The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-04-06

dren when they have eaten a boiled egg
always to push the spoon through the bot
tom of the shell, in order ssto hinder the
witches from making boat of it." In
France q similar custom prevails. but the
reason assigned for it is that magicians
formerly used the egg for their diabolical
witcheries. They emptied it adroitly and
traced on the interior cabalistic characters
able to cause much evil. The faithful
were therefore instructed to break at the
same time the shell and the spell.
1t is difficult to ascertain the precise
origin of the graceful custom of Offering
eggs at the festival of Easter. The Per-
slams gave each other eggs at the New
Year, the Russians at the festival of
Easter. Among the Romans the year be-
gan at Easter, as it did among the Franks
under the Capets. Mutual presents were
bestowed, and as the egg is the emblem
OF the beginning of all things, nothing
better could be found as an Offering. The
symbolic meaning is striking. Eggs are
the germ Of fecundity and abundance, and
we wish our friends all the blessings con-
tained within the slender shell when we
offer this gift, whose fragility represents
that of happiness here below.
In some remote districts of France the
belief still fingers that during Passion
week the bells Of the churches set out for
Rome in order to get themselves by the
pope. During this period of mourning
the bells are mute in their belfries and re-
main SO until their return on the morning
of the resurrection, when they will send
forth joyous peals. Easter to these SIM
pie folks was like a second New Years
day, and on Easter Monday came the
dance of eggs by high and low.
The s1nari0pa a11y nI1fs,f batyyoa1, tho
beautiful Marguerite of Austria and Phil
lbert the Handsome, Duke of Savoy,
forms picturesque page in the romantic
chronicles of Savoy and Austria. The
royal lady had come on @ pilgrimage into
the charming district Of Bresse, lying on
the western slope of the Alps, where, ac-
cordlng to legend, a young girl may in
sure indefinitely her youth and beauty.
The castle of Brou was gay, Marguerite
had taken up her abode there, and serfs
and mobiles alike shared her hospitality.
Philibert the Handsome, who was hunting
in the neighborhood, came to the castle in
order to render homage to the fair prin-
cess of Austria.
It was Easter Monday, high and low
danced together on the green. The old
men drew their bows on barrel filled
with wine, and when one succeeded in
planting his arrow firmly in it lie was
privileged to drink as much as he pleased.
A hundred eggs were scattered on a
level space covered with sand, and lad
ard lass holding each other by the hand
came forward to execute dance of the
country. According to the ancient GUS
tom, If they succeeded in finishing the
"branle' without breaking single egg,
they became affianced; even the will Of
their parents might not avail to break
their union.
Three couples had already tried it un-
successfully and shouts of laughter de-
rided their failure, when the sound of a
horn was heard, and Phlibert of Savoy,
radiant with youth and happiness, ap-
| peared on the scene. He bent his knees
before the noble chatelaine and besought
her hospitality. And as the games CON
tinued he proposed to his hostess to essay
with him the merry dance of eggs. How
beautiful they looked as they stepped for
ward hand in hand! "Savoy and Austria!'
shouted the crowd. The dance was finished
without the breaking of an egg, and the
blushing Marguerite allowed her hand to
remain within that of Philibert, as he
said
''Let us adopt the custom of Bresse."
So they were affianced, and their
marriage soon took place. A few years
of exquisite happiness were their portion.
but an untimely death carried off the
husband Marguerite lived long, but
never forgot her beloved Philibert. She
caused to be built, and in 1511 dedicated
to his memory, the beautiful church of
Notre Dame of Brou. Within it is his
tomb, and there Marguerite, too, rests by
the side of her beloved husband Visitors
still admire the magnificent architecture
which enshrines the buried love Of Mar
guerite and Philibert.