New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
THE CHURCH FESTIVAL.
,cys THAT THE JEWELLERS IN GOTHAM
KNOW NOT OF.

Z
ADAMS n Y April 2--The old-time ChuIch esu' ~ :,
= -. y.ss,uy away. Although retained by &c" "
a.. .,tv churches in an emasculated form, tho cDe
q, conditions ard surroundings have left u MUG -
farmer distinctive features. 1t lacks no 20. AN
,ha .,vnIfcance the absorbing interest th~' 80.
.haracterixe its country cousin. IL u V'-' -..,,,
,,uressonably happy portions OF the az STATE
.ornst,,ue, spolon of as the back to"hS u wear
,yh.re the summer boarder has not put !" .. par4v
ance the singing school hourisnvs' O bsth not
"a NOT extinct, and the candy pun r.ra,ns
,.a Church Festival In its various iorlS :,
- .ns,,.,tion Of transcondent Importance "a
v,,ts "a one of the prime factors ID DUN ,aa On
go ,,s.. looked forward 10, saved 'or' - ,,s
ws.Ith and convennonallty have ho' iOo ,ou,,y
$500, no .ha,ed one whit It's interest an" 'oipl9
No, onIy is IL the chief promoter Oh Soo's
~, ,,is n main reliance for church revenue go
20, a. ~. ant the parsons salary, give Hesn
coat Of paint to tho church. OF peo'i"o - 60 raise
the SuRdsy-school room' !" "a" "
the necessary funds. ..,,u...
h,s r,cently been my high privilege to parucipAo
&, 81. aaIipsts Of the festival, where unsrsmnc0u'
,a,.tns its ancient honOrs and dlgnlues' op'N
Very moderate outlay Of money indeed nave Oeo"
s,,relv in the vortex of " back town SOCIETY % 1"S
Fifth-aye belle in the midst of the tonf hunurou'
have been an attentive and Interested oOselN.'
successIon of New England festivsls-eorn fesuVSs'
.,or festivals While observation OF the festiVA
sas that Il Is not confined any particular season.
hn has az enthusiastic support in summers neat as III
winters cold It is evident that whatever inc NATURE
~ the entertainment certain time honored ana eVu0
To valuable features are dead-sure TO Do III @c'No
operation. .,--,.,.. =.
whether the basis Of the evenings festIViueS pe
oysters or icecream, one never fails IN hhu'hs ~
-. oornsr of the room Isaac assisting Rebecca In
-
ston.s and ferns, known as Jacobs Well, duUiou'
Mold ss,d n he lemonade Investigation and iair
rnowIedpe of the value of chemicals shows that a
source OF revenue from the amount Of money u'os'ou
the we'll can be safely backed against any "1no'
device for like occasions. Isaac ana heOeo0~ "l0
ALWAYS worth mere than passing notice" Inc on,
yisd of tho younger portion OF the gatherihs' noS
are evidently regarded by all as rare anu "onuofi
obieet-lesson illustrating the manners ana customs VI
the Ancient East It Is painful TO see tnat, 'noue
l saheres 10 the traditional turban. he has so lar sue
.,,haa N the eneryatinc influences of the present
oe as to indulge in the weakness of kneeoreeches'
boae and shoes. Rebecca, red-cheeked and merry
.ved attIred In short red skirt, Win
a shawl of many hues judloiousy So'
tus4ed to serve both as wrap
and head dress, with lavish display OF BEADS ABOUT
her head and neck and feet encased In sandals whose
workmanship suggests something OF modern innovation
makes picture which, II not altogether correct IN
archaeological detail is nevertheless striking
Almost as important in their way, and quite as
surely ON hand as Isaac and Rebeccs. are the two
young women who appear Gypsy Fortune Tellers'
Concealed from the vulgar gaze by an ominous
black curtain, and surrounded by startling display
If rugs and skins principally OF the genus bufaloD'
with faces rendered visable by one feebly burning
lamp, and looking as uncanny, dusky and glpsy-hke
as burnt cork and paint can make them, the fortune
teI!srs may be consulted upon past present and
future for the small OF ten cents. The crowd the
laughter the iostlng before the curtain. speak vol
umes for the popularity Of this attraction.
The Post ONCE Is another timehOnored and literally
supported feature. With commcndable tact an at
tractive and laxative young woman Is put in charge
of the Office who rarely fails in securing the customary
Zee Of five cents for the anonymous letter surely
awaiting you
But while these features are not without their
humorous side TO one not /" 10 the manner born,
tho true centr Of interes: to in the least con-
tcmplatfvo IS the country people themselves. II
is at once apparent that even demonstrative mani,
fstatlon of interest enjoyment Is not tabooed VI
yt tSs fSsrs dun T level Of p0pfy in her dress
conversation accessories. store clothes sno
aashy necktes may predominant but one cannot but
be impressed with fke fact that Uld and young are
possessed OF the passing ralS accomplishment u
IN the estimation Of the young people, # IS doubt
ful IL the festival has any formidable rival unless
liz be the singing SCHOOL Auu why snOulh nO1 Va.
Young man be happy who has the glorious good
fortune to find himself aud his " best grip members
OF the provision or arrangement committee
No matter VI fact ordering OF eatables
of the grocer or caterer by this committee. No
inspirations and arrangements by paid and unintei.
eStsd parties. But in delightful secluston nom the
Of the world, what rides the two VIII have about
the Village, and the pleasant country roads, So
citjng the pies and cakes and butter and chickens
and al the rest of It! What elaborate plans are pun
jntO execution by the young people OF the various
committees for the artistic decoration OF the walls
of the Sunday school room with corn stalks for the
Corn Festival What immense and appalling ralnbows
are painted on muslin, to hang the walls for the
Rainbow Festival And what sldll Is displayed II
arranging and deciding upon the different bills o.
fare and what surprisingly comprehensive efforts some
of these bills of iare are! Certainly no one would
ever have suspecte that entered into the com
position Of many sayofy dishes until the menl
Ter the COrn Festival had been seen Who could re
as. the ,anuremenb of Corn Bee Zee
lowed The bin Of fare by the text The cattle ugoI
thousand blls,r Psalms ], 10? Or " Corn Fcc
Csicksn.' followed by the text. As hen gather
her chickens Matthew XIII, 81 Or Corn BOileC
bag Pudding followed by the text, -" Man doth no
live by bread slone7 Duet viii, 3? Or Corn Soup.
Psalms KIN, lar Surely one must be unimpres
sIonsble and stony hearted not to be moved 10
generous purchase of vlands SO eloQuently and per