Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-31

T AsTER, In It's religious aspect, stands
~ first and above everything the most
~ marvellous, the most astounding, the
most remarkable holiday in the world.
Equally wonderful is the Easter feast,
when viewed from its Industrial aspect
The average person has never stopped to
think, perhaps, that-at a most conservn-
tive estimate-S0, 100000 eggs will be
eaten In the United States next Sunday.
This figure Is low, and it Is more likely
that the consumption will be about 16O,-
100000 This means that it would take
100000 hens 100 days to provide the
eggs necessary for this one days enjoy.
ment
And how do we get these figures?
Easily enough. There are in the United
States about S0,O0o,OO0 people. If every
man, woman and child, therefore, eats
but one egg on the great church holiday,
we have the first figure. If, however,
every man, woman and child eats two,
we get the latter. 1t Is true that there
are chronic dyspeptics who never touch
an egg, and there are babies too young
to enjoy them; but, to counterbalance
this, there are thousands of iron-stom-
ached, ravenously appetlted boys to
whom the consumption Of dozen eggs
on Easter Sunday is a matter of easy
accomplishment. A man with a fond
ness for figures has estimated that If all
the eggs that are to be eaten next Sun
day were rolled into one egg they would
make a mound bigger than an ordinary
mountain and the shell would be large
enough to hold all the population of
ella oP
size of the bird that would be required
to lay such an egg offers enticing possl-
bilities for those mathematically IN
clined.
A prominent preacher who has, in con-
nection with his work, made a thorough
study of economic conditions, is author
fly for the statement that If it were
not for the two great church holidays
Easter and Christmas-50 per cent of
the business enterprises in the United
States would fail within one year. Al
first this statement seems rather strong,
and It must be admitted that 1t cannot be
In any way verified. When, however,
one considers the vast army of men and
women that are employed the world over,
preparing for these two holidays, the
statement seems more reasonable. A
careful canvas among host of the
smaller retail dealers in the city of New
York brought out the admission that in
many instances 1t was the Christmas and
Easter trades that made the existence OF
the stores possible. From Christmas to
Easter business is dull. People are re-
covering from the extra drain on the
pocketbook. caused by the one, and are
70 IN will
be caused by the other. There are hats
TO be trimmed, new spring frocks and
coats to be purchased, and, of course,
eggs for the children. And let 1t be
understood that this latter item Is one
of no small moment. No longer does the
simple easter Bunny" with the coloraJ
egg baked In his side suffice for Sfe
rising generation. AS will be seen by
some Of the illustrations on this page.
the Easter bunny has kept fully abreast
of the times and makes his rounds with
the eggs for the children In an automo-
bile These Easter novelties are in
many cases fully as elaborate as the
Christmas toys and cost as much. The
days when children were satisfied with
a few eggs boiled In coffee to make
them brown or In onion peel TO make
them yellow, are gone foreyer-gone with
the days Of the crlnoline and the old
horse car. Magnificent creations of sugar
aud paste and chocolate have taken their
place, and who can say that II is not for
the best? The world has been growing
and expanding. The people In II have
waxed plentiful and continue to multiply.
Men must work that men may live, and
out OF the supply has grown the demand
for II is fact that 10 holiday trade
a reverse condition exists, and the de-
mand does not create the supply
A crafty baker or confectioner. or