Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-10
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON

BY HUGH =. JOHNSON
GAN FRANCISCO, April 10
- Holy Week is better OBJ
served on the Pacific Coast. I
think, than in some other parts
OF the country. l am not now
referring 10 the more rigorous
piety and discipline of Roman
Catholicism in this sacred seven
days, but TO a mons general
public recognition that this
really is a sacred season and
that II means something.
II begins with tens of thou
sands of people celebrating sun
rise services Of Pam Sunday
outdoors among these coastal
hills and is in eVerybody's mind
on through Easter It is boot
ft-SS 10 SurniSe the reason for
this difference in outlook. if
any Perhaps it is a tradition
left over from the old Spanish
days of the splendid idle for
tics ="
The whole coast is fragrant
with these memories Nearly all
the towns and cities are named
for saints and fTUttv imageS-San
Francisco, Los Angeles and even
a whole AREAS big as some
states designated on old maps
de la Familia Sagrada" or "of
the Holy Family
DERHAPS that has something
L to do with il Notwithstanding
that Los Angeles tbut not San
Francisco is frequently de-
Scribed as "DeS MONIES. Ia.
greatly expanded and side-slipped
TO the Pacific meaning thereby
that. although it may still be
the city "of the angels, . if cant
he exactly regarded as the eX-
elusive citadel of native sons OF
the Golden West" Yet il Is
closer 10 Mexico and the oid
Spanish influence is strong.
Such general California recog-
milton of Holy Week may have
an explanation in precisely re-
verse direction
Both Holy Week and Easter
were precedcr in the story Of
-rr1Hr by pagan festivals of
Spring. the observance of which
traces back to the very begin
ming Of hlStory-the resurrection
Of the whole earth-ffef1 the
death of Winter
You could believe in that the
orv if YOU could see California
now Having lived here many
years. l am no tyro and ! don't
want to emulate Graham Mac
Named. who came Out here
years ago TO broadcast a great
football game and used most of
his time on the air ravlng about
the attractions of California.
Just the same there has been an
unusual rainfall and I never saw
this most beautiful of all states
in suc h gorgeous Easter raj
ment.
MAYBE that purely pagan de-
W light is also part of this
years attention to the coming
Christian festival All the causes
here suggested play some part
but | think tn Q re is another
and a stronger one II is the
contrast between this peaceful.
beautiful and now very pros
porous season and the starvation,
fear. hatreds and understandable
suffering Of so many people in
so many other parts of the
world
I don't want 10 get soft and
20 sloppy and lyrical,on the Gus
toners although it IS not Al all
difficult TO do in this environ
mont but to me, there seems
10 be something significant and
symbolic in the lovely Easter
emcrgencc from Winter of this
beautiful and peaceful region.
In the cycle of human events
darkness and Winter do not last
forever. The return Of Christ at
Easter was a similar symbol II
marked tho beginning of the end
Of barbariSm for a large part Of
the earth. for many centuries
and until now. His influence is
now again Swallowed by the mass
madness Of men in Europe and
Asia bat the wheel always turns
fun cycle
The eastern Easter greetings
are still in point Christ is
risen. lie is risen indeed He
VIII rise again and again for
this piteouS world even from the
darkness of doath. ! am glad l
came out here and saw this mir
acle of Spring | cant explain
Just why or how but il has
gwen me new faith and hope.
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