The times., 1901-03-31

tice among the Christians Of Mesopotamia
on Easter Sunday, and forty days after
ward, during which time their children
buy themselves as many eggs as they
can and stain them with a red color in
, memory Of the blood of Christ Some
tinge them also, with green and yellow
these eggs being sold in the markets. The
sport consists, as IN this country, IN
striking the eggs one against another, and
the egg that first breaks is won by the
owner Of the egg that struck 1t. lnime-
diately another egg is pitted against the
winning egg, and so they go on till the
last remaining egg wins ali the others.
Father CARMEL. in his History of Gus
toms tells as that during Easter and
the following days hard eggs. painted of
different Colors. but principally red. are
the ordinary food of the season. In Italy,
Spain. and Provence, says he, where al
most every ancient superstition is retain
ed, there are in the public places certain
sports with eggs. These he Is inclined to
attribute. originally 10 the Jews or the
Pagans. for he observes they were com
mon 10 both. The Jewish wives, at the
Feast Of the Passover, upon table pre-
pared for that purpose, place hard eggs.
the symbol Of a bird called ZiZ, concern
ing which the Rabbis have many tabu-
l0us accounts.
In a prayer written by Pope Paul V
for the use Of England, Ireland, and
Scotland the following passage occurs:
Bless. O Lord. we beseech thee. this
thy creature Of eggs, that il may become
a wholesome sHstendnce to thy faithful
on account OF the resurrection OF our
Lord" A rare and curious tract Of the
year 1914 is entitled. To Sion $ Lovers,
Being q Golden Egg TO Avoid Infection
Eggs were evidently cheaper ~ this
season Of the year in the reign of Ed
ward ! Of England than that OF his pres
ent successor, judging from the follow
ing item in the accounts of Easter Sun
day, taken from the Roll of the eX-
penses Of the household Of IS, Edw. p
-Four hundred and a half Of eggs. Is
pence. The purpose of the King in
ordering so many eggs on this day was
TO have them stained or covered with
gold leaf and distributed to the members
Of the royal household.
In Anglesey, North Wales. the children
go from house to house from Monday
until Saturday in Easter week. announc-
ing their presence by means of a Clapper
SO that the door may be opened TO them.
II no eggs be In the house the youngsters
are glad to receive compensatlng coppers.
This custom prevailed formerly not only
all over Wales but also in many portions
Of England and Scotland. At Wimslow
the following rhyme was used.
Please Mr.. Smith,
Please give US Easter egg.
" sou do not give one,
Your hen shall lay on added one,
Your cock shall lay stone
IN the Northumberland County. ia the
north Of England. when man asks
woman for an egg on Easter Monday, and
is refused. he takes OFF her boots until
sHe pays a penalty. If man refuses an
egg at the request Of woman, she
snatches away his cap, and will not re-
store it until he pays a money-forfeit.
The Use of artificial eggs made OF sugar
or hiigrcc and enclosing quantities of
bonbons, pictures, etc, has been eucroach-
ing for the past half century upon the
true Easter egg, and the time may come
when the symbolism Of the former as
old as recorded history. shall have vir-
taally passed away In this country