The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-31
GAY EASTER DAY.
sAvANNAH's CELEBRATION OF THE
GREAT FESTIVAL.
IN CHURCHES AND STREETS.
WERE THRONES of PEOPLE IN
EASTER DRESS.

Weather Was All That Nature Could
Give-But Days just Before Were
So Rainy That New Costumes Were
Not IA Numerous as UsuaI-Hand-
some Decorations and Elaborate
Music in the Churches-Cardinal
MartineIIf's Celebrations at the
Cathedral Attended by Great Com
ErenatiOns-The Sunday school
Festivals at Night.
Easter fulfilled the hopes Of many
who never fail, when the weather is
clear and warm, to blossom forth in all
the freshness and brightness of spring
clothes. If, as seemed proper, the
few days preceding Easter might have
been taken as criteria of what yester-
days weather would be, there would
have been slight chance for the display
of the f1nery that was in evidence, for
it would probably have been subjected
to a wetting-a fate that it would
have been the last wish of its wearers
TO have befall 1T.
Though the day was beautiful
warm and balmy, bright and clear.
there was yet something lacking about
Easter. Close observers of dress not
ed it. Naught at which the most crit
zeal could cavil was offered by
the weather, but blame was placed up
on that of preceding days for that alb
sent something.
Many handsome dresses and many
beautiful hats were worn with grace
and distinction by fair women, and
the new colors and light tissues, after
the more sober effects and heavy goods
of the winter, gave a tone to the day
that stirred the heart of many an old
bachelor, who, from club window or
veranda, watched the passing show.
Men, too, disported themselves, in the
elegance of the freshest fashions from
their tailors. 1t was urged, how
ever, that the display was not so gem
eral, and there was probably truth in
the assertion.
The church congregations on East
er usually offer the best evidence of
the observance, and the gathered hun
dreds there show the extent to which
they have made the bravery of new
clothing a concomitant of the day.
Though there are a great many, who
love Easter music and Easter sermons,
whom such thought would not move,
there are yet others, who, if they, I'M
like their neighbors, have not the adj
vantage of a new dress or bonnet or
suit, will think twice. and the second
thought will determine them. They
will bide at home. To this may be
attributed the diminution in the con-
gregations that were noted last
Easter.
AS an effect is never causeless,
there was a reason for the failure of
many TO provide themselves with that
fine raiment without which Easter is
not Easter, to many minds. OF course,
and it is scarce worth mentioning,
there were the financial obstacles to be
considered in some cases, but the early
date on which Easter fell was largely
responsible. There is no Joy in pur-
chasing clothes in advance Of the sea-
son, and 1t was hazarded by many that
Easter would show weather so chilling
as to make all glad to cling to winter
vestments. Then, too, the wet days had
followed one another with such de-
pressing regularity that scant hope was
entertained that Easter would mark a
break.
In the churches the early date of
the religious observance was not with
out other effect, for it served to cur
tail the floral decorations. The back
ward season had prevented the ap-
pcarance of blossoms, and it was with
diif1culty that decorations, other than
palms and foliage, were found