Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-01
EASTERTIDE
Continued from Sirth Page.
DISPUTED DATES.

DISPUTED DATES.
But once incorporated within the system
of Christianity, a difference of opinion as
to the true date upon which the celebrs'
ton of the fes iyal should take place lolg
divided the disciples of the rew faith,
those of Jewish birth or origin holding that
il should Immediately follow the close Of
tie PaschAl feast, which ended on the 14th
| of the month, irrespective Of the day Of the
week, while the Gentle Christians, on the
other hand, insisted that the first day OF
the week, following the Friday OF the
crucifxion, should be deemed the day,
without regard to the day Of the month.
It was not until the date Of the Council OF
Nice, 325, that q definite decision in favor
the Sunday festival was arrived at, and
even this by no means altogether ohyiated
confusion Of dates, which, 10 a certain de-
gree, existed for centuries sfterwsrd.
But, however, it may have originated,
and whatever confusion may have in times
past prevailed as to the proper date OF its
celebration, the Christian Easter is held
to-day, as it has been for centuries past,
aud as it was in the ancient days OF the
Anglo4Saxon Goddess Eostre, o time of
ioyousuess and pleasure; a period when,
for q time, at least, we seek TO thrust our
cares and ills aside and endeavor, by kindly
gifts and kindlier speeches, to make glad
the hearts of our fellow mortals.
Together with the special services pre-
scribed for Easter, the custom Of deco
rating houses of worship with evergreen
aud the beautiful Gala lily, sp0tleSs EN-
blem OF the purity Of the Redeemer, cruel
fed and arisen, are associated many other
observances, not in themselves religious,
but endeared to the hearts OF the peopleby
almost immemorial custom.
EASTER EGGS.
Volumes either may or may not have
been written upOn the origin OF the custom
ofexchaDging Easter eggs, but, however
this may be, there seems no reason why q
slight addition 10 the literary store may
not be made. To begin with, the egg
may taken 10 emblemaric of ~iecundity and
abundance, and the gift of one TO n friend
may seem TO imply n fgurative bestowal
upon the favored one of all the abundance
Of the earth, typifed By what is contained
within, while the brittlenes'o OF the shell
may be considered as a slight but signih-
cant reminder Of the uncertainty and
~mutability Of human existence. BY such
a glft, therefore, the donor, at one and the
same time conieTs q delicate attention and
breaches an effective sermon, by which he
may hope his friends wilt profit.
Eggs appear in ecclesiastical history to
be first associated with Easter ~ early az
the fourth century, at which time it be
came usual for a vast quantity TO accuinu-
late on the hands OF the public at the sea
son of Ester, owing to their use during
Lent having been absolutely forbidden.
ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM.
1t was natural, therefore, that they
should be consumed IN unusually large
quantities Immediately upon the close OF
the fast, both through the cravings OF a be-
fore restrained appetite and also from n
thrifty desire to allow AZ few to 90 to waste
as possible. All such efforts, however,
would probably fail TO supply n means OF
disposal for the great quantity on hand
and hence the custom of making playthings
of them for the use of children or OF pre-
senting them 70 friends rs keepsakes, for
both of which purposes it was natural TO
paint and otherwise decorate the shell,
may have arisen. Then, as q means to-
ward lessening the dangers of hTeakage,
boiling wa probably first rcsorted TO, and
we thus at last have the origin, not only
of the modern painted Easter Egg, Int also
of the custom of presenting it ssa gift TO
ones friends.
EASTER AND EASTER EGGS.
Apart from ecclesiastical history, the
two ideas to-day are scarcely TO he sepa-
rated, and if the time ever was when 1t
was otherwise il must have heen far back
in the mistS Of the past. From ayes rs
early as 60 have almost been forgotten the
Russians, as we'll as the JcSs, have
given each other presents Of eggs at the
festival of Easter. The same custom il of
remote antiquity in France, where during
the reigns Of the Capets, the year began
with Easter. The season and the custom
OF the giving of eggs as gifts from friends
to friends prevails ~ well in Italy, Ger
many, and indeed every country Of Chris
tisn Europe. 1t is the same, OF course, IN
America, but we have not here that wealth
ofpOetic traditions ah legen larry lore which
gives 20 the season in the Old World n
peculiar charm. The number of such
legends aud traditions is legion, ana come
at least are rs interesting as they Gle ro-
mantle and poetical.
In Italy, it ia said, the angels choose the
tine when the bells are Ginning 4 p;rla Of
~exultation over the festival Of the arisen
Savior, 10 float down frOm heaven on
golden and 9znre wings and place q
pIenteOus store Of eggs within the dwell
ings of the true believers. Then friends
and lovers gather, and spend the day in
Joyous f~estivity aud feastiDg, while the
old, old story is yet again retold by loving
lips and eyes, az the stalwart youths aud
shy and happy maidens match Easter eggs
and vow their Constancy above them. Bot
alas! it sometimes happens that the Prince
Of Evil succeeds through his wicked wiles
ia placing a contribution Of his own
among the angels store. Hapless then
the lot of the luckleSa maid or lover By
whom the evil gift is chosen.
TRAGICAL TALE
never 20 be forgotten by the Italian peas
antry is the mourniul story Of the two
young lovers who, through this mischance,
resped direful evil. They had pledged
their loving constancy III the old-time
fashion, holding, as they spoke, their
VOWS, each an Faster egg. But the girls
suddenly fell from her hand and broke,
and from the shattered shell issued a
loathsome toad. The maiden screamed
and all present recognized IN the reptile
the agent of the evil one, AMI what fol-
lowed seemed to justify the thought. II
sprang first iuto the glowing Goals upon
the hearth, and issuing unframed leaped
next upon the bed which stood near, scat
tering glowing embers in the track. The
drapery burst into flames, the walls we're
next ignited, and the house in a few mo
ments was utterly consumed. The maiden
passed into s state OF raving delirium, for
which she found care only in the grave,
while her ill-omened lover mourned in ut
ter deSolation till his heartstripgs broke
ard death brought him peace.
EASTER PROPHECIES.
In Austria aud many parts Of Germany
Easter eggs also form a means by which
fond young hearts seek to assure them
selves Of future happiness and love. From
far and near on Faster morning gather
youths and maidens to a common trysting
spOt. There the syard is Guickly strewn