davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

origin is pagan and is closely CON
nected with the idea of regeneration
which is closely allied with thoughts
of fruitful spring.
Curious Celebrations
Curious celebrations of Easter are
held even in our own country when
the Peaitent Brothers, tribe OF New
Mexico Spanish Indians have sing
ular service of self fagellatton during
Holy Week, which eliminates in the
flesh and blood crucifxion of man
who Is supposed to represent the Re-
deemer There has been little written
Of this, due to the fact that It is very
difficult for white man to get into
their reservation at that time and stlll
more difficult to obtain photogra phs
Of the ceremony. yet this was accom-
pIshed several years ago. The Peni'
tents as they call themselves. belong
to an order which was founded three
hundred years ago. and at the time of
its inception had nothing OF the
Scourge idea about II. Gradually. how
ever, 1t developed into fanaticism,
During Lent these people stick cactus
needles into their bare flesh and beat
themselves with thongs. The great
day of penance occurs on Good Fri.
day. when the Procession OF the Cross
takes place. About twenty-five OF the
brothers" led by three men who are
usually bleeding front their self-!nfiict.
, ed wounds and bearing crosses, come
into the little adobe town. The crosses
are heavy and the men often fall be-
meath them. They chant in weak
voices as they walk. There seem to
be a strange reverence among the PEG
pie during the procession, and fnaliy
the Golgotha Is reached. Here tht
man representing Christ is said to be
actually cruciHed and buried. Wheth
er this has taken place since the veal
nineteen hundred is not known, bu
at one time their order was allowed
to practice Its rites, and the member,
Of the order took good care that Wis
| itors or officials were tabooed.
Down in Mexico City they have an
other curious custom-that OF the
burning In efflgy Of Judas Iscariot
This carsmonv takes place at Eastel
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

festivals OF the Church. The first
Christians were gathered from me
Jewish Church and naturally kept
their festival. Under such conditions
it is easy to understand why the Pass
over should blend into the new cele'
brat.on. Thoughts of Christ as. the
Pascal Lamb. the hrst fruits OF the
dead. enobled the Passover and us
transition into the later Christian feast
Of Easter by a natural evolution. AL
the Christians were not of Jewish de-
scent. and with those Of Gentle origin
there was some difference about the
time of the celebration. With their
thought OF Christ as the true Pascal
Lamb the Jewish Christians deter
mined that the end OF the fast would
coincide with the Jewish feast on the
fourteenth day OF the Moon Mt even
ing and the Easter festival would fol-
low. Thus 1t would seem that In those
days Easter Day was by no means
likely to fall on Sunday. With the
GENTLE Christians, however. there was
a determination to identify the Resur-
rection festival with the first day of
tho week and to commemorate the
Crucifxion on the preceding Friday,
and this was ruled TO be tina case
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

Irrespective of the day OF the month.
Thus in the early days of Christianity
two Easter Days occurred the same
year--the one of the Jewish Chris
tians commemorating the fourteenth
day of the Moon. and those who Kept
the Sunday following the fourteenth
day of the Pascal moon.
Date Set BY Moon
Before the middle of the second
century was reached the date of the
festival was changed. and after several
conferences between the Pope ana
Church officials it was decreed that
Easter should fall on the first Sunday
after the full Moon which happens
upon or next after the twenty-frss OF
March. This makes Easter come as
early as March 22nd or as late az
April 25th.
On several occasions the Jewish
Passover and the Christian Easter
have occurred at the same time---the
most recent In 1908. This will take
place again in 1922. 1927. and then
not until 1881.
In the early Church Easter was
one Of the special days of baptism.
The faithful greeted each other with
tho kiss OF peace and the salution.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

and is a public performance. r."
years ago they also burned his wites
although where they learned thas
Judas had a wife cannot be asceF.
tanned.
Celebrated With Pomp
Easter is celebrated with the great
est ceremony in Catholic countTtess
especially in the cities OF Rome, ltaiy
and Seville. Spain, where the enHsTo
Holy Week is given over TO Cnnreh
professions and to scenes or the lsaS-@
sion of Christ. Both these cities are
crowded with tourists who pay taoa.
lous hotel rates In order to be present
at the ceremonies.
IN Seville the entire Holy Week
given over 10 street professions VIII
huge silver figures of Christ ana -
Virgin are borne through the streeA
by black robed men. Y. IA sas
In Jerusalem the Easter celebfA@
ton centers around the Church Of thos
Holy Sepulcher. One of the customs
is for the entire congregation to enter
the church on their knees. On Easfaf
eve the Miracle of the Holy Fire mafkS1
the creates. day of the year. ,hIssn
platter Of fire Is carried about se0s
streets and Is supposed to be sent froals
heaven and to perform the miracle rs
not burning a human being. ofts0
from one hundred to five thonsn~$s
dollars are paid by wealthy pecps
who are i'll and cannot come to churena
to have II carried to their home.
In Palestine there is service. ~;
Guiding the Lords Supper, celepraie08
at midnight on Easter eve. after whieMl
the people go home and sleep unsiIs
Easter morning when they havs M
grand feast.
/ In Russia on Easter Day there y fhSs
blessing OF the waters. Wherever tnes9;
is a river near the town or city fa1s
bishops or priests Of the Greek Chufc&s
hold a service during which the wAtsks
IS blessed for the coming year.
Thus. beginning as festivAt
spring in the Dark Ages Easter a.
minds of the people OF today =
lligious holiday. grave and sacr6d
commemorating the crucihxioss IN
Christ.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

Christ is risen." to which the re
Spouse was, He IS risen indeed" This
custom is still kept up in Russia. In
the Catholic Church the festivities
really begin on the preceding morning
with the mass OF Holy Saturday IN
which the short vespers of Easter are
included---a trace Of the times OF
primitive severity when the mass for
that day was celebrated in the even.
ing.
The Hare And Egg Pagan
Many of the customs practiced al
he Easter season have no connection
whatever with the religious and are
for the most part remnants of the
pagan celebration. Few people who
purchase the inevitable rabbit shown
in the shop window know that the lit
tie figure is made to represent a hare
and not a rabbit and that IL has moth
ing to do with the celebration OF our
modern Faster, but is connected with
the worship Of the Moon in the spring.
Rabbits are always born blind while
hares come into the world with eyes
wide open. The full Moon is supposed
to be wide-open watcher, and those
find that the Egyptian word for hare
and their word tor open or opener
are Identical. Thus the hare Is con
nected with the thought OF the open
ing of the year and the spring. The
hare Is used MS the symbol OF spring
in many old Japanese and Chinese pic
lures. Among the folk lore of heather
lands is one story in which Buddha
finds the people starving and turned
himself into a hare In order that his
followers might have food and later
went to the moon. where he has since
lived. and the hare Is symbol for the
orb OF night.
The far famed Easter egg has itt
origin farther back than the Christian
Church extends and has been common
! with tina Jewish Church as well. III
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

IN the situation? We had promised
the Allies that by July, 1918, we would
have In France 500. 900 men. AT that
date we had on foreign soil over two
million men. and had promised four
million by July. 1919.
1t is true that only comparatively
small number Of these two million
actually took part in the struggle. but
il was the fact that they were avail
able that made possible the great Of
fensive OF July, 1918, which was never
relaxed until the white flag of German
surrender was floating on the breeze.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21
The Mixture of Paganism and Religion In the Easter
Customs of Today The Rebirth of Spring.
Copyright 1919 The International Syndicate


the Stone Age probably worshipped
in some manner. This period of the
year meant the return of plenty, 1t
was the time when Nature caused the
trees to bud and the flowers to bloom,
In England and the American col
onies until the year 1752 the year be-
gan on March 25th, and so far as
Great Britain and the Colonies were
concerned 1t was not until that year
that Easter was observed on the date
that had been set for il by the Cath
Ole Church
The spring worship In the early
times was a mysterious NEUROLOGICAL
symbolism. The spring moons were
noted for the time TO plant crops. SO.
we find Moon worshippers and Sun
worshippers at all times turned toward
the East. 1t seems difficult to get
away from the realms of mythology
and call 1t history. but in this way we
may get nearer to what Easter means
to us. Among the modern Latins the
spring festival Is known as the PasQue.
Jewish Passover
Then we ind the origin of the Jew
ish--the passing over of the Destroy
ing Angel, when he laid low the an
Gent enemies of the Egyptians. BY
Biblical authority 1t is usually called
the Passover.
When the Pascal festival was kept
by the early Christian Church there
Is no trace Of the Easter festival being
celebrated In the New Testament.
neither do any of the Apostles refer
to the keeping of the feast. which la
ter became the mnst solemn Of all
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

And what brought that naughty foe
a foe that still had an enormous hSht-
ing force at it's command and still oc-
cupled invaded soil--to such an igno-
BILE end?
Not only the bayonets of our gallant
bows and those of the allied nations.
but the knowledge possessed by the
German leaders that behind the TWO
million men was another two million
and behind them as many million a.
might be needed. The knowledge also
that whereas only one battery OK
American made field artillery was ever
in action there was on the way to the
front a continuous stream Of American
made guns, shells, airplanes. tanks and
other engines of war such as woula
have annihilated the German Army
had II dared to continue the struggle.
And II is this stream OF men, OK
guns. OF ships and munitions. tnat
broke the spirit of the German STAN
and brought the war to glorious end
n wear before we had dared TO hope
for. that Is now being paid for ana
which makes necessary the victory
Liberty Loan"
We Must Not Fail
| Is 1t a large thing to ask that the
| neople of the United States. who have
already loaned their government over
eighteen billion dollars. should once
again unite to pay the cost OF making
the world free? They were united be-
hind our President when he declared
for force without stint" and this force
has Been applied, applied in such fun
measure as to save tens and perhaps
hundreds of thousands of young Amer
lean lives which would have been losf
had the contest lasted another year.
Are we to count our dollars against
the blood of our manhood, rate OF
interest against gold service star.
some sacrifice of pleasure against the
, grief of Americas womanhood?
Let America answer
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21


~ASTER, like Christmas, comes
down to us imbedded in
strange and mysterious confusion
MOI Pagan rites. Jewish ceremonies
md Christian teachings. and 1t is din
cuir for those who desire TO ascertain
how and when 1t came to be cele-
brated to determine its beginning and
Is true origin. Fortunately. the mod
eru. Easter has been denuded of
great deal of the uncertainty of tbs
real meaning, and as We have II to-
day 1t stands not only as an essential
~ Christian festival. but the principal
feast in the Church calendar.
ft must be understood that CEN
turies before the Christian Church
Tas founded there were men and
women who celebrated at this season
Of the year n feast that was very near
~ like our Easter. These were the
Habylonians. Phoenicians and the
.ssyrians
Easter. we are informed. was de-
rived from the Anglo-Saxon "Eastre"
"a goddess Of the East. whose fes-
ivai. was held in the spring Of the
year. Then we have the high Ger
nan "Ostra." and the Teuton!c Aus
tro.'', who were the Goddesses of
.pring as well.
All these worships of pagan times
seem to lead one to festival in honor
OF spring and Is more remote than
any other feast. That II has always
been sort Of religious festival OBJ
served by man seems indisputabie. Its
modern significance Is. of course. quite
another thing. and yet there may be
t-~--. liksress. Ever the men of
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21
Although the Great War Is
Over, and Victory Is Ours,
his Our Patriotic Duty To
Puffhe Fifth Loan OverAs
We Did the Others With
a Biz DISSATISFACTION.
BY LEWIS b. FRANKLIN

L. f-R since the Liberty Ben AAl 81
Nproclaimed our independence
yhave the people OF the United
y - Estates brought TO bear on any
Undertaking such united spirit as has
been evidenced in our fight for the
freedom OF the world. Even during
our war for independence the number
Of Torys was not inconsiderable and
tho wretched support given 10 the ar
mics OF Washington by the Congress
and the people is evidenced by the
horrible winter at Valley Forge. where
our troops, ragged. freezing and almost
starved were only upheld by the in
domlnable spirit OF their. Chief and
heir devotion TO their newly born
country.
In the war of 1912 1t was our navy
only that saved us from defeat and
disgrace. Again in 1898 our triumph
over a weak nation was dulled by the
knowledge OF thousands of lives lost
through mismanagement and general
incompetence. That was a little war
fought by those in power and not by
he people.
\ Nation With But a Single Thought
But since the sixth OF April. 1917.
what a change in spirit. What union
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

flags are flying. the cannon booming
and the soldiers marching and fighting.
but patriotism in the easy times OF
peace is different matter. but hardly
less important, and the easy times OF
peace are not yet here. Most OF ths
army that crossed the ocean 10 battle
for humanity is still on foreign soil
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

the JOY of victory and peace.
Shall all this be lost? Shall Amer.
lea once again make a god of mann
mon? Shall we forget those new found
ties of humanity, those friendships
based on mutual service? OF what
advantage this awful warfare. this sac
rifce OF blood and treasure If ii Is not
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

and the work of those of us who stayed
behind is not yet finished. The victory
has been won but only the cost in
blood has been fully paid, There is
still TO complete the cost in treasure
II was easy to lend while the issue
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

TO create in mankind a new idea Of
a new conception of the
glory OF service. not only in time of
war, but also in time OF peace?
Patriotism
Patriotism is not hard when the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-21

was uncertain, while the dark clouds
Of defeat were lowering over the Allied
forces. but now that the glorious sun
Of victory and peace shines in heaven
here is a feeling that someone else
should pay for the warmth and happi-
ness which II dispenses and which we
enjoy
What Turned The Tide
Only a few months ago few could be
found so optimistic as to predict that
this sun would be shining before the
autumn OF 1919. And what was 4
that brought this unexpected change
Evening star., 1919-01-25
WIN. G. JOHNSON, Attorney.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DIS
trict Of Columbia.-Lewis Z. Smoot. COM
plainAnt VI. the unknown heirs-at-law, dew
3sees and aiienees Of Elizabeth W. Hand,
Charles y. Hand and Joseph w. Hand. de-
fesdants.-No. S6439, In Equity.-The object
of this suit Is to obtain q decree declaring the
complainant,s, Lewis e. Shoots. title In fee
tate in the District Of Columbia known as
the south 17.2S feet front by the depth thereof
ct lot numbered hfty-fve t55), in Deakins, Lee
and Casanave's Addition to Georgetown. being
In square q In said Georgetown, now known
ss square 1882, in the city Of Washington, In
the District Of Columbia, subject to a right of
way, for alley purposes, over the north Eve
feet front by the depth thereof, Of said IT,
feet Of said lot No. 55. together, with the ease
way over the four feet nine inches front. by
the depth thereof. Of said lot s.. In said square
Immediately adjoining on the north the afore-
said 17.26 feet front by the depth thereof Of
said lot numbered SIS. On motion Of COM
plainant IL Is this oath day Of January. AID
1919, ordered that the defendants, the un-
known heirs-at-law, deyisees and alienees of
Elisabeth w. Hand, Charles r. Hand ard
Joseph w. Hand, cause their appearance to
day occurring after the expiration Of the
period of publication prescribed herein. which
period Of publication Il hereby hxed a. twice
. month In the months of January, February
and March, 1919; otherwise the cause will be
proceeded with as in case Of default, provided
3 copy Of this order be published in the
Washington Law Reporter and The Evening
Star twice q month In each Of said three
months Of January. February and March. 1918
JENNINGS a..i BAILEY; "aIs. y9s1lss , tssaL) a
5acS IN al vpt1
Evening star., 1919-01-25
ADAM A. wEscHLER. AUCrIoNEER.
TRUSTEES SALE OF TwO-sToRY BRICK
DWELLING. 11so MORSE STREET
NORTHEAST

TRUSTEES SALE OF TwO-sToRY BRICK
D 1W,ELIh,IING. ,.aI,I 11so MORSE STREET
recorded. in Liber No. 3S0S, folio H. ct seq,
OF the land records of the District OF Coiunl-
bia. and at the request Of the party secured
promises. on FRIDAY. THE Thirty FIRST
DAY OF JANUARY. 4: D.. 1919. AT FOUR
scribed land and premises situate in the coun-
ty of Washington, District Of Coiumbia:, to
w Lot Of a. IL n S,srs sapa
plat recorded in the office of the surveyor for
the District of Columbia, in Liber 80. at
Henrietta Lees subdivision of lots in block
s., Trinidad as per plat recorded in the
office of the surveyor for the said District. In
Liber county g.. at folio ll5. Immediately. in
the rear and adjoining said lot "a, described
follows: beginning on l2-foot alley at the
most northeriy corner OF lot "a. thence south
westerly along the line of said alley Ia. 80 feet
to the rear line of lot IA. thence southeasferly
along said rear line IA feet. thence northeast
1850 feet to a northeasterly line Of lot g.
thence by and with said northeasterly line Of
said lot "a to & the beginning The p the,
of that width Of said part of lot "a being
subject to right Of way for alley purposes for
the use of lots SO to 7s Of said aubdivision re.
folio. 20. Improved by x-room and bath brick
dwelling; hot-water heat; colonial porch.
Terms OF sale. Une- -tnfF0 Oh the purchase
money to be paid in cash, the balance in two
equal instaliments. payable In one and two
years, with interest at per cent per annum.
payable semi annually, from day Of sale, Sc
cured by deed Of trust upon the property sold,
or all cash. at the option Of the purchaser. A
deposit Of $500 required Of the purchaser at
the time Of sale. All conveyancing. recording,
| revenue stamps and notarial fees at the cost
OF the purchaser. Terms Of sale to be complied
with within fifteen days from day Of sale,
otherwise the trustees reserve the right to
resell the property at the risk and cost Of
vertisement Of such resale In some newspaper
published In the city Of Washington, D. @.
MICHAEL, r.. MANGAN.
CHARLES p. WAXING,
ja21 q. q. .za.30&31 Trusteea.
Evening star., 1919-01-25
THos. ]. OWEN SON. AucT1oSEERs.

TRUSTEES SALE OF VALUABLE REAL ES-
TATE. CONSISTING OF ATTRACTIVE E
CORNER LOT SITUATED AT INTER
SECTION OF NEW JERSEY AVENUE
AND EYE STREET SOUTHEAST. AND
FORMERLY USED AS A LUMBER YARD.
recorded in Liber No. PAT folio 345 ct seq,
and Liber No 1882 folio aS ct seq. respective
ly, of the land records OF the District OF Co
lumbia, and at the request of the party Sc
cured thereby, the undersigned trustees will
sell at public auction. in front Of the premises,
on FRIDAY, THE THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF
JANUARY, AID. 1919, AT HAIF-PAsT FOUR
O'CLOCK PM, the following described land
ard premises, situate in the city of Washing
ton District of Columbia, and designated as
and se..-g part of original lot five t5' In
square T3S, beginning for the same at the
northeast corner Of said lot and square and
running thence southerly on New Jersey ave
nue. 2I feet 2A inches, thence westerly to a
point on 1st street A feet south of the north
west corner of said lot and square, thence
corner of said lot and square and thence east
on / street 7S feet inch to the beginning.
Terms of sale: 0ne-third of the purchase
money to be paid In cash, balance In two equal
installments. payable in one and two years.
with interest at per centum per annum, pay
by deed of trust upon the property sold. or all
cash, at the option Of the purchaser. de-
posit Of 500 will be required at time of sale.
All eonveyancing, recording. revenue stamps.
ETC. at cost Of purchaser. Terms OF sale to be
complied with within fifteen days from day pf
to resell the property at the risk and cost OF
defaulting purchaser, after FIVE days adyer-
tisement of such resale in some newspaper
published in Washington. D. 9.
WIN. H. SAUNDERS.
JOSEPH W. cox.
3>oo 5A6s oxQu Trusfeps
Evening star., 1919-01-25
Proposes Full Stop for
Vehicles When Reaching
Certain of City Streets

To the Editor of The Star:
My attention has been called recently
to an effort on the part of the police
department to decrease the number Of
traffic accidents, which, to a great ex-
tent are caused by careless and fast
driving in the city of Washington.
In my opinion the desired decrease in
the number of such accidents could be
brought about by requiring all vehicles
to come to a full stop before entering
or crossing certain streets which will
be designated as main thoroughfares.
For instance, let US designate Penn
sylvania avenue. Massachusetts, avenue,
14th street. 18th street, North Capitol
street, East Capitol street, Sherman ave.
nue. and similar streets where the traffic
is heavy as main thoroughfares A traf-
nc regulation would then have to be
passed and enforced. which would re-
quire all drivers of vehicles to come to a
fun stop before entering or crossing
streets which are to be known as main
thoroughfares.
A strict enforcement Of such regula-
items would. / am sure. effect a great
Improvement along the lines desired,
and the city would profit greatly by
such action.
HERBERT A. WATSON.