EASTER. Frnll, trembling hand entrenched In eager groping It, Imply through thn shadows of the tomb, Yd might lmt unit fool Him vainly hoping For llfn from lifeless tonnh, for light from glonm TItkiI font thnt linger whom no !irlt linn lilddnu Had aye thnt wenp, and Hps thnt aoh and mosn- Ko longer grieve nor gropn. Reel (tod ha Mddon 111 strong whlto augol roll away the atone, Itn whom y seek behind yon gloomy portnl Mingling your Imrlnl spices with your tours Mo morn I ilnnd; In strength nml light Imtnortnl Ho live to frown with Joy thn desolate yonr. IJve to o'orcomn earth' anguished ery nnd sobbing, Olro rest for struggle, ami for wound 111 balm, III trong sweet llfn through hnmnn pill" throbbing. Changing all fear to trust, nil strife to onlin. Ito shall yo know? Not by tho rnrtlnnt altars Whose Innense draw thn fainting llllos' hrnnth. Mot by thn tldn of prillmi thnt full nor fnltnr Through eomitles pmsn of vb-tory over death. Not by the aered helpof prlntly prnylng. Nor all thnt temple, shrine, or symbol give, They only know whoso henrt nave hoard illm aaylngt "My llfo la thlno) booausa I live ye lire." lad fettered until long held In self's dim prison, Hound fnst liy error, Ignornnnn, or prldn, Do yn not hnnrf Thn Conqueror I rlsoni In III bravo death thy foe nnd III have died. Jliiry thy dnadl Mvo, lln thn wondroit story Thnt lift thn world from deep of won nnd wrong, TVnulilat Hood thn ahmlowa with thn Knster glory? Sing out, the wbola year round, thine Easter song. Harper's Bazar. ORIGIN OF lASTEUTIDE, the oltlest church festival, cornea down to ns from the ancient He brews. With thorn, however, the time wns not associated with the death nnd redirection of Chrlat, but with the season of the year when the earth pours forth ita freshest blossoms ml the revivification of nature the springing forth of life in the spring. It ia from this that the Easter egg custom springs, nnd centuries ago, even before the birth of Christ, color ed eggs were given and received by the celebrants of the feast. The egg for all time has been regarded as symbolical of the spring, when the earth reoeives from natnre itsnewlifo. Not 'only the ancient Hebrews, but the ancient Persians, employed the colored eggs in their celebrations of the feast of the solar new year, iu March. With the Hobrews the fostival was called Fasoh, and the name still lives, with Blight alterations, among many nations. . The French call the festi val Paqnes; the Dutch term it Pas chen; the Danes Pnnske, nnd the Swedes Pask. In the early days of Christianity the influenoe of the Jew ish Pasoh upon the holy day commem orating the slaying of Christ nnd his resurrection was such that it created many bittor dissensions between the western nnd tho eastoru churches. Finally the discussions assumed such a threatening aspect that Polyerntes, bishop of Ephosus, appealed to Viator, bishop of ltomo, asking for a general council to dccldo the much-vexed question. Aooordingly, oounoils met in nil the countries, as well as at Home, but, alas, for visions of hnrmony, they conld not agree. They finally doctdod to recognize the day as their respec tive, fathers before them had done, and no sect should censure the other for a difleronco of opinion. Many warm and evon bitter discus sions still continued on the subject of Easter celebrations, and it finally led to the great emperor, Constnntine, in 325, issuing an order for the dispute to be sottled by the council of Nice. It was the momentous theme of the day. In obedience to royal oommaud, 818 bishops and some 2000 inferior clerics assembled at Nice in Bithynia. The first sessions mot intheohuroh, and as the counoil oontinued its work the place of meeting was transferred to the irapovial palace, where special apartments were reserved for this august body. Tho main trouble was between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. On the 14th day of the first lunnr month the Jews observed with nil the solemnity and regard for the Mosaio law the Foast of the PasBover; thus they celebratod the death of Christ as represented by the Pasohnl Lamb. The first Sabbath after the 11th day of the March moon the Gontile Chris tians celebrated with joyous religious services the resurrection of Christ. Neither soot .would recognize the other's festive day, and the council of Nice was greatly perplexed as bow best to pleaso all parties. After continuing their debates, pro and oon, for several months, the ecclesiastical dignitaries announced that the bitterly waged war of dispute was settled. Easter day was for all time to be the first Sabbath im mediately following the fourteenth day of the March moon. By this arrangement the world may celebrate Easter, justly called the "Queen of Festivals," as early as Maroh 22, and gain it may not arrive until April 'ia. when nearly the entire earth is fragrant with spring bads and blossoms. The word Easter is derived from a Pagan goddess of the early Teutons called Ostera. The German word for Easter isOstern, but some philohpgists maintain that both the German and English words come from the anoieut . Bason word Oster, or Oaten, meaning "rising." Ostera, the German god deal, was oredited with being the personification of the morning, and of the east, and also of the opening year. . . Ostera was worshiped very gen erally in northern Germany, and it ia believed that the fame of the goddess ." tread to England, where the Saxons f 31 in worshiping her. Until the '"!rj et -tie present vvinrj jt ir H C -llyf stal KASTEXR. ling of great bonfires and la other ways, and evon to-day in some of the remote districts where many supersti tions beliefs are treasured by the peas antry the fame of Ostera still lives. The early Christians made the Easter celebration extend over a period of eight days, but in the eleventh cen tury the festival was reduced to three days, and later to one day. In olden days Easter was the popular time for baptism. The law courts were shut and the poor and needy were feasted regally in the clmrohes.Ja custom that was much abused and whioh led to great disorder. Slaves were tem porarily free, the people gave them selves np to hilarity aud all sorts of Tub Eden Lily. When Clod bid run Euphrates' stream. Ere yot man name to enrth, For Faith and Vlrtuo's future thome lie gave tha Illy birth. Ha robed It as Himself divine. Gave to Ita heart the gold And mnjnsty of royal lino, Ia simple, snowy fold, 1 Our parent loved the many flowers They found in Ednn blest; The pootry of all the houra- But hailed tho Illy bestl enjoyment. Popular sports and danoes were added, and the joyous solemnity of the day bade fair to be ruined. While many enrious observances cluster about Easter, the egg as an emblem of resurrection was, and is most generally nsed by all Nations. De Gobelin has connected it with the anoient Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Bomaus, and Dr. Bohwarti finds that it was customary among the Par sees to distribute red eggs at their spring festival. In Germany, instead of the egg, is an emblematio print, in which three hens are holding a basket wherein are three eggs, Pioaynne. Kaitsr Symbol. "Papa, what makes my candy rab bit's ears stiok np so?" "I'm almost afraid to say so, little danghter, but I think he's soared at your mother's Easter hat." A Foaobad Kssr, EA3TAR CU3TOM3. The Typical TJo of tha Kn la Comma to All Countries. This f Mr Faster falls In April, so thnt in some localities we may really enjoy the soft air, the green of the grass, the song of birds nnd fragrnnoe of flowers, so often only in the future at the Easter time. Hope comes again to the invalid with Easter days; the violets are peeping from their bods and all things Boom - "Emblems of our own grout renrreclloat Emblnms of tho bright and bettor land." . The egg in some form or other tins been a typo of the new life from the rery beginning of the Christian era, a growth, probably, from the pagan idea that tho egg was the beginning of all kinds of life , Vnrious customs and ways of using tho egg hnve grown up in different countries. In Knssin, ns early as lfifW, eggs colored red, typifying the blood of Christ shod as au atonement for onr sins, were (lie most treasured of ex changes at Easter. Every boliover went abrond at this season with his pockets well supplied with Kastercggs, ns the society ninn of to-dny nttends to his well-filled onrd ease. When two Russians met for the first time during the Easter holidays, if they hnd not met on the day itself, the belated Easter compliments were passed, first by solemnly shaking hands in silence, then the elder, (or the younger, if he outranked the elder) would Bay: "The Lord is risen," nnd bis companion would reply: "It is true;" thon they kissed each other aud ceremoniously drew from their respective pookeb the Easter oinbloni and exchanged egg". Uydo, in his description of Oriontal sports, tells of one with eggs among the Christians of Mesopotamia on Ehster dny, and forty days afterward "The sport consists in striking thoir eggs one against another, nnd the egg that first breaks is won by the owner of the one that struck it. Immediate ly another egg is pitted against the) winning egg, and so on till the lasn egg wins all the others, which their respective owners shall before have won." When the Archangel enms and walked mo groves all golden anon, Orovnly to Adnin, Mlohaol talked Of purity and God. Then pointing to the lily fair, tiniil, "Though you bring the gloom Of death to earth, this Illy rare Hhall typify tliu Dlooin." The angola now around the Throne Circling are singing on, When Eustor bring the lifted stone, And tear from earth has gone. They tell that fallen man long doomed At last una met the light; That Israel's Lily now ha bloomed On altars pure and white. James Riley, In Boston Bouquet. Eggs were held by the Egyptians as a sacred emblem of the renovation of mankind after the deluge. The Jews adopted them to snit the oiroum- stanoes of their history as a type ox their departure from the land of Egypt; they were also nsed in the feast of the Passover. The Syrians believed that the gods from whom they claimed descent were batoned from mysteriously laid eggs. Hence we infer that onr present cus tom of offering the Easter egg emblem has the heathen legends for its origin; in fact all onr most preoions festivals come down from similar eouroes, bnt purified with the light of Christianity. THE EASTER BIRTH. Again the flower-shoot cleaves the olodj Agnin tue gran apoar groom me sou; Again buds dot tue willow rod. The sap released wltbla the troe , Is lllce a prlaoned bird set free, And mouutetb upward buoyantly. Ones more at purple evening dream The tanrior-voloed, enamoured troum Unto the ruaa renew Ita tueine. How paoked with meaning this new blrtl ui an ine growing iniuga oi earca Lite springing after death and dearth! Tbon, soul, that at 111 doat darkljutrope, -Bath Dot thla, In Ita vernal auopa. Some rsjdleal xaswreotlon bopof CUWoa IkoUard. THE REALM Novelties In llnlrilrnanlns. How to dross the hair in a becoming manner, and nt the same timo carry ns light a load ns possible, is a problem that will try the brains of women dur ing the coming spring months. The problem has been partly solved by the inventor of what is known ns the 'simplex" foundation. It is nsed in building np the coiffure produced nriLMKos rp rnn coiffurb. herewith. Not only is it light ns nir and perfectly durable, but it supplies nature's defleiencios without detection. It is used principally in a new de velopment of the Victorian style, ar ranged iu three high loops on top of the head in conjunction with a pretty tortoise shell comb. The foundation is made up of a bung nnd a tress. By reference to the picture it can be seen that an ingonions hair fnstenor enters into its composition. The ingenuity of the contrivance lies not only in the faot thnt it is a hair fastener, bnt it keeps in place and conceals a switch of additional hair, which enables one to ndd to tho importance of the trosses whilo fixing them into the bandage necessary for thoir proper arrange- BrRINCJ WALKINJ COSTUME. ment. The entire arrangement is pretty, light and becoming to most features; Hint About Walking Costume. The cotton gowns are now being built very muoh ou the linos of the winter models. The paqain skirt is admirably adapted to tliiu fabrics of all kinds, as the ciroular flounce gives a protty fullness about tho feet. Btraight flounces are nlso appliod in the same manner nnd they launder better. The bodices of organdie are very elaborate and tho skirts ure flounood, nnd rows of lace are set in them. The guimpe bodice, whioh has been so popular during the winter, will be muoh in evidence this sum mer. Dainty guimpes are built of fine sheer white, batiste or Imuslin, tucked or oordod in .groups, with nar row Yalenoiennes insertion between them. The sleeves in some instances match the neek, but they are quito as good style if they are of the organdie. There is slight ohango in shirt waists from those of last season. Ktocks are the smartest fiuish to the nocks, and if oollars are worn they must turn over. Pique skirts will be as much in demnnd ns ever, and ohio little Eton coats, built on severe lines, will be worn. Bilk skirts will rival cotton ones. Ulne, pinK ana yeuow win oo the prevailing colors. They are tnoked, shirred, trimmed with rows of narrow blaek satin and velvet ribbon, and often the ribbon is gathered into little frills. A letter from Paris, from an up-to-date individual, states thct the prevalence of the separa'te founda tion has been somewhat overestimat ed, and that the greater proportion of the skirts are lined. This is especial ly true of cloth skirts, and as every woman knows, walking costumes are more oomfortuble mode with the foun dation and skirt in one pieoe. Tailor skirts for tho most part will be made without trimming; but a number of the jacket bodices are quite elaborate ly decorated. Bevers of silk in n contrasting color will be embelished with braid and embroidery. Belt. Clasps and Brooches. An emboased silver prayer bookcase baa a bine ribbon enameled around the edges.' silver gilt spoon has a design jif ferns for the handle and the bowl is enameled to represent the United States shield. Tbe latest device to be attached to OF FASHION. bicycles is a small silver name plate to be placed on the tool bag. A clasp on the plaids bolts is of sil ver, gilt nnd represents nn army but ton surrounded by a wreath. It is nlso worn on bolts of black seal leather. A neat brooch is In the shape of nn open oyster shell, the natural colors being represented in enamels, with a small pearl monntod iu the decpor bulf of tho shell. Another bolt is of oxidized silver wire forming a sort of lathwork mounted on a drnb silk ribbon. The clasp is in the form of two rosettes, in the centers of which turqnois is mounted. At tho back are two rosottes of the snmo design ns the clasp, and one is also worn nt each side. Silk and leather belts are again be coming popular. A combination of the two materials consists of n silk ribbon on a leather belt. The silks ore chief ly plaids and are applied so that the lines run dinnonally across the belt. Appropriate buckles and slides of sil ver, gilt, and are tho favorite mount ing". Flowers piny an important port in the recent designs for brooches. Among tho blossoms which seem to be favorites are violots with potals sprond npnrt, pnnsies, clematis and apple blossoms. They are all enarnol in natural colors and often haven small pearl or diamond mounted in the cen ter, or in the more deeply colored flowers on one of tho potals, in whioh cases it represents a dew drop. nilllnery Mint. The smartest toqnns and bonnots and picture hats flaunt gorgeous bouquets of ribbon in place of glassy eyed little songstor, and it is nn de niable thnt tho ribbon is answering just as well as the birds dfd for efleo tivo decoration. The giddiost head pioces from Paris, sent ovor as models, fairly bristle with bows, in the making of which there has sprung np a small art all to itself. Out of a dozon im ported hats on one stand seven were marked for the predominating tones of yellow thoy exhibited, and the other five were black nnd white. Yed da and basket straw prevail ovor the latoly loved rico and Swiss weaves, and nearly every straw has a satin finish Othor new hats are fairly trifles, all tullo and flowers. Kooteh heather, periwinkles ond flue small blossoms generally are to be very fashionable, J 1'p-to-nnte Suitor Hnt. The early straw sailor hats will bo trimmed with loops of rilibon ana ono or more nuills. It is evident that this is to be a floral season, and many of the imported toques are composed on 0 BAILOn BAT. tirelY of flowers and leaves. Fine flowers are used for the crown and brim, and roses with leaves wired into aigrets. Violet hats are now the eraze, and they suggest pleasantly the approach of spring. Donkey In Demand. Tn Hnnt'i Africa, there ia a erreat da mand for donkeys, aa they are proo against olimate, plague and ums. V TAPPING THE RUBBER TREE, ' Dow tha Valnnbl flum la Kstraeted In gnnth American Foraat. In Ronth America natives are hired by rubber contractors to penetrate the fo: and seenre the sum of the rub- bor tree. This is generally done by making sovernl vertical incisions np tho trnnk of the treo, with others run ning obliquely into the main or up right channels. Hmall day onps are fastened to the bnTk nnd the rnbber snp or milk allowed to flow into thorn. It is at first about the color nnd con sistency of crenm, losing in the pro cesses of coagulation fifty-six peroent. Hoveral methods of congealing the rnbber milk are nsod, bat the one most commonly practiced is known as the "bisnnit" process. The sap lis smeared on a stock resembling a but ter Indlo or paddle and hold over the smoke obtained by burning forest nuts. The milk soon thicken on the paddlo, which Is repeatedly dipped into the snp nnd put through the smok ing process, nntil a pieoe of crnde rubber weighing often fifty pounds is formed; this when removed has a bole through the centre left by the paddle, and is termed a "bisouit" of rnbber. tafpino) a nnnnp.n trkr. Itnbber trees when carefully tapped yield abundantly for forty or fifty years, but if the inoisions go too deep the process of docay starts at onoe, aud their period of productiveness is ovor forever. The native gatherers being paid for the season's work in proportion to the number of pounds of rubber oollocted, not only bleed the trees to death, bnt when the flow of milk oeasos the largor trees are cut down and tho snp extracted from the wood. They also mix mandiooa meal, gravel, nails, leaves and almost any thing that comes to hand with the milk, in ordor to increase the weight of the "biscuits." In Afrioa the gath erers go so fur in the extermination of the forests that even the roots of the rubber troe are dug np nnd tho sap ornshod out of them. With suoh methods the rubber pirates of South Amorica nnd Africa nre but hastening tho time of tho rubber famine, and adding to tho present enormous profits derived from onltivated rubber plan tations. A Doctor's Telephone T.lne. Discussing a bill to tax telephone lines, Mr. Dougherty said reoently in tho Illinois Legislature: "Over here in Hancock County there is a wealthy doctor who hns been building tele phone lines. He's gradually extended them nntil ho now has quite a system. Oh, yes, it s a great convenionce, bnt nobody on his linos dare to got sick un less he or she employs this particular doctor. He won t allow any othor doc tor in the county to be called np through his telephone system." A Sixth Seme In riajeone. Captain Itonaud, the French spec ialist in charge of tho military pigeon service, is a firm believer in a sixth sense in pigeons and other birds and animals, possessod of homing instinct, whioh ho calls the sense of "orienta tion." He has defended his theory at length in a paper recently rend before tho Froucii Aoademio dos Sciences, claiming to have amply proved it by special trials of vnrious kinds. The rrt of m Friend. TTonest men esteem the value of nothing so muoh In this world as a real friend. Such a one is, as it were, another, self, to whom we impart our most secret thoughts, who partakos of onr joy and comforts us in our af flictions; add to this that his com pany is an everlasting pleasure to us. Pilpay. Potato T.llte a Human Foot. This potato poses as a humau foot. It came, recently, from the store ol potatoes in the cellar of Elihu Gresh am, who owns a large store near Hav ersrraw, N. Y. sMr. Greshara does not recall dig ging the odd-shaped tuber, but its re markable resemblance to tho human foot was noticed as soon as it was brought np from the collar the other POTATO MIBTAXEX FOB A HUMAN FOOT, day. It is of unusual size. It shows all the toes complete, and it has a re markable reining, most unsual ia po-t-ito skin. If all the queer freaks that nature has produced among potatoes could be gathered under one roof, the world would respect the little brown earth fruit aa 4 versatile vegetable and carlo ere tor. New York joaroal.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers