The evening times., 1896-02-19
SOCIETY NOW In SACKCLOTH
Quiet Settles Down Upon the Gay
Set for Forty Days.
of Daughters OF the RevoIu-
tion-Othcr Events

Today being Ash Wednesday society is
atchurch, penitent and weary of 'friyoling"
fourteen hours d day, and ready fora restful
| period OF forty days. Ball gowns, wrecked
! In the late fray, will be retulled. and after
noon-tea bodices revamped for later festiv-
tiles. The niasseuse will be busy smoothing
out pesiifcrous wrinkles that have conc as
protest against late hours, Turkish bath
sws- felG.e each other with sketches
of the season = happenings, aud siestas OF
several hours win aid In restoring freshness
and health.
Bicycling, church services, drives and
sewing circles will employ the leisure time
of tho bellies, while the beaux will flock
together at the club and compare notes.
Lent is a fine developer OF engagements,
ana theman who walks home with the same
girl from church every evening may con-
slider himself under suspicion.
Ash %cinesday Y ina uguratcs in the Roman
Catholic, Protestant Episcopal, Lutheran
and, to some extent, other Protestant
churches, the penitcntial season Of Lent.
The word Lent signifies spring, and is
probably derived from the Anglo-Sa xon
''lenegan," to lengthcn, beca ause at this
tune of the year the ia Us grow longer. The
season Of Lent continues forty days, 10
commemorate the forty days fast OF the
Saviour in the desert.
1Lis season of fasts dates from the ca rliest
times In the history of the Christian Church,
but in modern times there has been grad
ual relaxation of its rigorous observance,
which was formerly general. This latter
tendency Is illustrated by the recent changes
in the regulations for Roman Catholics in
the United States.
A. it was found that the abstinence from
meat ina number Of daysduring the Lenten
season, as well as at other times of the
year, was too great n hardship IN this coun-
try, especially upon workingmen, the arch.
bishops or the United States recommended
the authorities in Rome to modify the ex-
istlng regulations.
This request, after due consideration OF
the reasons assigned. was complied with,
and on March 5, SO {, the Holy See granted
granted an indult for ten years, permitting
working men and their families To use flesh
meat on all the fast days and abstinence
days throughout the year, with the cNcep-
tion of all Fridays, Ash Wednesday, the
Wednesday and Saturday of Holy Week
and the eve OF Christmas. Those who avail
themselves OF this dispensation, however,
are not allowed to eat fish and flesh at the
same meal. and are eXhorted to perform
some voluntary act OF modification.
Mrs Plummer ard Miss o.Kcefe OF No.
1898 street northwest held reception
yesterday afternoon that was largely at
tended.
The guests were Col. j. G. Berrctt, Mrs
Howry, Mrs. L. q. Estes, Mr. Longstrcet,
DR.. and Mrs. W. Sinclair Bowen. Mr. and
Mrs L. ii. Cleveland, Mr.. and Mrs. ". Fl.
Webster, Mr.. and Mrs. ". P McGreal, Mr.
ana Miss Blaine. MIR. and Mrs. j. H Kct-
ncr, Mrs. S. A. Stafford, Miss Stafford.
MIS- William Finley. Mrs. Clement Car
rington McPhaii, Miss Cynthia Cleveland,
Mrs Frances j. O'NcilI, Mr.. Ridgeley Nc
Blair, Mrs. Theodore Burton and Others