Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-30
EASTER

the pdlm VIII laAo PioSO'
EASTER THOUGHTS.
Rose Red Talks Entertainingly Of the Com
ing sabbath.
A student Of Shakespeare will tell you
that in his favorite volume you can hnd
something upon every subject, even though
little was known of it in the days OF the
poet. From Shakespeare to Mother Goose
is a long way, but the people who are tauil,
lar with the writings OF that revered old
lady will say almost the same thing, as wit
ness the below:
"The rose is red, the yiolets blue,
sugar is sweet and so are you;'
These are the words you babe me say
For a pair Of new gloves on Easter Day.
1t being a popular superstition in by.gone
DAYS that the wearing of a pair OF new
gloves on Easter Day would insure good
luck to their owner, and make this doubly
sure if he had complied with the other rule
of eating pan cakes on the day before Ash
Wednesday, the good luck in that case
probably being the escape from the dys'
pepsia which would not be unlikely to follow.
Another quaint old Easter custom, the
origin of which | do not know, is for the
children of the family to set out each an
old hat before retiring, on Easter eve. The
hat is then filled with colored eggs and
hidden somewhere about the premises to be
searched for in the morning. The children
are told that this is the work OF the rabbit,
though why that small animal is connected
with II, | cannot cav. This custom is still:
in vogue 10 some parts Of the country.
Faster eggs are O being differently
adorned since the days when they were tied
up in a bit of calico Of some bright hue.
which, while boiling would imprint itself Oh
the egg. or else the egg would be dropped
into the pot Of water where some OF the out
side leaves Of the odorous onion were alread!
laid, and came out Q rich brownish yellow
which delighted the eyes OF the children.
In these by-gone DAYS it was a common
sigbt to see a crowd Of small boys, each with
an Faster egg half concealed between thumb
ard finger, picking eggs" the one who sue
ceeded in breaking the egg held by the
other, 10 become its owner. 1t is needless
10 add that from breaking each others eggs
to continuing the same process with heads
was q common occurrence.
Now the Easter egg is a very different
affair, even in its simplest state; it is dyed
with patent dyes which reproduce all the
fashionable colors. 1t is often etched or
painted, enclosed in a plush or satin bag or
suspended by q dainty ribbon to some
article Of greater value, q fit Offering from
Romeo to Juliet. Some people still prefer
to ornament the natural fruit Of the hen,
..l.lo tho ,o1ank NJ aVca1lonf wit k,nD -
china or glass, which takes on a higher
gloss and can be used afterwards, If the
recipient is given TO the homely occupation
of darning, as a ball on which to stretch the
ventilated hose. Then we have candy eggs,
too, in all colors, int whish the confectioner
has contrived to introduce in some way IN.
known to common mortais, an excellent
imitation not only ofthe white, but the yelk
also. Another style Of egg is made in plush
or some other dainty material and opens in
the middle, displaying either horizons or
some small article Of iewelry.
Flowers too, are always much favored as
an easter offering, and there is something
beautiful IN the thought that the flowers are
bursting their winter buds while joyous
choirs are chanting, He is risen from the
dead
Some flowers are especially devoted to
the Easter celebration as for instance the
annuncistion lily, about which there is a
beautiful legend that it sprang up at the
feet of the Virgin when she was hailed as
the mother of God. The violet, snowdrop
and cowslip as pioneers Of spring are also
associated with this joyous feast, and the
vulgar name otthe yellow jonquiIleis Easter
flower
The coming Of the Easter postman this
year will be as early looked for as that Of
the mythical rabbit, and he will bring beau
tiful tokens to many. The new cards are
more beautiful than ever, and indeed
III some instances they have gone clear into
the book world. One beautiful form ap
pears with heavy cardboard cover, orna,
mented with a picture of the Christ child
surrounded By u wreath Of annunciation
lilies.
Another beautiful book contains suitable
quotations, each with a cluster of violets TO
mark it. Another new departure is a card
bearing 8 tiny bouquet Of pressed flowers.
among others the famous eidleweiss Of the
Alps, an Easter greeting in gilt letters be-
meath it. Another new style is q small
card bearing a single violet with an APP
propriate motto, and attached to it q Mar
shall Neill rose; others bear instead Of the
rose a tiny ivory paper cutter. Then we have
tiny sachets with Kate Greenaway figures
thereon, handsome plush easels with cards
on them, cards adorned with the most ex-
ouisite drawings in India iuk, sachets in
the shape Of a small plush covered book, be-
sides the usual satin covered rests with cards
on them and the small plain cards bearing
the hackneyed, but ever beautiful cross with
its wreath of flowers, generally violsts or
snowdrops. Surely among all these and
many other tokens everybody can for once
find an opportunity to speak by the card"
But before | close ] must tell ofjust one
more superstition with regard to Easter.
II Easter Day be fair and bright it is
regarded as a good omen, while
if it rains on that day it
is sure, SO superstitious folks will tell you,
to rain on each of the seven succeeding
Sundays. Therefore let US hope that, though
this cannot be the conventional Easter,
when it is supposed that
''DaSiss pied and yiolets blue,
And lady smocks all silver white,
And cuckoo buds Of yellow hue
d deck the meadows with delight"
we NAV at least awake on that glad feast
day to find the Easter sun is shining.