The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-03
THE WORLD, RELEASED.
Society Lays Aside the Sombfe CARD
of Lent and Puts on Gala Attire.
SIGHTS AND COLORS OF EASTER.
The Streets Were Abiaze Yesterday Whth
brilliant Finery ry-How the Church
Goers Looked and what They Wore In
Memory of the Day.
'.Myl but that bonnet's a poemi"

"Myi but that bonnet's a poeml"
"Do Won see that dress, Jackf I'll
venture my weeks salary that you can't
cuess how much it cost. IL you could
you'd probably faint. Lucky Easter
only comes once year."
These and similar expressions were
head on every hand yesterday. From
the early hours of the morning until the
last PRAYER had been uttered and the
last hym sung in the churches the
streets were one CAV simmer OF SILKS
AMI laces, flowers and ribbons. T1e
ureat conven tional II lster ceremony held
the whole city enthralled with It's blaze
Of finery and its wealth OF norai decora-
tions.
lt Is the one distinctive season OF the
whole wear when the association OF reli-
oious devotion aud worldly Rratincatioh
is considered permissible. The prayer
book and the flower decked bonnet went
hand in hand and neither suffered at the
expense of the otner. The great Easter
displays in the show windows had been
transferred To the persons OF the Easter
deyotess. The streets presented the
appearance of a hot-housa IN motion ana
tre noyices on all sides declared that they
could actually smell rare and subtle per-
fumes emanatipg IRON countess artii
brothers walked dismally beside their
feminine partners cognizant OF the fact
that the eve of the world was not upon
them, but upon the gay anparel OF the
ladies under their charge. Toe snacAles
OF Lent had been rent as,undsr ana the
worl had emerged, brilliant aud I'M
trammeled by conventionaltles, from
its long weeks of captivity.
At o'clock in the morning the nrst
| bells that called the worshippers To their
matutinal devotions began 10 toll, softly
| at first, but gradually increasing In
volume as the throng OF pilgrims began
| slowly to congregate at the various
| churches. Festivtv and devotion walked
| hand in hand. Throughout the whole
| citv the doors of the sanctuaries were
| thrown wide open. The emancipated
! thousands entered aud knelt In silent
worship before the altars. A score oil
| great organs poured forth a volume oil
| wordless melody, and the grave tones ol
| pas or, rector and priest proclaimed the
| word of the risen Lord.
| Easterl
| For weeks the city had been waiting
| for this. Prayer ana p.nance had occu
| pied the entire energies OF society. Now
the bonds had burst, but society was
| none the less devoted for that. Iu rib
b ms aud fl ,wers it worshipped just a.
devoutly us ducing the forty sombr'
days of Lent. The worldly ant
material often mingle with q
spiritual in devotional minds. And, as
illustrating this propensity. that fairy
like co itrivance called the Easter bon
net may caancs to be condemned. Blu
this should not be too hastily done. Fo
who could be SO uncharitaole as &
ascrib. 60 that lovely ornament with III
glowing ribbons and gay flowers sufiicien
weight to hold down to earta TIT
thoughts of the fair one on VIII )se he II
it nestled as she sat in churcn yrster
day morning.? Who could bslieve tha
that marvel of form and color could sc
operate on her countenance as to indicate
by the unusual expression OF peace aut
complacency written upon III anything
lse than that, while the lady was devou {
she was also human?