Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-11

~ drop Of intoxicating
liquor from the cup Of pleasure. Dancing,
flirting, dining were at their height, and every
body was having such good time, or if not she
was pretending to very successfully. with the
talent for acting cultivated in society women.
When the clock struck IL glancing eyes were
cast down and covered by demure lids, mis-
chievous smiles died away into sanity solem-
nifty. futtering fans were closed and soft white
hands wore properly folded the gay waltz
strains ceased and satin-shod fee. were still: all
society, metaphorically, fell upon its knees.
The chaperons were so glad. They gave sigh
OF blessed relief. gathered together their
charges and bundled them of home The girls
thought proper and solemn thoughts As they
brushed out their silky locks; il q remembrance
OF some very pretty thing Jack said would re-
cur to them it was speedily chased away. Beauty
retired with a blissful knowledge OF the fact
that she might sleep until church time and not
60 to any teas for a week at least.
THE FIRST DAY OF LENT.
She arose the next morning very much re-
frsshed and still entirely decorous and demure
A soemn-colored gown was chosen for the
morning service and . curl or two was tucked
out of sight or course the quiet costume was
rather becoming; it is proper to look Quaker
like but still one need not look ugly. you know.
and then a little less bang on the forehead is
rather pretty il ones brow is like Annie Lau-
ries- There is nothing more fascinating than
pretty girl going demurely 10 church with
the prayer book and hymnal in her daintily
gloved hand. 1t really is more attractive than
white gauze and q Strauss waltz, but. of course.
no pious minded and properly brought up dam
sci is thinking of such things at such time.
Dear no. Her mind lie entirely absorbed in
thoughts Of sackcloth and ashes.
If she happens to meet Jack and bushes .
little and IL Jack happens to be gong to ner
church, it is not her fault but intervention
OF Providence, and as such she should accept il,
and she docs SO with commendable grace. Nor
is ii her fault that one has to kneel in the pews
of course it is q rather taking position and
graceful. but then one must do il. YOU know,
and if ones voice sounds sweet when respond
ing to the psalms. it cannot be helped; one
must make the responses at all costs. Now, il
she is alone the constant genufections are very
trying, and by the end OF the litany she is apt
to feel little bit faint. Just enough to neces-
state leaving during The third hymn. OF
course L. is too bad. but it would never do TO
cndanger her health in any cause. however
good. But when Jack is there it must be his
presence that makes her feel stronger; there is
come reason, anyway, which makes her sit
through the sermon then and look very atten-
tive and devout. however she NAV feel, during
a long drawn-out discourse on the vanities Of
this world.
The world is vain, there is no doubt about
sAat Dus Bill SuS 40 lOIu VI lt III u WAY
though she should not be in Len.-and to hear
1t attacked and back bitten Just when it has
gone into retirement aud can't defend itself
makes the sweet dansel cross; yes, it is a very
wrong state of mind, but she can't help il.
Nothing besrays what is passing in her mind,
unless 1t Is q rather becoming Hush. but she is
really doubling if the clergyman means and
lives up to all he preacnos Some wicked spirit
whispers that he does not and her calm Is COM
pletely gone. Then the plate comes around
and she lays in her dollar with just the least
little sigh as shs thinks of the box Of can
dies it would have bought, but she has sworn
off candy and drives the thought away. 1t
certainly is better to send spiritual consolation
to the Hottentots than to eat chocolate creams
and yet-but there must DO land vet. "
1t ia very sad fact, but it is, alas fact that
the spirit OF the fair faster 10 not calm as
when sine entered the church, but the walk
home with Jack, and possibly a stroll in the
park on the way, restores her equanimi.y. and
for the req: Of the day she can res. on q many
piliowed lounge and read light novels. She is
very apt to make up her mind before Lent that
she Will take up fomo course Of study, Senskrit,
astronomy CT sons thing Disc with a nice long
name, to while the hours away and improve her
mind, but somcway the time goes on wings
without the aid Of dead languages OF star gaz-
ing, and she comes to the conclusion that her
mind docs not need improving, anyway Jack
SAYS SO and he ought to know.
Perhaps she is going to make pink cambria
sunbonnets for the heather. but she discovers
that her ball gowns need SO much mending and
sewing hurts her eyes. Really it does. No
one should accuse her OF being frivolous, for
indeed she is not, but mamma thinks she needs
rest after the seasons rush, and of course she
must obey her parents. Going out to four or
five informal dinners a week is not hard work.
even though they do not differ essentially from
those given before Ash Wednesday, except that
the invitations written in the first instead Of
the third perron.
She has a good time, yes, OF course. but
surely no ono can blame her for that. She did
not invite the very charming fellow who sits
beside her and locks all sorts Of swee: things,
whether he says them or not, and il she is sorry
when 1t is timo to go, why to DO sorry 10 the
proper state Of mind for Lent Card parties
she considers a salutary chastisement OF the
spirit; no one can accuse card parties Of being
pleasure or giddy. She really only gees to
them because it is a seemly modification Of the
desh. not because he will be there, no, truly.
Some cynics have remarked that tho '.swcIl''
| candy shop is quito as full of msidens during
Lent as il was before; but don't believe it can
be, il il Is 1t is susceptible Of explanation
l asked q ssleswoman in one OF the shops the
other day, and she said that there are really as
many young lady customers during the season
of self-denial any other time, but that they
are careful to state they are buying the sweets
for their little sisters and brothers. How pretty
and thoughtful to think of the little dears. 1t
ia beautifully Christian, and 1. cannot be OK
pected that the tots can keep Lent at their age.
There is no time like it for doing cne's spring
shopping and paying of calls on persons whose
acquaintance is rather a bore than otherwise
but with whom cardboards must be exchanged
II have paid off twenty-eight leftover visits
this afternoon and I'm nearly dead, not to mon.
ton being cross a bear. Johnny, go away,
you are the most e1asperatins child that ever
lived, !" said girl the other day: and thought
but mover mind what 1 thought, 1 am given
to having too advanced views, tho same damsel
SAYS.
/ like to know what nv friends are doing
and stop in to see sometimes; once in q while
l am surprised; was tho other day. Keeping
Lent, oh! dear, Yes. Ny! we IRE SO busy. Why,
would you believe it? Sarah has not been
dressed all day because she was interested in
her embroidery and our beds have not been
mads for almost a week. You sec. / am making
three gowns, Sarah is doing some doylies and
Kate is taking music lessons again. Oh! We are
SO tired"
As for the fasting that the world does, 1t does
not no.iceably reduce its weight. In fact this
II the only time, so several housewives have
told me, that they get to attend to their house
hold duties and ~ make dainty dishes, SO the
family fares better than usual
Said man to me the other day: MY way Of
keeping Lent is the best and easiest after all I
don't go to church, no; nor do fast; church
and fasting put me in a temper. which ia wrong.
! SIMPLY stay abed half an hour later than
usual every morning and mediate with closed
eyes. l find it does me great deal Of good"