The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-12

In the afternoon great numbers of grown folks
come to see the fun, enjoying 1t almost as much
as the youngsters do. By the time the sun gets
well over into the western sky most of the eggs
have been broken, and then it is that colored per-
sons with large grins and cavernous stomachs come
around, suggesting a willingness to deyour all the
eggs the children will give them. This Is great
sport from the children's point Of view, and the
number of eggs consumed by some of the volun-
teers Is really astonishing.
Finally 1t Is all over. The wreck that Is left be-
hind Is doeful indeed. Everywhere the grass
strewn with a litter of broken eggs, brown pap
and other debris, and little feet have made many
hole in the turf. 1t cost $114 one year to rep
the damage done on this one day of j~ollifcatit
But Uncle Sam paid the bill without a murmur-
the fun was worth the money.
In Jerusalem, Holy week. between Palm Sunday
and Easter, besides being the occasion of solemn
service inside the churches, sees many associated
ceremonies that are as picturesque as devout. The
Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way), supposed to be
the road over which Christ bore the cross to Cal
vary), is thronged with pilgrims from all parts of
the world, who follow the route on their knees.
In Rome, IN a small building near the Lateran
palace, similar devotees climb, upon their knees.
the whole length of a flight of % steps-the Scala
Santa (sacred stairway, which once stood in
Pilates palace at Jerusalem, and was trodden by
the Man of Sorrows, whom PLATE delivered up to
death.
In New Mexico n religious fraternity known as
the Brothers Of Penitence for over n century cele-
brated the week before Easter with self-tortures
of the most sickening description. The members
of the organization are not monks, but men who
live the rest of the year like their neighbors, as
commonplace farmers, herdsmen and traders. Only
Mt this season they take 1t upon themselves to offer
heaven the grewsome sight of human creatures
whining themselves with rawhide thongs and
messing cactus thorns into their own flesh. Not
many years ago they even used to nail one chosen
out of their own number to a tall wooden cross
set up In the wilderness. Efforts, in the main, sue
cessful. have been made of late years, to stop the
Observance.
In Russia the Easter salutation is a picturesque
survival from apostolic customs. Friends and
neIghbors, or even strangers, who chance to meet
ON the street, say: "Christ Is risen y He Is
risen indeedl - the other person responds. And
very often a kiss is exchanged even by two men,
in token of the days Significance. The religious
observance is elaborate. This, of course, was in
the old Russia. Nobody seems to know what OBJ
servance there is, under Soviet rule.
Our Filipino cousins, after going to church Eas-
ter morning, will think the afternoon wasted un-
loss they see a good cock fight. In Spain and
most Spanislespeaking countries a bull hght Is
both popular and distinctly fashionable as enter
tainment for the afternoon % Easter day.
Greece has local celebrations that are full of dig
nifty and beauty. One of these is the famous Choir
nj dance, which takes place each year at Megara,
a few miles from Athens. 1t Is performed OUT OF
doors, in the presence of thousands of spectators
bv country girls of marriageable age, all dressed
I'm n special holiday costume of singular beauty
and elegance. The dance Is sedate and stately TO
tho loet depree. and Is said to have close resem-
blance to the religious dance of Greek maidens
1000 and 5000 years ago. But, though the dane
ers are most tenure in their manners, 1t Is an
open secret that their appearance now is prac-
tically a bid for offers of marriage. One would NOT
suppose this could be necessary to encourage WOO
ers but the fact is the modern Greek stands out
rather stlffly for a good dowry with his bride, ana
q girl whose face is her fortune has to advertise IL