The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-06

of the educated classes of Russia are
avowed agnostics, and. as such, do not
even pretend to submit 70 any religious
observances, still such of them as hold
government positions are enjOined by the
law to go to communion once a year. As
to elderly persons the chief ambition of
their declining years is to undertake some
lengthy pilgrimage in order to pass Easter
in Jerusalem or Kief or at some other
holy shrine.
As Easter draws near an Undesirable
feeling of solemnity, mixed with festiv-
ity, pervades the people. On Thursday
great round Easter cakes are baked, and
pyramidal shaped Paschal cheeses are
made, with crosses modelled on each of
the four sloping sides; salt is burned to
a pepper color in the oven, to be eaten
with those things, and red eggs are being
provided. Children, meantime, vie with
each other as to who has the largest
number of colored silk cuttings and the
largest pile of multi-colored STA lint
scrapings. to which shape other s. e. cut
tings and ribbons had been reduced by
untiring little hands. All those treas
ures are collected for whole weeks to-
gether in anticipation Of the happy time
when eggs have to be col0red for Easter.
No Russian child is happy unless it has
at least a couple of dozen eggs all his
own for Easter. These eggs are wrapped
in many colored silk pieces or in silk
lint, several layers of white cloth wound
round them, and they are put to boil in
I've. When taken out and unwrapped
those eggs appear in most delicate and
queer combinations of all the hues of the
rainbow; while uniformly colOred red,
yellow and purple eggs get white crosses
and appropriate notices scratched out
on them. Thus eggs are prepared for
rolling or exchanging with friends and
acquaintance at Easter, it being the Gus
tom for any two people meeting for the
first time on Easter week to exchange
kisses and eggs. of which custom, how
ever, l will speak further on.
None but the smallest children ever
think of going to bed on the evening Of
Holy Saturday; even such as attempt it
find sleep to be unattainable on account
of the general hustle and noises prevail
ing in houses and in the streets. At 10
p. m. churches begin to Eli with people
of all classes, eager to assist at mathis;
no seats being provided, all stand shout
der to- shoulder in a dense crowd, the air
overladen with incense and rendered al
most suffOCating IS toward midnight
each one of the worshipers lights taper
and holds it while the clergy so around
the church on the outside in procession
and then return within the church. sing
ing the glad tidings: Christ has risen"
These words are on the spot taken up
by the congregation, faces brighten,
friends and acquaintance push their
way through the crowd greeting each
other with the obligatory Easter kiss and
the words: Christ has risen! to which
the other party responds; Indeed, he
has risen After this, conversations set
in and the congregation resolves itself
into something like a large reception.
while worshIpers press forward to the
place before the altar where the priest
OF RtAb AA-E ~ -AtAAAA
70 kiss to each person approaching him.
People Of the lower classes Of whatever
sex exchange here Easter kisses with the
priest: the monks and bishops who are
always appointed from monks however,
kiss the men only. but none Of the wo-
men, while the parish priests kiss all who
offer 10 90 through the ordeal.
Most people stay on in church through
early mass. which often lasts until or 1
in the morning. since the priest has TO
bless ali the Easter CAKES e. Kooietche')
and the Paschal cheeses that are brought
for that very purpose 70 church by their
owners themselves, or bF servants OF
richer households After conservation
cakes and cheeses are speedily carried
home and set up on . large table. over
laden with all kinds % tempting e3i5les-
As soon as the members Of the family
have returned from the Midnight church
services. they sG SIT down 10 break
fast. Tlartaking first Of the Paschal cake
and cheese. and then proceeding 10 drink
tea ana eat Of such meats a. had not been
tasted for the seven weeks Of Lent Poor
and rich alike keep up the observance &C
crrcius- u their means. AMI IL a TlsJell-