Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-04-21

4 4
valentines of tie present day. The palmer
ones were saved by the youth and used on
| Easter Mondas in playing ball, which,, by
the way, was favorite game.
On Easter Monday even the clergy in
dulgea in tho delights Of this game of ball,
which men, women and children reveled in.
In many instances it formed part of their
service. bishops and deacens taking ball
to church, and at the commencement of the
anthem, While dancing to the music, threw
| il to the choristers, who handed it back and
| forth to each other during the singing
After this service they all retired for re-
| freshmeuts, which usually consisted of a
dish of bacon with tansy pudding-this last
| symbolical of. the, bitter herbs they were
commanded 70 take at the Paschal feast.
Though these old customs are often
modified and greatly changed, they all bear
resemblance 10 those from which they
sprung. In certain parts of England the
absurd and sSaseless practice of s'lifting'' or
s'heaving Is a vogue. This is performed
by two sfsg mea or women joining
Sort y seat, - Hvhieh tse ersod iiic-
ed sits, when he is thrown up into the air
two or three times, being often, during this
process. carried several yards along the
street. On Easter Mondays the men Gift
the women, and on Tuesdays the women
return the compliment. Very ludicrous in
cidents have been related of travellers,
who, ignorant of the prevalence of this
custom, have been astonished to find
themselves In the strong arms of these peo-
pie, and "heaved' in spite of their execra-
tions and efforts for release.
In olden times the churches of Europe
I I IL
ance of theatres, and crowds of people jos
tied each other to see the sepulchres which
were erected representing the whole scene
of the Savior's entombment.
In those days the belief prevailed that the
Lords second coming would be on Easter
eve, hence the sepulchers were anxiously
watched through the night preceding Eas-
ter Sunday, until A. NJ, when two aged
monks would enter and take out beauti-
ful image of the resurrection, which was
held up before the worshipping audience
during the chanting of the anthem, ''Chris-
tus Resurgeus." 1t was then carried to the
high altar, where procession formed with
lighted tapers. and old men bearing can
opy of velvet over the image; they proceed
ed around the exterior of the church, all
singing, rejoicing, and praying, until, COM
ing again to the high altar, their precious
burden was placed there, not to be removed
until Ascension day.
Easter week is still the great season at
Rome. For Easter Sunday the greatest
preparations are made, and it is celebrated
with elaborate ceremonials. The day is
ushered in by the firing Of cannon, and ear
ly in the morning carriages with their eager
freight of men and women. begin to roll
toward St Peters, which is richly dec
GRATED for the occasion, the altars freshly
ornamented, and the lights around the
tomb of st. Peter all blazing. On this day
the Pope officiates at mass, with every i'm
posing ceremony that human invention can
desire. From hall in the palace of the
Vatican he is carried into the church, borne
on the shoulders of his officers. On his
head he wears a round, gilded cap, repre-
senting a triple crown, signifying spiritual
and temporal power, union of both. On
all sides of him are carried large fans of os
trich feathers, in which are placed the eye
like parts of peacock feathers, to represent
the vgiIant eyes of the church. When in
the church he rests under rich canopy of
silk. After mass, to the sound of music,
he is borne back to a balcony over the GEN.
trai 5s-as1T:sy, where, rising from his chair
of state, he pronOunces benediction, with
indulgences and absolution.
The crowd of people who witness this
most imposing of all the ceremonies at
Rome at this season is immense. Below
the balcony at which the Pope appears to
pronounce the benediction is the densest
crowd, who watch with upturned faces
the falling of the papers containing copies
of the prayers that have been uttered, which
are thrown down by the Pope and his as
sociates.
GEORGE BANCROFT GRIFFITH.