Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12

be had given up moth
ing that he really cared about.
"But how about dancing?''
I'm, we'll, was the answer, "of course have
had to stop il. because nobody gives dancing
parties in Lent, but. don't you know, although
am very fond Of dancing. 1 am very glad to get
the rest from it that Lent affords"
How about the dinner parties?''
MY dear fellow, Lent Is the very season for
are not very frequent. but during Lent people
give those quiet little dinner parties which are
the most delightful of all
JUST BREATHING SPELL.
It would really seem to be the case that sin
the swim Lent is not by any means season
wholly devoted to fasting, humiliation and
prayer, for while the real society fishes may
LIST from dancing, there is barely anything
else that they truly enjoy which is not made
available to them in greater or less degree.
Lent is pre-emnently the time for those small
gatherings which enable people to see and
make the acquaintance Of each other in y way
that is. practically speaking, impossible during
the rush n nd excitement Of the season.
Nevertheless, it il safe to say that all people
who are in society" observe Lent. There
seems to be general agreement that large and
particularly festive balls and parties shall not
be given then. that it shall constitute breath
ing spell after the race for pleasure of the
a
cepted in this country both as a religious OBJ
servance and as a social institution.
RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS.
As an observance which is prescribed by the
churches Roman Catholics, Lutherans and
Episoopalians are the chief sects in this coun-
try with which it is obligatory. Most Of the
Protestant sects do not keep it as an obiiga-
ton. although certain amount of self-denial
at this season Is often recommended by those
churches and is accepted not only as a social
convenience, but a useful discipline. The
orthodox Greek church and the other oriental
Christian churches observe it more strictly
than any others, and in country like Russia it
assumes the proportions OF a great national
fast. i traveller in that country
would find quite difference between Russia IN
Lent and Russia before or after Lent. Thus.
among Roman Catholics. and they may be said
to keep Lent more strictly than any o,her sect
In America. mills. butter, cheese and eggs may
be eaten. but the orthodox Greek church Of
Russia does not permit such viands.
LENT IN RUSSIA.
The consequence is that the cooks Of that
country are hard put to it to serve good din
nsrs. but a fat purse even there can procure a
good dinner, and the nobility do not starve
during Lent. They enjoy Ash in every con-
ceivabie form. cooked, not in butter because
that is not allowed. but in olive oil. which is
really preferable to butter. Shopkeepers and
others above the peasan;ry, but below the no
bility exc ont a very endarabie star vation with
smoked salmon, red herring. sailed coitisb and
the delicious caviarre, which many Washing
tOnians are almost as fond of as are the Rus
slams themselves. 1t is the Russian peasant
who nearly starves in Lent. He has hardly any
money and lives badly enough at ali seasons,
but in Lent he eats what he can that Is flowed
by his church. lie endeavors to maze up for
his want of money by q wise providence and. We
are told, no sooner is one Lent over
than he begins to prepare for an
other. He collects mushrooms and stores
them away. he dries apples and he
collects moderate store of honey. He
also uses meal and buckwheat, and as he can
not afford sweet oil he cooks his food in iiuseed
OIL and the result is that his dishes are very
unpalatable to anybody but himself and his
family. He does the best he can, but he never
thinks of disobeying the canons of his church.
ana he really leads a hard life during the forty
days Of Lent
srRICT OBSERVANCE IN FORMER YEARS.
The Washington society man who is only
deprived of dancing during Lent ought to re-
nect upon the condition OF the Christian world
centuries ago, when Lent was a strice observ-
ance recognized by law. Although il is quite
generally admitted that change of diet and |.
moderate amount OF fasting tor forty days in the
spring Of the year are good for most systems,
II Is fact that. even In Catholic countries.
fasting has decreased in severity steadily. 1t
is of record that in the year 65S a council held
at Toledo, Spain, decreed that any man who
ate meat during Lent should be deprived Of
vegetables during the rest of the year. cruel
punishment indeed, when one stops to con-
slider how much more OF vegetables one con-
.umes than of meat When Charlemagne
was running things to suit himself he
ordered that any subject who broke Lent should
suffer death In Poland, where even to this
day the observance Of Lent is said to be very
strict, the penalty for not observing Lenten
regulations of diet used to be to have all the
teeth extracted. Thus was the poor back
slider compelled to eat vegetables ever after
ward.
ORIGIN OF THE MARDI sRAs.
In point of fact the Lent Of old times was so
much dreaded that the French instituted the
custom OF the Marti Gras carnival, u modifca-
ton of which IL celebrated in this country in
New Orleans just before Lent every year. 1t
Is simply a festival and grand pleasure making
for the reason that there is to be no more
pleasure or feasting Tor forty days. Within
the last 100 years Lent was recognized by French
law, and II an yone wanted to buy meat from
the butchers he must bring a certificate from
q reputable phi stefan showing that il was nee
| essary for his health and this certificate must
be countersigned By the priest Of the parish
Even then the subject was regarded with sus-
picion. Balls, theatrical entertainments and
all similar diversions were put stop TO by
law. In the Paris of today there is hardly any
perceptiDle difference between Lent and any
other season of the year. but il used to be very
different in the DAYS Of church domination.
THE MI-cARLMR.
Already, although the mild observance Of
Lent that prevails in Washington has been with
society for hardly ten days. there are many
people who are looking forward to the day Of
relaxation which comes in the middle
of Lent and goes by the name Of
mi-careme. For this invention, a. for
that Of the carnival of Mardi Gras, we are
indebted to the pleasure makers Of France 1t
is comparatively of recent origin, and was OBJ
served by the young people Of the villages be-
fore it reached the gay world Of Paris. They
call il appropriately "a halt in the long period
Of privations." 1t is meant especially as time
| for young people to have balls and masquer-
AIDES and abandon themselves TO one day. Of
| feasting and dancing. Strict church people do
not look very favorably upon the mi-careme
| festivities, but the young people do, and it is
safe to predict that Washington will see several
| brilliant social events on that day.
SEWING CIRCLE DIVERSIONS.
In The meantime, besides the little dinner
party where the guests are few enough for con-
| versation to be general. there are the delights
| to the female mind of the>sewing circle. That
sewing ID feminine accomplishment which
| can be pursued by young woman when she 10
| by herself aud not likely to bo distracted from
| her task 10 doubtless fact but sewing in Lent
| must not be done that way at all number Of
young girls must agree that they viii meet say
A l. - Al A.