Evening journal., 1898-07-20
HOT CROSS BUNS.
some of the Reasons Why They Are
Going Out OF Favor A1nong
the Englinh.

who have moved in advanced" church
circles have noted 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
10 indulge In the toothsome dainty, but
the disfavor generally has been tacit
and understood-an unwritten ordi-
nance analogous, perhaps, to that which
leads rltualistic ladies' invariably TO re-
move their gloves in church. Thus one
may scan masses OF modern literature
on Eastertide obseryances and gather
unlimited information on palm
branches, simnels and tansy cakes,
Easter eggs and roast lamb, but never
word on hot cross buns. The anti
quarlan can produce so many curious
facts concerning them, including that
odd belief, which survives in many
parts Of the countryside, that II Will
insure good luck 10 the household to
keep one at least from Good Friday TO
ITS anniversary, that there must surely
be some reason for the omission.
But Il is by no means every profcssed-
~ "high church" person who can OF
viii give more than q vaguely expressed
statement TO the effect that 1--WE have
a feeling against them" In the quest
for information, however, lighted
upon a gentleman who was quite frank
on the subject "Yes," he replied,
"there is q growing objection 10 them
on the ground Of their being luxury,
whereas the due observance OF the day
should favor privation and not in
diligence. We want rather 10 see the
laity following our clergy and the
members of our sisterhoods on that
day, and foregoing even necessarles,
rather than eating what you will al
low Is at least more inviting and tasty
than the everyday bread" This lgaye
n somewhat unexpected turn TO the
conversation. aud in answer to further
questions, ne Continued;
"Good Friday will only be the last
day 10 many of a 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
lis, though a privauon that many Of
the men feel far more than coarse
and scanty food Is gfsing up their TO.
bacco, which scores of them voluntarily
do. II you could see how longingH
they glance at their pipes, not 70 b,
! touched TIL Easter Day has dawned
{ you would grasp how real fast they
! have exercised. assure you there arr
! hundreds Of devoted men and womeT
who will go through the long services
OF the day on no more than bit of dr.
+ bread aud little water" The sugges
e tion had been put forward by soma tha
e The objection 10 the buns lay 10 tn
+ use OF the cross upon them as n WI
garlzing OF the sacred symbol; but thi
e does not appear 10 have any weight
e and il Is as form of selfindulgenc
. alone that they are under condemns
q tion-
q The public, however, does not AZ
J. rear TO at all favor modification Of th
/ flesh In the form Of giving up the bun
r SO long associated with the day. Neve
e have the bakers windows contalnei
d greater plea and business done Il
}. them has been extraordinarily brisk
Questions addressed TO typical retailer
showed that there had been no fallln
of whatever In the orders booked 70
i delivery In time for this morning
breakfast tables. and In the popula
tea shops yesterday afternoon the
=, were In strong demand. More conclt
II sive still wns the testimony Of the mar
"a ager Of one OF the very largest steal
bakeries IN London. which, in ndditio
"a 10 its numerous shops in all district
y has an immensc clientele of private cui
d toners. I'VE note this year." said th
AZ gentleman, "a considerably increase
ls call for buns, and, indeed, we have ha
70 10 work very hard TO meet Il. In fac
~ the orders we have received for deliver
le at customers houses are nearly doub
l. the number that we sent out last Goo
Friday. Whatever extreme people ma
e be urging on the subject, il certainl
IL las had no adverse effect on the gener
G. trade" II may be, perhaps, discoural
s. ing to the anti-bun advocates TO kno
e' this, but the more genial upholder
" uld-fashioned observonces will lear
g. with satisfaction that the custor
nc which Is hardly less venerated an
" Characteristic than the Christmas plui
d. pudding. Is in no immediate danger
he extinction at the bidding OF few
he London Telegraph.
IN The Longevity OF Canned Food.
,e II is only fair 10 state that tinnc
is meat still holds the record for longe