The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-27
Fonndatioy b Drama
Found In Easte7.
lMyths and Songs

The foundation OF all drama Is found
( In the early myths and songs which
chronicle the perennial miracle or tito
return OF spring, and the reclothing 5of
the earth In greenery after the bare-
ness and sombreness OF winter. III
Our name Easter Is taken from
Scandinavian mythology from the sagas5
OF the land of tho Morse, where tho
ibaleflrcs OF Bladder were lit at sum
down and kept burning through q
night. Tho festival of the Morse tiivin-9
|5ity, called Ostara or Easter, was spe-s
ciaIly the season OF new birth. whencea
arose the custom Of baptizing at Eas-s
| ter. ts
Easter Fires. 81.
At Easter the hearth-nre was 1slndl.
ed afresh, and in many European coun-;
tries even now the.peasants carry
candies to be lit and Blessed at the!
altar. guarding the flame so that from
1t the home fire might be renewed on
| Easter morn. 81
Easter bonfres were kindled on all
1.-The hills. since witches were banned SO
far as an Easter fire shed It's light.
Around these fires youths and matdena
who hoped for marriage during the
coming year danced three or nine times.
and gave three leaps over the fire.
11aypole dances had their origin IN the
spring rites at Eleusis. in Greece. the
rhyt hmic interlacing circles OF figures
holding bright-colored ribbons. recall-
ing the measured torchlight dance Of
Eleusis, the search from side to side
for lost Persephone.
blessing the Fields.
Where once tho image of DemeteY|
was borne, that Of the Virgin was cars
rled in the middle ages, to bless the
| fields In Southern Europe at Easter
In Italy. Easter week is still dedicat-
| ed to the blessing OF the farms and
country houses, the blossomlng roof
| top, the young expresses. the cisternss|
even tho window boxes and seed.
Easter Egg Hunts.
Legends there are in plenty about
Easter eggs. One of the pretticst &C
counts for the custom Of Easter egg
hunts as being introduced by the
Countess Arno. OF Lindenburg, Ger
many. During her husbands absenc
on one OF the crusades she was forced
to take refuge from his hereditary,
foe, Hanno OF Schrofcncck. in an iso. +
lated mountain valley. irhabltcd onl,
| by a few poor charcoal burners.
Here, with her two children and al
old and trusted servant. Kuno. shd
remained hidden during tho searcl|
which Hanno made for her. When he
husband returned and recovered lli{
TERRITORY, he traced his wife BY
means OF an egg with an inscription
on 1t in her handwriting. She had had
a little Easter festival for tho friendA
OF her children among tina Charcoal
| burners families and. not being api
| to procure fruit, had resortad to VI
device OF colorlng hard-bolled eggs fo
! the fete. One Of these given To
4 youth. Frido1in. was the means Q
Infringing Count Arno back to his wifi
and children.
He said. when he thanked the PEG
pie OF the valley where the countesi
. had found her refuge: Il shall essab
Z lish an annual festival in memory 9
i my w1fe's stay among such good pen
sple. EVERY Easter. eggs of az varie
\ ties OF color, shall be distribute
/ among tho children"
.And II said the countess. will eS
|tend this custom throughout our en-
tire domnions, and order that coloro
A eggs shall be similarly distribute
3ltherc. in memory of my deliverance.
And she keptgher word The custoi
which she Instituted spread abroad
degrees to other countries beside heI
own and lis now a generally observe
feature. of the Easter season. here m
elsewhere. TILE PAssERB'Y.
2 u.s.