Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-07
EASTER FESTIVAL.
IT'S HOLIDAY OBsERvANCEs OF
EARLY AND RURAL ORIGIN.
Cavalier and Dutch Customs suh
Exist in yirginia-A Season oil
Glad Renewal which Makes 'ne
xyorId Better and Happier.
,rorrsspondence Of the DIspatch.)

Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
ALTON. VA, April ~. 1895.
.rr,s 90 easy nov for the heart to be
Az FOR the earth to be green or sky to b'
blue"
The orchards are a-bloom for Easter
The dafYodIls share their glory with the
fragrant hyacinth. and the annunciauor
uly is ready for It's sweet and sacred ser
vire Easter comes as a benedlction &c
the winter. an invocation 10 the spring
and n sweet presence Of summer thrills
us. Eggs. rabbits. and lilies rule ct East
or-,,dc These three emblems OF
the season, rural in themselves seem
% denote that the early Observance OF
tho festival. apart from its religious char
octer was OF rural origin. The gift-glNlne
~ eees comes from an old custom or the
persians. who exchanged eggs at the De-
ginning OF their agricultural year III 'ohei,
OF a renewal OF vernal lie. III iuld
Virginia and throughout the South
Easfer was known as de fust holiday
by the old-time plantation slaves. 1t was
always allowed them by the master ana
mistress. and kept by the happy darkies
with great rejoicing.
YET EXTANT.
MANY Easter customs brought over by
the Cavaliers. or, possibly, by the Dutch
settlers Of the Valley, are yet eXtant
about here Country Easter-eggs are
saily colored by wrapping them IN fow-
cred calico and boiling them until the
colors fade Dyes made Of indigo or OF
the purple peels Of onions are also used,
and eggs fancifully decorated by ctchlngs
drawn with a creased stick, sharpened
to a point, show a delicate tracing OF
the white shells beneath. These home
made productions are as beautiful and
give more real pleasure TO the children OF
a family than the gilded and land-paint-
ed designs in city stores. Farm RS chill
dren make nests OF moss and fill them
with colored eggs. These they hide in
out-of-the-way places; IL the weather is
warm enough, generally about the woods.
At the cry, 1.-THE Easter-rabbit has
come" they all scamper away cor an egg
hunt. Afterward they have glorious egg
fghts-the smaller ends pitted against
each other until one is broken-when the
victor scoops out the others egg and
eats II with much satisfaction. But IT is
not all eggs. There are pies. Easter-pies.
germane to the season. These are small
saucer pies, Of rich paste and custard.
literally besprinkled with currants or
dried cherries.
SOMETHING NEW.
The country girl is not so anxious about
her Easter hat" as the city belle. but
to be lucky something new must be
worn. To this popular superstition an
old writer refers:
Taste Easter / put on my blue
Frock-coat the first time vier new,
Wi yaller buttons all O. brass
That glinted in the sun like glass,
Bekase twas Easter Sunday"
The custom OF observing Easter was
not so general a few years ago as at
present. From being special church
feast it has become a season OF delight
everywhere Even the commercial world
emulates the religious in the warmth OF
its welcome and in preparations for the
great event. 1t is fifty so. When all
nature is a type Of glad renewal, why
should not human hearts respond? II
people would stop sitting (metophorcal-
ly) in the amen corners and quit
wrangling over creeds and dogmas, and
groaning about total depravity and origi-
nal sin and the horrors of death as
sins retribution. and live out in gladness
the lesson of Easter. which is taught US.
the world would be happier and better
resurrection-for the change from the
natural to the spiritual body" We die
a. do the flowers that come again at
Easter-as did Christ. who was the first
fruits" Easter is the crystalization of
this hope expressed. and the festival or
the soul is-as it should be--the highest
OF all its joys.
Special Easter services will be held
al Hebron Sunday. The church will be
prettily decorated. and appropriate sing.
ing rendered by the Misses Goodloe, OF
Alton.
The Ladies' Missionary Society met
ton Of officers: President, Mrs T. w.
Goodloe; Secretary. Mrs. Rushe He'll
frisch; Treasurer, Mrs. Agnes Lane.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Walter Small and Miss Fannie
Morris were married on Monday
Misses Mayme Smith and Mary Shep,
herd McCue are guests at "Redland."
They will leave for Richmond next week.
Mr.. John Neese, OF Nelson. and Miss
Maggie Thomas, OF Waynesboro'. were
married last Tuesday.
Miss Lena Spitzler. OF Staunton, is
visiting at the Alton House.
DR.. Samuel Johnston went to Richmond
Wednesday.
Colonel William Woods, OF Batesvlle,
called to see us Tuesday.
quite a large contingent OF Aftonites
attended Polk Millers performance In
Waynesboro' Thursday night.