New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
AN EAST SIDE EASTER.
FIRST COMMUNION. WITH ITS SOLEMN
AND DELIGHTFUL ACCOMPANIMENT.


AND DELIGHTFUL ACCOMPANIMENT.
Easter flowers and favors, silver bonbonnieres.
jswelled mcdaliions. abloom with artists Iances-
these for Fifth-aye and for dweers IN spacious
uptown homes but the squares and alleys OF iowiier
quarters blossom for Easter too and during the last
two weeks the pulse OF the East Side has beat high
In anticipation Of the spring festival. wnether tho
eventful morning dawns bright and baimy or over.
cast with threatening clouds. the young candidate
for communion dons her robes Of white ana steps
forth daintily with sppered feet her thin o9apeHes
nutterlng In the breeze.
To realize the extent Of the observance OF Easter
among the foreign element, one has only 10 WISH the
big shops OF the lower East Side and see the ple
OF ready-made confirmation gowns and accessories
being displayed to the throng.ng shoppers One DOL
lar and a quar.er WI for the humb.est can
dds,e a gown of coarse white lawn. duplicating the
pufs and tucks OF its preentious rivals and az 10
slippers gloves silk stockings. rosaries' prayer.
books lace handkerchiefs. wreaths and veis. the
quantity and quality are bewilderins.
II is interesting. too. to watch the FAMILY groups
making these significant purchases. the enthusiastic
wearers-to-be frankly conscious OF their new-found
Importance. their mothers elder sisters ana o'hes
advisers IN consultation with them as TO styles ard
values.
On Tuesday OF last week a certain bright-cheeked
lass of thirteen or fourteen was all a'quiver with
excitement over choosing the cut and material OF
proved woman with her was her mother, upon
hosa ,.hors as washer-wonan the family income
depended. ~
THE white cashmere is fine and will wash Ike
cotton" il the comment relative - a lace'trimmed
gown held UP for approval. The women speak In
their native Italian, but the girl decides eagerly In
English that she likes the dotted SWISS win 10
sul.-pufed sleeves and ACE insertion
II should like TO take the china silk. declares
the mother but SIT is too much, with all the other
things TO get.
An assortment OF wreaths. formed OF orange
blossoms and lilies OF the valley. with little green
among the flowers. is displayed for Inspection aad
the salesgirl asks If the buyer Will take the brooch
and earrings, too. for these flower ornaments come
with the set Al are secured. and the party be-
comes Involved in doubt about the veil. whether 10
get the ordinary two yards and a quarter OF pain
white net, have a bordered one OF interviewer
pattern The latter is selected. after IL has been
tried on glossy curls OF the candidate and
at the next counter gloves are looked at We have
not another pair OF white Isle, misses Size" they
are told. white six gloves are bought. and
geamng rosary o: mother-of-pear costing u
stockings and slippers. the latter Of lustrous white
sat!n with festive rosette and g.itterng buckle
on me toe. Then rrayer-0ook Is the subject
OF ieraton. the friend conhdes the secret that
cross that is going 10 be gwen 10 the young COM
/, is wh..e selecting the slippers that the italian
gri is asked whether It would be best get those
OF white xii rather than satin, better suited to
resist the dirt OF the pavement But she will ride
that day." says the mother proudly, and one mag
ines TIE important pageant that will start from that
East Side tenement on Easter morning.
Among the German Lutherans confirmation takes
place often on Pam Sunday. sometimes on the Sun
day after Easter. Plans resorted 10 in order 10
avoid the crowds that Invade the churches on such
oocas.ons-crcwds composed OF the connections and
weli-wishers OF the candidates. In many a German
Lutheran home during the last days Of Lent
glmpses might have been had OF white muslin EN-
broidery and ribbon in close 1uxtapositon with the
honey adjuncts OF domestic life. The Germans are
thrifty and make their garments at home.
MY children have been looking for presents and
surprises every morning for TWO weeks, says the
house-mother of such a home Il put one or two
little toys about the room purpose some time ago.
and they thought when they found them that the
Easter hare had brought them. and have been hunt
ing for others since In her Closet rabbits.
l.fe size with wicker hampers on their backs hlled
with sNeetmeats, ard variety OF fancy eggs
b.azonei with notices. TO be hidden in nests for the
moss and straw al ready 10 make the nests" says
the mother These boxes hold gifts for my eldest
boy and cir, My daughter confirmed last
year, and in the afternoon all her friends called, and
We served them with cake and sweetmeats. She
got number OF confirmation presents. too"
In the higher circles CIR first communion is. In
a measure token Of her coming out In society.
In the humber circles all who Interested either
in her or her family. feel In duty bound 10 offer
their congratulations, and bring such gifts suit
their circumstances. People who extremely
poor really AFFORD the outlay for these cere-
monies. but they regard them as necessities that
must he secured. even at the cost OF deprivatons
IN other departments OF their little economy \ girl
Is supposed the occasion OF her confirmation
never 10 wear a single article that has been pre-
viousy worn. !, is the beginning OF new life. and
is looked upon the most important day OF her
existence, rot excepting her marriage day.