The morning times., 1896-04-06
BOTH IN ldv[LIEsT GlRB
Easter R )bsd Nature and Woman
in Springs Mantle.
DAY WITHOUT ONE FLAW
Churches Were Crowded at Morning
in the Afternoon to See and he
Seen-Many Turned Countryward,
Enticed by the Sunshine.

Light and warmth every minute and
every hour from the time the sun rose
reddening the gilded dome OF the new
library building, until ii set behind the
yellow hills OF the p otomac, were the
twin blessings OF Easter sunday. 1t has
been many "a long season since there has
been day so perfect, so filled with the
suggestion OF the Day the Lord made
as was this lovely festival OF the Tesur-
rection. All day the skies were of the
deepest blue, the atmosphere was clear,
ana there was genial temperature which
set the nerves and the blood tingling with
the assurance that the winter had gone
over the hills ana Eau surrendered at last
TO the coy and gentle spring.
Easter sunday was first OF all in Wash
ington observed frcm the religious points
OF view. Early bells, summoning The de-
vout TO church, were the first outward
manifestations of the celebrate on, this
being confined largely TO the Catholic and
Episcopal congregations. At ami after Z
O'Clock there were crowds on the streets
tripping 10 and from church, not in the
gay garb OF The later Gay, but there were
evidences in the morning dress that spring
and Easter had come in together.
SPRING WAS EVERYWHERE
The grand religious event was the uni
vcrsal service at IL a. m, when all the
bells OF the city rang together, If not in
unison, andit sounded as if the rope pullers
put into their music Just the least bit of
the sacred enthusiasm suggested by the
glorious occasion, so perfect in its inner
and outward aspects.
While there Is yet only n suspicion of
green on the trees, aud spring Is putting
on its garb by Infinitely small degrees, the
other inhabitants OF the earth were more
advanced in tie season. There were no dis
appointments In theday. There were spring
bonnets, spring ribbons, spring sacques,
spring coats aud spring cOlOrs fast and
flecting in symphonic beauty everywhere.
There were spring faces, spring smiles,
spring laughter, spring goods and spring
men, wou-e n aud cliliren IN church and out
OF il, but a stranger would have confessed
that if all the inhabitants or Washington
did not attend cnurch. it must have at least
double its population according 10 the last
census.
One very beautiful feature of the Easter
was observed in the afternoon between
half past four and half past five O'Clock,
when the services were given up 10 tile chill
dren, and from nearly every church door
went pouring into the streets battalions
Of little people making very lively aud
picturesque throng with their church
militant banners and enthusiastic voices
and III Oveme Mt.
AND LASTLY, MUSIC.
Every church i'll which decoration is the
custom was made supremely lovely in
flowers in honor OF the great event in
tended TO be cOnnemorated Gardens aud
hot houses were laid under tribute, altars
were radiant with the first blossoms, tine
first offerings of the season, and prayers
went up in the incense OF devotion and the
perfume and fragrance OF masseS OF flowers
There was music; grand, triumphant,
and beautiful; music that spoke i'll whispers
or in outbursts of melody and harmony
of the Redeemcr's praise; music specially
selected for the day and sung by enlarged
choirs in nearly all the churches. The
sermons were all on the significance of the
resurrection.
In the afternoon advantage was Ia ken of
the first undouhted day of spring TO ma ke
the excursion into the wild woods and the
whole town made its exodus on the cars.
and In family "conveuienCes," into the
inviting suburbs.
Easter has come and gone. The peni-
tential season is over. The season of hot
breezes and cooling drinks is at hand and
there will now he nearly eleven months
OF trial and trlhulatiOn, in which 10 re-
| duce the average mind into condition
of being truly sorry for il all by the
time Lent rolls round again.