The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-18
EASTER EGGS.
They Date Back TO Ancient TiAes'
How to Decorate Them.

TDGy D0Ie BECK 10 aucieat. AA-s
How to Decorate Them.
All the traditions connected with the
Easter g. its decoration. cooking ano
eating. are. Of course. decidedly old
world. and get there is some myth among
the legends Of the Inca Indians when
tells Of n magic cgg and how It may De
found In some mysterious spot. and OF LUZ
wonderful power. Whether or not this Is
one Of the superstitions OF the far east
which Nance Capac brought with him
from the other side OF the Pacific is alto
gcther unknown. hnt certain il is that IN
Asia. Africa and Europe fcasts were kept
In most ancient times when the e:s play
cd q prominent part. The Jews used eggs
in their feast Of the Passover long before
the coming Of Christ. In Persia c"!"rcd
eggs are presented ut the celebration al
the solar New Years. IN extremely an
Gent custom with this people.
From Germany comes the singular con-
uect:on Of a rabbit with the Easter eggs.
Il Is believed that this little animal steals
into the house when all Is quiet and hides
q store Of pretty eggs in most impossible
places, giving the children, who must
search for them, a great deal OF trouble
and excitement in finding them. The
house mother prepares by procuring q
quantity Of eggs and colors them herself
by wrapping them In colorcd calicoes,
some plain and some figured.
To the country boy or girl Of America
Easter or "Paas." in rural %vernucular. re-
solves itself first and foremost into q con.
test to see who can accumulate the
greatest store Of 6 and. secondly. who
can eat the most. For weeks before Eas-
ter the hens are the recipients Of marked
and unremitted attention. Their daily
habits are closely scrutinized. and the
Observation-Disclosures" that announces
4 new contribution T. the food supply OF
the country Is the signal for a rush on
the part Of the children to obtain the
coveted treasure.
Each child has long before this selected
q hiding place in the fragrant haymow.
and thither In secrecy the lucky finder
bears each new addition. Then when
Easter morning dawns the boarded con-
tents are all brought forth, and proud In
deed Is the lucky boy or girl whose
"Paas" outnumbcrs his fellows. Then the
Easter breakfast! Boiled or fried. with
juicy. pinky ham, egg after egg disap-
pears until "the wonder grows how one
small" stomach can hold the wealth Of
eggs committed to Its care. At Sunday
school Easter Sunday In all the hamlcts
of the state the story Of the resurrection.
It II safe to say. will be o~vershadowed In
many a small boys mind BY the more
present question. "How many eggs did
you have for "Paasr"
In the simpler forms the eggs are
swiftly colored In rainbow hues with
aniline dyes. then daintily etched with q
SHARP pointed knife. or they are coated
with metallic paints. or they are frosted
With diamond dust. For decorating BY
whatever method the eggs are either hard
boiled or the contents are blown out BY
; means Of a tiny hole at either end and
| the eggs are then finished with narrow
ribbons for q hanging.
An exquisite greeting Is this bit OF ma
| lures porcelain when transformed into q
vase and filed with violets. The support
| for the vase Is made of three pieces Of
| bronzed wire. each three inches long.
| twisted together in the form Of a tripod.
To make, a vase. carefully break of the
smaller end Of the shell. Leave the edges
Jagged and gid them heavily. Decorate