Evening journal., 1898-07-05
HOT CROSS BUNS.
some Of the Reasons why rsey Are.
Coinr Out of Unvor among
the English.


For the past two or three years those
who have moved ia advanced church |
circles have noted a growing disposition
TO depose the time-honored hot cross
pun from its respected position in the
dietary Of Good Friday. Here and there
one has heard of isolated cases in which
schoolboys or girls have been forbidden
TO indulge IN the toothsome dainty, but
the disfavor generally has been taclt
and understood--an unwritten ordi-
nance analogous, perhaps, to that which
leads ritualistlc ladies invariably TO re-
move their gloves in church. Thus one
may scan masses OF modern literature
on Eastertide observances and gather
unlimited information on palm
branches, simnels and tansy cakes,
Easter eggs and roast lamb, but never
n word on hot cross buns. The anti
quarian can produce so many curious
facts concerning them, including that
odd belief, which survives in many
parts of the countryside, that it will
insure good luck to the household to
keep one at least from Good Friday to
hts anniversary, that there must surely
be some reason for the omission.
But It Is by no means every professed-
" "high church" person who can or
win give more than vaguely expressed
statement to the effect that "we have
feeling against them" In the quest
/ for information, however, I lighted
upon gentleman who was quite frank
/ on the subject eyes" he replied,
"there is a growing objection to them
on the ground of their being a luxury,
whereas the due observance OF the day
should favor privation and not iu-
dulgencc. We want rather TO see the
lalty following our clergy and the
members of our sisterhoods on that
day, and foregoing even nccessaries,
rather than eating what you will al
low IS at least more inviting and tasty
than the everyday bread" This gave
o somewhat unexpected turn to the
conversation, and in answer 10 further
questions, ne continued:
"Good Friday will only be the last
day 10 many of prolonged and we'll
kept fast The fare in most Of our
clergy houses and sisterhoods is never
extravagant, but II has been reduced
during Lent TO the most meager linn
It's, though a prlvation that many of
the men feel far more than coarse
and scanty food Is giving up their to-
bacco, which scores of them voluntarily
DO. If you could see how longingly
: they glance at their pipes, not to be
touched till Easter Day has dawned,
you would grasp how real a fast they
have exercised. I assure you there are
hundreds Of devoted men and women
who VIII 60 through the long services
Of the day on no moro than q bit of dry
3 bread and little water" The sugges-
tlon had been put forward by some that
the objection TO the buns lay IN the
use Of the cross upon them as a vul-
: garizing Of the sacred symbol; but this
does not appear TO have any weight
and It is as a form of self-indulgence
alone that they are under condemna.
tion.
= The public, however, does not ap
pear to at all favor modification of the
flesh in the form OF giving up the buns
. so long associated with the day. Never
have the bakers windows contained
' greater piles, and business done in
them has been extraordinarily brisk.
Questions addressed 10 typical retailers
showed that there had been no falling
2 of whatever IN tho orders booked for
8 delivery IN time for this mornings
|. breakfast tables, and in the popular
/. tea shops yesterday afternoon they
u were in strong demand. More conclu
sive still was the testimony Of the man
ager Of one of The very largest steam
4 bakeries in London, which, in addition
}. 10 its numerous shops IN all districts
= has an immense clientele of private Gus
n toners. Eve note this year." said thii
gentleman, "a considerably increase,
call for buns, and, indeed, we have hal
n to work very hard TO meet it. IN fact
= the orders we have received for delivery
e at customers houses are nearly double
l. the number that we sent out last GooC
Friday. Whatever extreme people mal
be urging on the subject, it certainl,
las had no adverse effect on the genera
trade" 1t may be, perhaps, discourag
Eng TO the anti-bun advocates to know
v this, but the more genial upholder o
old-fashioned obserVnnces viii learI
with satisfaction that the custom
z which is hardly less venerated ans
2 characteristic than the Christmas plum
pudding, is in no immediate danger O.
= extinction at the bidding of a few
London Telegraph.