Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-25
A GREAT FESTIVAL.
EASTER IS HERE AND ALL RICHMOND
IS READY FOR IT.
How II Will BE Observed-Ths Young
People and Their Presents-spring
Bonncts, Dresses, Etc.


sion right we'll deserving commemoration
by all the people OF the land. Bright
dresses. pretty faces. beautiful music
and. last, but by no means least or
most inexpensive. lovely flowers VIII De
| the most conspicuous elements OF TINS
Easter festival.
From time immemorial this day has
been one which all classes and conditions
in life have observed in hitting ana ap-
| propriate way. Each year mas adu'-
t!onal interest and beauty In this glorious
celebration.
Tho mode OF commemoration here is
briefly stated, the attendance upon churcn
services OF everybody in their new spring
| clothes. These services are, as rule
Characteristic OF the day on which CHRIST
arose from the dead. From nearly all the
,,,i,t,s sermons on the Resurrection and
ifs importance 10 the world are preacheu'
The choirs render bright and joyous
music. indicative OF the gladness 'hat
yeIgna here on earth. Then all youth
comes out IN light and airy costume,
permitting the reflection that the chiii
az winter has gone and that the warm
Sunshine of spring and the fragrance oil
the flowers are here.
! The most elaborate church Observance
of Easter takes place In the Cathohc'
Ep,scopal and Lutheran edihces. wh re
icarcfuIly-prepared and most artlsuc Hu-
steal programmes are also rendered
.
T have always been impressed with the
holiof that there are two distinct phases
Of observance OF Easter, both OF when
are perfectly right and proper. one -
the general church or ceTemOhidl JUST
ancc. and the other sort OF lhuNIuu"'
celebration, In which an-the oid anu ui,o
,,o,,re, the black and the white, the hand
'.,,,,, and tho bomcly. the millionaire ana
tho manner. the foreigner ana the hatlF'
ho,n-toke part. 1t is Of this latter node
% observance that ] intend to tax 10
YOU mostly this morning.
Three questions, very naturally CON
front one concerning this great FESTIVAL,
Thev are: What shall wear I'd Ter
What shall | DO Easter? what shah l
otre Faster" Each interrOgatory has TO
he answered in accordance with SAis'-
ing conditions. ,...,,....
10 toll the truth this Easter business
has almost rackel the brains OF milili'ets
and tailors; put the florists at their WIS
ends. thoroughly demorallzed the matter
and Cantlemen's furnishing goods people,
has had a decidedly depressing erect upon
the minds of the girls, and even the e!ue'y
ladies, and driven the men INTO tenn
porary bankruptcy. But the sehtille"t
must be encouraged.
God in his infinite wisdom failed 10
create a more bueaitful and attractive
object than a Richmond girl as she Is
gotten I'd on Easter morning. She Is "
deed. a precious creature The $S bon
net she wears is thoroughly becoming
and harmonizes perfectly with the rudy
glow kindled in her cheek by the morning
sunlight. Those violets-$iG0 worth-are a
graceful adornment 10 her bright new cos
tune, which fits closely her 1.-the ana
handsome figure. Under such conditions
our maidens are certainly due the distinc-
ton that the divine Sarah Bernhardt gave
them OF being the most beautiful women
on earth.
The coming Of this festival means a
grand aggregatiVe effort on the part OF
men and women to Outshne each other
in personal adornment This year the
styles for both sexes are perfectly be-
wildering. 1t Is almost impossible for one
to agree which is the more tasteful or
desirable. GOrgeOusly trimmed over
skirts. fancifully looped and draped. viii
bc worn to-day by the girls while the
fashionable men will don a new tangled
long-tailed cutaway. with light trousers.
stihly creased. and adhere 10 the Irish
cane and the silk hat or derby
When the question OF dress has been
disposed of-and ! extend my sincere SYM
patty to those who have not settled IL
ere thls-the second conundrum arrives.
Go to church? or coursa. With whom
What church? Woe be unto the man Wto
has more than one girl at Eastertide, for
certainly he cannot take Susan Brown
and Bessie Jones and Jennie Smith "a
the same place OF worshp-or to
different places, for that matter-at the
same time. The coincidence might ruin
| the effect Of a fine sermon upon the en-
tire quartette. l never thought It a good
plan TO have many sweethearts just al
this season of the year, for the simple
reason that a fellow can never explain Ia
the entire satisfaction Of the fair creatures
exactly why ne took one specie fair crea-
ture to church on Easter morning. and
left all the others 10 escort themselves
/ Those who would properly observe this
! natal day if unmarried, should always
guard, against conflict i'm this respect
/ Many young men Will dine with their b. ST
I girls this afterT Don, and to those who
are so fortunate as 10 be invited so 10
/ do. / would say, Accept, by all means y
A good Easter dinner is exceedingly con-
/ ducive to love and happiness, so I've
been told, and while / cannot speak OF
its influence upon love, can give sworn
deposition as TO its effects upon the gene
raj happiness of mankind.
Late in the afternoon q stroll out
| Franklin or Grace would not be in bad
form, and would serve well to show of
! both the new clothes OF ones self and
| ones girl-the girl may belong TO some
( other "one," but that is matter OF no
material consequence un Ter the CIR
cumstances. Married people will aris1
quite early this morl'Ey. Ma ny
will so to mass. and returning home,
linger long over splendid Easter break
fast. This may not be until after the
seven little ones in their new clothes
and with their Easter eggs and fancy
cards. have been gotten off TO Sunday
school, but even then the morning meal
will be the more enjoyable. BY half-past
10 the husbands and wives will lie
ready for church. At ,east, the latter
Will, and few gentle. loving remarks 10
the pater familas VIII cause him TO have
himself properly clad for the day 10y
! the time the last bells announce the hour
for worship. After church there will be
! the two hours In the parlor with the
| company, when Willies toys will be
shown and Susie's knowledge of the
| Catechsm tested. In The afternoon there
will first be the nap. then the stroll, and
! at night the house of worship again.
| This Is the routine form OF keeping
| Easter.
The most intricate OF the three great
questions referred 10 TO solve is the last:
what shall l give Eastern" This has
| doubtless already been settled by about
! 1900 persons in this city. But how?
| WOE be unto the man who has sent his
best girl violets instead OF American
| Beauties or hyacinths instead OF carna-
lions, or a sheet of music instead OF a
kid-bound prayer-book. Sad indeed Is the
fate Of him who sent TO his fair friend
some sweet verses of poetry. when she Is
| devoted TO pretty prose. These iais'
| takes strike a death-iIow 10 a
woman's heart. There have never
been greater vacie5y OF p'Nel-
ties for Easter accessible in Rich
mond than this season. For the past
week Broad street has been an animated
picture of mrth and beauty.
From to 7 o'clock every afternoon
that thoroughfare has been fairly lined
| ...t,h ,.ar,Nla ,.notiy rratty IN aida and cav