Evening star., 1914-04-05
SPIRIT Of EASTERT|ME
PERvAD|NC WASHINGTON
Market Places and Shopping District
Are Scented With Seasonable
Blooms.
Store Windows Bright With Novel
ties Dear to Hearts of the
Youngsters.

Again the spirit of Eastcrtime is per
NadinS the entire country and nowhere
more allurinSly and enticingiy than here
in the National Capital Not that revelry
has rampantly broken loose from the
staid solemnities and devotions Of Lent.
but rather that as the seasonably subdued
Young buds of Washnfton society wend
their way churchward they catch a sniff
of lilies. jonquils. violets, sweet peas and
arbutus. pass shop windows where Easter
novelties are displayed and are daily ap-
praised of plans for post-Lenten social
gayety-not to mention the distraction of
the novelties in Easter millinery.
Washington. the paradise of childhood
lie. is throbbing with the heart-beats of
the thousands of little ones who are plan
ming by day and dreaming by night OF
the bunnies' visit with their Easter eggs
of many hues which the.- i'll fancy see
themselves rolling on the White House
lawns. To supply this big demand for
baskets and their contents the store
windows are showing whole barnyards
and ZOOS in miniature. There are rabbits
of all sorts of material. from chocolate
and cream. through papier-maehe and
fur to plaster of paris casts. They are
in rabbit couchant and rampant atti-
tudes standing guard over nests flied
with vari-colored little eggs.
Lifelike Efges of Chicks.
Little effiges of chicks and ducks are
very lfelike as they brood over sugar
eggs. and the proud pseudo chanticler
can almost be heard to crow the dawn of
the festal season.
And the baskets in which these eggs
and their feathered and furred guardians
are to be carried to make happy eager
childhood are dainty and wonderful
gracefully and uniquely fashioned. There
are the lacey. and beribboned, and hand
painted ones that the big sisters are ex-
pecting to get from some ardent Suitor
and there is the more practical market
basket that is to carry home the Easter
dinner.
Florists are planning to use baskets and
imitation baskets more than ever this
year and have laid in quite a supply of
novelties in this line. ConfectionerS also
plan to let the basket supplant the ac-
custorned bonbon box this season. Some
of the prettiest candy baskets are made
egg-shaped. of tinted straw with huge
bows of ribbons. in the folds of which
nestle chicks and birds and bunnies.
The market place and the shopping dis
trict are already flower scented with sea-
sonable blooms. There are big single vfo-
lets and roses and jonquils. and arbutus
and tulips and sweet peas.
Easter Lilies Abundant.
Washington florists promise that the
most beautiful flowers for many years
can be had this season and that they
will be even cheaper than usual. Easter
lilies are to be abundant. local dealers
say. With real flowers in such profusion
and the price so reasonable there is little
demand for the craftily fashioned arti-
fetal blooms. even for decorations for
childrens parties.
Art shops are showing The only new
thing under the sun. Easter novelties in
dainty cards. prettily Illuminated to con-
vey best wishes of the happy season. The
Easter cards and postcards this year al
ready are on sale by the ton.