The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-07
THE FESTIVAL OF HATS

War may cast it's black shadow over the earth, nations rise and fall, and men die like flies, but still the feminine portion of humanity insists upon the celebration of the Festival of Hats. In this persistence of the feminine passion for adornment the scientist finds hope for the future unless he be of Schopenhauerish ten dencies, when it becomes the source of his despair. Whether women be-, deck themselves in gorgeous millin- cry and fine raiment for their own personal satisfaction and to arouse the enemy of their { sisters, or whether they are, animated by a desire to please the masculine eye, is still a de- batable question. Mere man, in his vanity, is likely to take the latter view, but it is to be noted tthat the matron who has caught her man. is quite as happy in the possession of new Easter hat as is the spinster. The primary instinct which inspires feminine decoration is, however. doubtless due to desire to attract the favorable attention of the opposite sex.
 Easter has religious significance which few women permit themselves to forget, but she is very indepen- dent or very old daughter of Eve who does not find her piety increased by garb appropriate to the season. While Easter is now Christian fes- tival, it is pagan in it's origin and uni-1 versal in its observance, and it's very name is derived from that pagan god- dess who ruled oyer the Spring. In distant lands where Christianity is unknown or scoffed at, the spring festival is celebrated by the fair sex. The scanty costume of the savage fe- male is renewed in the springtime, and doubtless the dusky belle of the jingle finds as much satisfaction in/ donning a new string of beads Ss the elegantly upholstered ladies ofscivil- ization will derive from the display of their costly millinery and luxurious gowns on this Easter Sunday
 While the Easter bonnet is the chief symbol of the festival in modern times, the lily and the egg, are not forgotten. In the ancient days the Saxons worshipped the heather god dess Eastre, whose festival was cele- brated in the spring, and the egg play ed an important part in this obser- vance. The rabbit has also long been associated with Easter, probably be- cause that humble animal has never practiced race suicide, and the spring feast is a recognition of the fecundity of the earth. The significance of the Easter egg also has the same origin.
 Few peoples celebrate Easter With such enthusiasm as the Russians, al- though their festival comes later than ours. owing to the difference in cal endars. Tn peaceful times the Russian Easter continued an entire week. call-> ed Butter Week." and was marked by general feasting and rejoicing. The enthusiasm which characterizes the Russian Easter is probably due to the fact that Russian winters are so rig orous, and spring therefore more eag. erly welcomed. In Russia it is g. time for gifts, and these are All enclosed in packages shaped like an egg. Even motor cars of the largest size have been encased in these gigantic imita- ton egg shells.
 On the side of the Atlantic the god- dess of Easter has her headquarters on Fifth avenue, New York. Multi tudes of people from all over the Uni~ ted States and Canada descend upon the metropolis to take part in the gor- geous "clothes parade" on the mos celebrated of American avenues.