabesQues and caryatides Of a later period
but all speak OF a reaction against the thral-
dom OF vugarity and samenrss OF an intelli-
gent application Of fortune 70 Intelligent tastes:
those who sign masterpieces should be housed
a. comfortably as those who purchase them -
to which Alexandra Dumas, the younger. made
reply. Yes. but art thrives on necessity and
dies OF luxury" NJ. DE 3.