The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-03-23
CAPITAL NOTES.


we amt" The soberly young women we |
meet on the streets daily, the Lenten season
showing in all their get-up, the long lashes Of
their downcast eyes washing their pink cheeks,
their little gloved hands holding beautifully
bound prayer books, pretend they are very
devout-but they ''ain't.n The fact is women
are born actresses, and like to try the effect Of
their different characters on men. During Lent |
the temptation to lay aside earthly things and
observe the effect of spirituality on Alphonseis is
too irresistible to be put away. These demure
little creatures are very fascinating, and Cupid
has busy time of it during the forty days de-
voted to fasting. This naughty elf hides be-
tween the covers of hymnals, makes a nest for
himself in the corners of the very pews, and
many Irritation has been commenced between
responses when both participants were kneel-
ing. Nothing is more entertaining than to sit
behind pretty woman occupied with her de-
votions, to note the exquisite curves of her
figure as she bends her shapely head devoutly
on her pretty hands, and If side view of the
face is caught with its earnest expression and
the lovely lips making responses, Cupid's work
isdoneand another conquest made. Sometimes
the Irritation thus begun lasts only until the end
of Lent, but it often ends in wedding, and
the married life that follows is, 1 fancy, never
the less happy because of the innocent masque
rading which preceded it.
X X
But the demure little maidens, who sit with
heads bowed at the end of the pew, are not the
only people in church who ''are not what they
seem.n Madame, there in the middle of the
pew, half way down on the right-hand side OF
the aisle, the children on either side of her
and their little governness at the end of pew,
notwithstanding the melancholy and wrapt ex-
preston of her countenance is not hearing a
word of the service. She is busy woman, and
week days are given oyer to shopping and So
ciety. With the true economy of good house
wife she devotes the Sunday service to making
plans for the management of her house and
children. One of the baby's daintiest costumes
was planned during the reading of the Litany
with her head devoutly bowed, and the charm
ing dinner she gave foreign ministers on Friday
was the result Of busy thinking during an un-
usually long sermon. But this habit of combin-
ing home and religious duties sometimes puts
her in embarrassing positions. On her last re
ception day, when her clergyman came in for
cup of tea and fifteen minutes chat, she said-
ooh Mr. -, want to thank you for the
spiritual comfort l derived from your sermon
last Sunday Mr. wore peculiar ex-
pIcSSlOu aS ut SdIi. Wy uedl lis.
am very much gratItied that last Sundays SER
mon gave you comfort. The Rev. Mr.. -,
from willie, is very eloquent and earnest
man, and felt more than pleased when he con-
sented to fill my pulpit for me while was alb
sent in New York performing the last sad offices
for an old triend.n Mrs. - was for mo-
ment abashed, but only for moment then she
said 81 was speaking of Sunday before last
1 remember now it was Sunday before last that
your eloquent sermon appealed so strongly to
me-" eyes, Sunday before last young Mr..
-, from Boston, preached. The sermon
seemed to me an especially good one Mir
is a man full OF promise-full Of promise, and
predict for him a brilliant future" Madame
attempted no further explanations, but gave
her spiritual adviser cup of tea.
X X X
The silver-headed old man who sits close up
in front on the right-hand side of the main aisle
in one of our many churches is constant at
tendant at morning service on Sunday, not only
during Lent, but all the year round, when he Is
in town. When he was young man he was
stupid, uninteresting, had no temptations to
SOW his wild oats, the only talent he possessed
that of money making. His quiet behavior
gained him reputation for piety which helped
him in his business. He was quick to see the
advantage Of being considered religious man,
and to all outward appearances became one.
He never misses Sunday, and sits during the
entire service with most deyout expression on
his face, but he hears nothing. He reviews his
financial affairs. conceives new projects, and
and fingers in imagination his stocks and bonds.
His mind, through constant habit never works
as well as when he is in his own pew and the
agreeable voice of his pastor resounds through
the edifce. He gives literally to the Church,
for he believes that to his constant attendance
there he owes his fortune. The Church is not
entirely composed of make believes, but the sin
cere, earnest members do not need to be written
about. Iti only those who pretend devotion
they do not feel who should be held up to
ridicule.
On Friday went to dinner where one of the
guests was a Roman Catholic. She ate her
her clans with relish, and had nearly finished
her soup, when she dropped her spoon in alarm.
"Oh Mrs. ," said she, sit is Friday, and
see | have nearly eaten my soup" "What
kind of soup is ~ "Mock turtle,'' answered
the hostess mock turtle? Oh that is all
right, then, for turtle is fish,"
One day last week | spent morning in the
Corcoran Art Gallery and beside visiting my
ing the people who came and went. 1t is in
the public buildings that one realizes how many
strangers visit the Capital On the day | was