National Republican., 1888-03-25
DURING HOLY WEEK
Some of Society's Devotees Attend to
Household Affairs.

The question of greatest moment Just
now IN the gay world seems to be the all
important topic of what to do with ones
spare hours during the present solemn week
of fasting and prayer The few hours of
each day necessarily devoted to church
going, and with some perhaps the discharge
of limited number Of household responsi-
bilities needed to keep the domestic ma
chinery in running order, will yet leave
many unOccupied moments usually devoted
10 the seeing and receiving of friends the
allurcments of afternoon teas, or the attend
ance upon some charming lunch or dinner
party Only brief space of abstinence and
quiet-thcn once more society will take up
the burden Of dissipations with grad
ually decreasing demands until the bright,
walm days of lovely summer cause
one to flee TO the yearly recurring
attractions of sea side or mountain resort.
One prominent matron of our social circles
not long since remarked that she was anus
ing herself with her children during Lent
and another less fortunate IN this respect
mentioned that she was dcvOtmg her spare
time to studying the cooking book and ar
ranging her much disorganized menagc
Doubtless many careful housewives are thus
occupied at present, and numbers even in
the height OF the season spend the morning
hours in preparing and planning the elab.
crate arrangements for each days comfort
and success which, when accomplished salts
factorily, seem Of so little moment to the
OnlOOker, yet If neglected or slurrcd over
would so seriously affect the comfort of
household. One lady whose social Obliga-
tiOns are by no means light, her husband
occupying Il prominent official position
under this administration, Informed me that
she regularly arose in time for an early
breakfast with her husband, personally
washed and dressed her two little ones
spent happy hour or so with them in the
nursery, and cOnsCicntiOusly devoted GER
tain period to the discharge of domestic
duties before dOnning her walking costume
for round Of calls, teas, lunches, or din
ners, most probably terminating in an even
ing and perhaps half the night spent at
reception or german, and Notwithstanding
the enormous strain necessarily consequent
upon the life II more devoted mother
and wife could seldom be found, and
her heart is ever open to the helping
or comforting of those who need her aid
Unfortunately however few can stand the
double strain or care 10 sacrifice their per
sOnal comfort for the petty wearing cares of
every day, and so, fulflling the old adage
that lone cannot serve God aud Mammon,n
choose the plcasantcr course and plunge
TcCklCsSly into the vortex of fashion, soon
to find in IL their all-absorbng interest
Since the close of the recent gay season
many souls nave passed away whose faces
We're familarin scenes Of pleasure and social
intercourse, and 1.-THE place that knew them
shall know them no more forever Still, 1.-THE
world wags ON, and entertainments follow
each other in quick succession, regardless of
the vacant spaces, So quickly filled by others,
who in their turn will vanish and he for
gotten save by the good or evil they have
wrought. Some writer has enormously as
serted that the average American woman
has no individual characteristic, but as a
mass are sacrificed TO the ileeting fancles of
an age given up to the pomps aud yanitles
of luxury and seli-mdulgcncc. The names
Of host Of noble workers in the fields of
science and literature, rs well rs the do
mestc hearth, will pass down the coming
ages carrying blessings in their train, stand
forth to give the lie TO amy such assertion,
and many AN Outwardly frivolous life is the
support and Keystone of family union The
devotees Of fashion and open-handed hos
pitality in our midst are not in all respects
The heartless butterflies they seem, hut men
and women of earnest thought and self-de-
nyng lives, patient cleaners and earnest
workers IN the worlds broad harvest fields.
4. +. l..