The sun., 1902-03-09
THEIR LENTEN SELF.DENIAL,
EFFECT OF SACRIFICE on ONE
NEW YORK FAMILY.
They We're Keeping Lent strictly by Ab.
staining From Meat and Eating Ter.
rapin Instead and We're Happy untIl
Their Rector Told Them to Give
I'D Pet Vices Then Trouble Game.

rapin Instead and Mere Happy UntIl
Their Rector Told Them To Give
I'D Pet yices-Thcn Trouble Game
A High Church family in New York ia
entertaining a young woman from up the
State. She isn't exactly High Church, but
she is high enough 10 take Lent very serious
ly and moreover show outward and visible
signs of the inward and spiritual grace, IN
observance of fast days and in much churcl-
going.
She had visited her friends before and
had the most frivolous of times, but this
time she did not come for gayety. Shs
wrote that she wanted to DO in New York
for Lenten services and her churchly friends
urged her 10 come TO them.
She Is enjoying the services-two or
three of them n day-but last week shs
confessed TO a friend that she was having
a new phase of Lcnten self-denal thrust
upon her. and that she wished her enter
tainers would relax into mlder asceticism
II not into worldliness,
They are the dearest things imaginable
she said .and they are very serious inthnir
religious life. | think they want 10 do just
the right thing and are willing 70 sarcifics
10 their ideals. but some way OF other they
seem TO need sense OF proportion, and
they are getting awfully mixed in the line
of duty.
1T isn't that they don't feed me we'll
| feel guilty all the time because eat 80
much and enjoy it 20.
They've shut of on meat, you know, for
conscience sake, but they make up for it
by the most delicious sea food fresh fish Of
all kinds prepared in every delcctabls
way, terrapin and lobster and oysters,
vegetable entrees that are enough TO make
your mouth water and eggs in seventy-fve
different styles. each better than the last,
and salads and desserts
Really, you know, it's enough 10 mako
a gourmet of any one, but those dear people
are so conscientious about the meat. Not
for worlds would they eat morsel Of steak,
but terrapin they do enjoy.
I'm not making fun of them They are
honest; but it does look silly, now, doesn't
it? / suppose lots of wealthy New York.
ers are keeping Lent the same way and
accounting il unto themselves for righteous
ness. It's hard on the butcher. but It's
the making of the fish market.
well, as I said. I don't object to the dict.
but | want 10 go home. You see, it's tins
way. Meat isn't the only thing they are
Their rector preached a most impress
sive sermon at the beginning OF Lent. lie
told them that this was a season for self
discipline, for the gaining OF self-control,
for the breaking away from whatever hnbits
had most control upon the will, that II
wasn't enough to give up meat on certain
days and stop going. TO balls. but that one
must, so 10 speak, dump ones pet vices
overheard, and, If there were no vices,
abandon ones pet self-indulgences, in
order 20 prove oneself free from all spir-
itual slavery:
sible sermon, but II went hard with my
friends They took IL to heart and ar
raigned themselves at the bar of conscience
70 find out their darling self-indulgenccs.
"The wife gave up her tea and coffee
which were her staff OF life. The huha,ld
gave up smoking. the dear, sanity old
grandmother couldn't find vice concealed
about her. but she decided she loved her
afternoon nap in an ungodly degree, 80
she gave up that.
-The twins took high counsel They
never are allowed TO eat candy at any time.
but they did have maple syrup with their
bread They cut out the syrup just be-
cause they wanted TO do what grown folks
We're doing.
two, then the strenuous life began TO tell.
The man got grumpy and the woman got
irritable and the dear old lady had an ag-
gregated case Of nerves.
They were awfully noble. You never
control. The husband began calling his
wife NV dear'-you know that My dear
in italics that marks the last stages OF
evaporation.
The wife cried when her hair wouldn't
20 up right. The grandmother couldn't
sleep at night and had hurt feelings when
ever any one SO much as looked at her.
She knew she was a burden and she wished
the good Lord would take her out OF peo-
ples way The children were punished
more often than ever before in their lives.
Il began 70 get nervous myself. IL was
like spending ones days on dynamite
keg. ] expected IL TO blow up any minute.
! was depraved enough TO hope their prin-
ciples would collapse and they would take
70 surreptitious cigars and coffee and maps,
but they are holding out.
breakfasts at that house are simply
unspeakable. The ordinary family break
fast is trying enough, but our special brand
is enough TO send a wooden Indian into
Yesterday one OF the twins was taken
ill-serious stomach disorder. 1t seems
they've been making up for maple syrup
by putting sugar three inches thick on their
bread and butter Tho nurse didn't have
the heart TO deny them-angel children
that they were.
This morning Mr.. Smith rowed about
the mullins and found fault with his vito
about neglecting the children. and she cried
and left the table, and grandma told him
what she thought Of IA man who was IN
sulting to his wife.
Il fled. In the back hall I found tho
cook who had been with them ten years.
She looked wild-eyed
Indade, miss she said,. I'm a good
Catholic and kapln' the fast days accordin'
as the priest tells wurkin winen TO kaPe
thin. And it's fone religious family
this has always been, but do say fort,
miss, II they don't stop givin up, things,
there'll he nothin' lift for me TO do but give
up me job. Shure. III niver last til Easter
Wild thin goin' on loike bruken fiddle
sthrings
Its really appalling. OF course, II only
proves that the habits were bad and ought
10 b. given up-'hat they had too firm
hold. But If I've got TO live in a family.
expect to have them 60 in for reform singly.
not collectively and in family groups.
Don't talk to me about the strenuous
life. Wen all be in a santarium before
Easter "