New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
LENT BEGINS TODAY.
Ash "Wednesday Is Unusually Early
This Year.

When the Pilgrim Fathers landed Plymouth
Rock they probably thoght that they were leaving
such heathenish observances as Ash Wednesday,
Lent and Good Friday behind them. To-day al
most every one has TO take some account Of Lent
whether he she keeps it or not. It IS enough to
make the stern founders OF New England turn in
their graves and wish they We're back upon the
degenerate earth so that they might attend their
unworthy descendants, who choose to worship God
according 10 the dictates Of Jheir own Conscience
or 1t may be Of fashion. instead OF in the Puritan
style, with intermnable sermons. barnlke church
and holy days.
This is said to be irreligious age. Indeed,
many assert that religion IS entirely thing Of tho
past. 1t is nevertheless. n fact that many people,
and many descendants Of the Puritans among
them, do keep Lent. To-day and every day during
the next six weeks. In the very heart OF the en-
pire of Mammon, Old Trinity and st. Paus will
be crowded to the doors. and the worshippers Will
be, not women, who often spoken Of the sole
remaining pillar Of the church but for the most
part persons Of the so-called irreligous sex.
Then there is the non-religious observance of
Lent The leisure of the season is welcomed by
many who nothing about its religious sig
nihcance. Some women do all their spring sewing
during the quiet Of those six weeks One young
woman always takes advantage of the season to
give her hair, which is the admiration and envy OF
all her friends course Of treatment Others
utilize the time for the Improvement of their minds,
for which endless opportunities are offered in the
way of lectures and concerts. While the frivolous
find in the change from large TO small entertain
ments pleasant variety and even increased posi-
bilitieS Of enjoyment.
The employment Of the time for philanthroplc
work may be either religious or uOn-reg ious, ana
IN any Lent has been found an excellent
time for those vino really love their fellow man
to extract money and other things from those
who do not.
The LenteE fast in the physical sense IS not en-
b tirely thing OF the past but II few fast to-day
during the ancient season Of humiliation, there
E.e also VINO do not make some change or
diet The faded appetite turns with relief from
substantial dishes of winter to the lighter
ones oc Lent, and the housekeeper welcomes the
new note in the recipes which magazines ana
newspapers publish this time
Lent comes very early this year, and Easter VIII
fail March 81, Inappropriate date, it would
SEEM for the festival Of spring. But She date IS
determined by the moon, and there - 10 help TOT
il. Easter is always the first sunday after IN"
first tull moon after March p. and Jhs moon THIS
year brings the season within ten days OF being
as early 5 Il possibly could be.
The circumstance IS rather veNauous one for
milliners and dressmakers, II viii hurry them
with their spring work, which IS hard enough at
q times. Many women consider it bad form 10
appear IN new clothes Easter Sunday but they
always want TO nave their new clothes ready at
that time, so that they may wear them soon atter,
and the earlgness OF the season IS likely 20 make
little difference to them.
From this it appears that Lent IS ~, 70 means
season OF leisure for everybody. While one
7.clnan IS saying her prayers or orraTgiHE char
ity bazaars. another IS touiag early aud ate 10
make clothes for her 10 blossom forth IN at SssteF