The Washington times., 1895-04-15
SOCIETY OUT OF ITS SHE'LL
Easter Sunday Served for an Exhibi-
tion of New Gowns and Bonnets.
From the Churches, as if by Common Con-
sent, Upper Tendon Paraded To and
On Connecticut Avenue.

morning EervIces-such was Easter Sunday
OF 80.
With blue sky. overhead, the scent OF
flowersin the air the parks and reservations
blossomed out for the occasion in dazzling
parterres OF color, the window ledges of the
handsome houses in the West End fairly
rainbows OF color with the massing of
gaudy tulips, hyacinths and daffodils the
faint echoes of splendid music waited from
time to time upon the air as the church doors
swung back and forth TO admit a late conner
or allow some one to pass from the crowded
precincts. Such was yesterday-such was
Easter Sunday in Washington.
The clouds that later in the afternoon
gathered in threatening array and finally
resulted in frequent showers, materially
impairing some of the Easter toilets, were
happily absent in the morning.
Those who attended early services at the
various churches went for the most part
attired IN the same costumes which have
weathered the storms of the winter. The
gay new gowns were donned for the eleven
O'Clock services. A ware that this would be
the case. there was almost as great crowd
churches frequented of fashion, as that
within the walls taking part in the services.
A stranger might have readily supposed
that some great political parade was about
10 take place from the eagerness with which
the lockers onat the passing show of Easter
gowns and bounets, anxiously awaited for
the annual parade to begin.
Lafayette Square seemed To be the TO-
cusing point The benches were filled
throughout the morning, the paths and
winding walks We're well filled with the
stream of people waiting for the churches
To be out. Along the eurbing here and
there were little groups OF spectators,
while underneath the greeny budding
elm trees promenaded the people in twos
and threes, trying TO look as unconcerned
as possible, and oblivious of the fact that
the reason for their presence in that precise
section of the city at that especial time
could have but the one significance OF
seeing and taking part in the Easter
parade.
doors were swung wide for the cOngrega-
ton to pass forth into the streets, the
coachmen and liveried footmen gave them
selves All additional stiffening of the back
bone, the reins were held more faulty in
the expectancy of receiving at any mo-
ment the lookedfor signal from the own
eIs the loiterers along the curbing OF La
the street, while the strolIers in the park
with one accord turned their steps, and
attention toward the stream of church
goers pouring forth from the doorways. p
st. JoDn'S was the first congregation TO
come out and gladden. the eyes of the
lcokers-on, but it was by no means the
most satisfactory in the matter OF new
spring costumes. Here and there only
We're dazzling spurts OF color, or massing
of daring experiments in the gardens of
bloom upon the hats and bonnets. Inter
mingled with these were the same old
gowns and bonnets upon which fashion
able and Questionable alike had been
gazing all through the winter season. In
many cases there was quite as brave an
array OF furs as though fashionable hu-
manity had sailed forth to brave the
winters stronghold.
1t was less than five minutes afterwards
that the sound of st. Matthew's bell an
nounced that the services in that church
had terminated, and the broad stone steps
were alive with people descending to scatter
in all directions after taking part in the
Easter parade. Scarcely had this quota
been added to the crowd before il was
augmented by the congregations from
the New York avenue and Epiphany
Churches As the needle points to the pole,
so with just such unerring dircCtness did
this vast assemblage turn its footsteps
"
met and joined by the worshippers from
the Church of the Covenant.
BY this time the club windows were
taxed to their utmost capacity. There
was not even standing room for the late
chappies who strolled in with the idea
of airing their gorgeous boutounieres with
the backing OF their elders at the club.
Every mothers son OF them wanted to see
the Easter parade. 1t was most truly
case of first come, first served" of
Every fellow for himself and the devil
take the hindermost." Only in this case
the hindermost simply got left-out of
sight.
There were men with hats and without,
men with cigars and cigarettes, with knobby
cane ends in their mouths as shoppers,
but for the most part there were not suffi-
cient number of shoppers by any manner of
means. Or every age, size, and condition
of dudedom, the club windows made the
bravest showing IN their power. Just
where the men all came from was mys-
terry, as there was 10 lack of them on the
streets, both of those who had squandered
their living upon Easter get-ups, as well
as those who had obviously abstained fromso
doing because ofvariouS good and sufficient
reasons to the contrary.
Down Connecticut avenue there ran n
riot of color. Fashion shook its kaleido-
scope over the broad thoroughfare and
color of the rainbow was apparent at some
turn OF the eye, every flower known to
horticulture bloss omed forth from the
headgears. There were marvellous COM
binations of color that were striking, orig
inal, effective, or grotesque, according TO
the skill with which they had been put
together.
There was every shade and hue of green
until st. Patrick's soul must have been de-
" things
respect. Even Ii Hung Chang's yellow
jacket was held in loving embrace in the
Easter parade. There were blues and pinks
enough to have stocked an entire collec
ton of Pompadour relics.
Here and there were flashes of strong
colors, brilliant showing of scarlet that
gave tone to the parade. There was anepi-
demic of flowers upon sthe hats, con-
tagion Of lace and ribbons that swept the
avenue from end to end, metaphorically
speaking.
1t was cbildren's day as well, for the
little ones had fine showing in the
matter of new furbelows, the kinder
garten fashions evincing decided ten
dency to run to blossom pink not only in
the matter of hats and bonnets, but in
the Marseilles coats with large capeS
trimmed with deep ruffles Of handsome
white embroidery.
Taken all in all, it was a day Of jolli
fication and rejoicing, of fine clothes, of
smiles aud greetings, OF blue sky and sun
shine, a typical Easter Sunday in Wash
ington.
Passed Assistant Engineer Stacy Potts
is convalescing from his recent illness, but
will not be a BILE TO resume his duties forso
time.
Lieut. George Med Weeks, u. s. A. has
returned to Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, after a
visit to his parents, Col. and Mrs. George
H. Weeks, in Washington.
Senator and Mrs. Sewell and Miss Sewell
sailed from New York last week for Eu-