Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-25
TCopyrixhted, 1851

glove and our Old Dutch ancestors placed piacard
on the doors OF their houses adorned with red silk
and lace. When the friends and neighoors arrived
70 congratulate the proud papa they were received
with mullee wine and cinnamon CAKES. In England
and In this country the guests were entertained
with csudle, sort Of splcet Cruel, nIvored with
rum and brandy. The cups like the low
Ing cup. had two handles, and were used
only for special occasion They were Of
china, and reIIgiously saved for thus one
occasion They were handed down as bedrooms
and Were highly priced by old Dutch ladies' The
yenIeman'S party, however, occurred at the end
OF fortnight. II mother ana Guild were doing well,
and the husband entertained bis particular frien1s
Both bachelors and benedicts were asked 10 eat
buttercd or sugsred toast, which was thus pre-
pared: Rounds OF bread toasted and each stratum
spread thick with moist sugar; these were piled
I'D In stately punch bowl; strong beer was then
poured over boiling hot" This gothic mess" was
quickly demolished, and each person who ale VI
u put piece OF money In the bowl for the nurse.
In kDgiand good strong ale was brewed or pipe
OF wine was laid by 10 We drunk az the majority OF
The chIld-
TIE LAST INSTANCE.
when William W. story was born, an illustrious
day for American art, his father then being az
Washington tan associate 1ustice), JUICE WASH
t-gton gave Judge story pipe OF Madeira, 10 be
kept until the young mans wedding. II Was re-
NslouS.y Kept. anu some GI IL III INK at the we'd
ding. This is almost the Last historical instance
We have OF the observance OT the Old English Gus
TOM Times are Chang d Old customs and Old
new ones seem TO have arisen in their place. An
event OF this klnd though very joyous TO tue
friends and Immediate relatives Is not OF general
Interest Friends and acquaintances either call or
leave or SEMI tueir cards with their servants Will
KIND Inquiries, out the mother and child are
not disturbed In their seclusion until the
former announces her reappearance IN soci-
ETY. by sending her card. And then eau
de Is served, and very DELICIOUS I is
IL Is usual TO nx the day OF the cnrstenny as soon
Is the mother Is well enough To 20 out; generally
when the infant Is mouth old King Edward the
sixth and his royal sisters were All bdpIizeI when
three days old, and the ceremony. wnicn lasted
between Two or three hours, IOOA place ut nig nj
b. torchIight. The child was carried under a can
opy, preceded oy gentleman bearing In STATE the
sponsors gifts, and Attended by "a flourish Of
trumpets, which must have been very bad Tor tho
baby. Old King hal may have believed that his
ouspfing needed especial praying for, but roJ al
christening must have De IA uuSt laIlguing and
yenturesoine-at any rate Tor the poor mother,
ceived eonsratuiatIOns, and IrOm whence the pro-
eession started What would trained nurse VI
to-day, VINO Will not allow any one to see her
LADY for a week" say TO all this?
ia CHILD FEEBLE
when born, the rite Or baptism Is at once per-
foIned privately In the room where IL Is born. In
case OF extreme necessity, where q clergyman can
not De procured, any one can baptize a child Lay
baptism Is an irregularity, but not nudity. In
England the ecclesiastical law Is that II d child
SHOULD Ole DeIOre belug baptized IL may be lu-
TERED In cons Grated ground; but the service OF
The cAurCb cannot g1lly be read over It's grave.
We are not so stiu over here; aud lew dear III le
strangers from heaven lately and returning as
soon as born are inferred without many PRAYERS
ana many tearS-the best conservation alter AL
The selection of godpaTents Is o.teI matter Of
considerable deicacy and difficulty, for many
people are reluctant 10 accept the Office, While
others who think they have a right 10 the honor
are orended II they are overlooked Formerly Two
godraIhers aud Two godmothers were necessary.
Now two godfathers and one godInoLuer are nee
essary Tor a boy; two gotlnothers and
one one, go S Tor a glrL For the nr.t-
tives, preference ing given 20 the fathers family.
II Is not ADVISABLE To Choose elderly peope ior this
office. Tor althou Its duties supposed 10 end
with the chiId's confirmation, yet I've association
often lasts II c time, and should parents die the
godparents often assume tue worldly as well as
the spiritual care OF the Child MI. Pepy,, who has
said almost everything IN that Immortal Journal Of
his. In which, as some witty critic OF bis remarked
me, me has even ouiton.noled poslerty, TO mention
that mis- pennny Was full OF nit has pal agraph
on g0dfatners. 'We went to Mrs Bruwl'S " mere
Sir W. Pen and We're goltII hers aad Mrs Jordan
and SloptIan were gOdmothers, and there, before
and alter Tue Christening. we we're with the wo-
man above in her CHAMBER. did give the nurse
I'VE shiiIings and the maid two snI,llngs. But H.
asmucn as expected 10 give the name 10 the
child, out dld noi loreoore then TO give my plate
which had IN my pocket namely, Sax spoons and
porringer OF silver"
CHRISTENING PRESENTS
There is not much Variety In these christening
presents. The godfather for whom the caiId Is
named generally gvcS a silver cup. Silver Dor
ringers OF antique pattern are also very Useful and
serve Tor the alter course or bread and lliiE. "a
coral and bells was q rayorite present AID corII
was supp s-d TO be very beneficial to the children
gooo Ior the gums, an! as preserving theIn from
coral necklace will turn pale and wan II the chilli
who wears II be sick, and Comes to It's former color
christening service as appoinled Dy the Episcopal
Church l. prepared durlhg or alter divine service
anu the PARENTS, god-parents, and particular
friends meet the clergyman at the font. the child
Il held by the god-notner during the FIRST part or
the service, and she places Il on tue lett arm OF
the Clergyman when he Is ready 10 receive IL
"A
father should pronounce the name audiOIy ana
distinctly The nurse, who should stand on the
ciergy mans Fight hand, the gOu-mother on the
LETT, taea takes the child, alter tue religious
service, ana the little stranger Is supposed " have
had the Old Adam driven out him
THE DUTIES OF A GODFATHER
are hardly worth mestionihg II the parents live
Yet he is bound, by MS vow, 10 10 1t that the
child shall receive q religious education. and be
eonnrusd In the lath In which ne was 6apIlzeu
In the kcman Catholic Cnurcn this Is a very i,u-
pcrtAnt and very necessary relationship. IL lasts
through life and kindly aelp and counsel are given
70 the child BY the godfather. But In our own
country. with The absence Of any established
cnufch and with our belief IN the power OF every
man 10 take care Of hiliseli, this beautiful reIa
OonsAip has been neglected. IL Is more Than yer
Necessary now, as atheism Is making Such enor-
NOUS strides We are glad TO taaI ia the Euis-
copal Church this relationship Is cons.dere n,.,.,
sary. way shouId lot other churches observe
this rltrs We are apt 10 nsIne our Children for
some dear friends, and We would ali gladly believe
That such friendship could be cousecratei at the
1901 VI o"u4c Suuicu. ln&t IL NIL mt follow
Tue little man through life, 10 Aely Id 10 renouncs
the world. the nesL, and the devil an OF who,,,
We well Anow Will Ue alter nlm. III viii noI nnrT
him 10 have godfather 10 help him TO nyht them
IA OUT oe.igerent and arrogant INDEPENDENCE and
freedom, We may have thrown away too mucn !.
We perhaps can AFFORD To reasSert our belief IN and
our respect Tor lew Old customs OId-rash
Toned people give the BABY some salt and evv Tor
Sood lucA, and are particular that lie should be
carried W. stairs before he Is carried down and
that when he goes out nrst IL shall be to the house
" some near Relative As Wordsworth saws .srhey
came, Trailing clouds or CORY alter tneInb these
guests OF the human race, and had we 70 Other
PROOF Oh our immortality, our divine origin or CON-
necuon, We should re lie IL IN the wvrshlD WHICH
tnese nlte newcomers Inspire In all tue uulIseuo,
bow II radlateS through the nurse and the coovr
ana Tue EOGSc maid and ali tueir relatives They
aIi want 70 see the baby, 10 serve the b.py 10 be
present a. the christening. They are as muca in
or the next President.
TIE BABY AT HIS CHRISTENING
Is expected 10 be very splendid HIS robe "a h.
laced an embroidered In Italy lt Is trimmed
with old lace; often his grandmothers wedding
veil Inc nurse Is gorseousiy gotten up, and the
recipient oil many presents. The gay dresses and
juggling ornaments OF the Roman nurses are now
denounced oy PHYSICIANS As being too tx ltinv IN
those delicate little eyes viii. are looking I6eir
Inst on = new world. I'VE come into this world
very red, says Dickens, "probIrly blushing for
Immortal chapter wnlca begins "Dompey ana
Bon, Dickens mas said his best things about Ule
and DEATH No doubt We come In very red also
Very nervous, and with very blnky little eyes
which Should be respected II We 70 have GOOD
syesiSht afterward; so we must remember
some opulent godfather ln New YORK
LETT flGO. 600 check The baby,, cradle Anrtna,