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h.CK in the misty past, -when. man worshiped Nature in her mani
festations, and knew no god but the things he could see; when
eligion was complex and involved the deification of everything
not easily comprehensible, and a god ruled each of the functions
of the simple life of the people, Easter was already an established feast Man's dawn
ing intelligence recognized the equinoctial and solstitial periods, although he did not
understand the causes, and the annual return of spring waa made the occasion of
a joyous celebration. It was dedicated at different times and places to different gods,
but it had always the same significance. It celebrated the reawakening of nature,
the breaking of the bonds of winter, and the renewal of the life that was pleasant
and enjoyable. Winter was a dull and depressing season, . when the earth waa
dead and nature slumbered, and the comin g of the bright warm days when gentle
rains and vivifying sunshine promised another season of warmth and comfort and
life was welcomed by all the dwellers on earth with joy and feasting. The early
fathers of the Christian church seized the established Easter feast as they did other
pagan customs and gave it a new significance, making' it typify the resurrection of
Christ and the promise of life everlasting. As the most joyous feast of the church
it has been observed with special customs, not the least important among which is the
outward show of pleasure by the donning of new clothes. Not many, people have
taken the time to inquire as to why they wear new clothes on Easter Sunday, but
this is the real reason. They do it, not in blind obedience to a dictate of fashion,
but in commemoration of the return of Spring. Quite naturally, among Christian
peoples the religious aspect of the day overshadows the original meaning. The re
surrection of Christ is the most important of all the events in His life, for without it
the faith in a life hereafter and all promise it contains for the believer is lost. The
risen Christ is the symbol of the triumph of the soul over death; it is the new life
that is to come that is celebrated in this festival, and as "this mortal must put
on immortality," so the devout believer arrays himself on Easter in his newest
and most expressive of raiment, feeling that in doing so he is only paying a proper
tribute to the importance of the day. Those who are not devout believers are,
perhaps, animated aa were the pagans, by the general impulse that comes with
the new season, and they, too, join in the general display of new togs on this
festal occasion. Even were there no religious element in the feast, and if
man had not yet attained his proficiency in astronomical calculations, still the
impulse toward the display of new garments would be irrestible. ' All Na
ture tends toward it, and just as "In the Spring a livelier iris gleams
upon the burnished dove," so in sprmg
mankind and womankind are irre
sistibly moved to doh new garb, and to
show by all outward signs the pleasure
and satisfaction they have in the revival
of life and activity in the world about
them. And Easter Sunday affords a
most opportune and appropriate occa
sion for uniform action in this regard.
The modern dealer, not any wiser per
haps, in his day and generation than all
the dealers that have preceded him in
history, hasprovided each, .season. against the com
. ing of Easter, and in his shop displays the most at
tractive of garments and decorations for male and
female loveliness. For the current season the arbi
trators of fashion, whose dictates, are law to bo many "
millions of civilized people, have determined that
. the woman may have even more beautiful garments
than she has ever worn. In the shops a bewildering
display is made of every sort of article of feminine
wear, and in fabrics that all but surpass belief. Po
tentates and princes of the past could not command
the exquisite creations that are now within reach of
the humblest of citizens. Man's inventive genius
has united utility and beauty in a combination that
seems to have all but attained perfection, and the
result is shown in the fabrics from which the
spring and summer gowns are made. And the
dressmaker has decreed that these beautiful
creations of the loom shall be fashioned into
costumes that will enhance their wearer's
personal charms without detracting from
their own. This is entirely in keeping with the
spirit of Easter, for it evinces the purpose to re
joice with the day, and to exhibit a proper satisfac
tion in the occasion. . So when on Easter morning
Milady arrays herself in seasonable finery and comes
forth into the'world and mingles with the throng
she has but performed an act of devotion, just as she
does when she goes to church and takes a part in the
prayers and hymns sung there. Easter is cele
brated in beauty, and not the least of its glory is
that furnished by the eastern bonnet and the new
dress. Man. has his share in this, and while his gar
ments are soberly designed and add no touch of color
to the parade, they testify to his willingness to con
tribute to.the general expression of joy at the return
of the season. Good clothes mean as much on Eas
ter Sunday as a good heart.
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