TOPICS OF THE DAY.
EASTER.
EASTER has come once more ; and still finds the world alive, in spite of the prophets who are continually predicting its last day. Still the world goes on, and in many things as it has done for ages; a fact which it seems one office of set holydays to remind us. Nothing is more likely to puzzle the perfectibilitarian than seeing these identical landmarks which our race has looked upon "in mime, volubilis, serum"—babbling of progress, while it is mocked by the selfsame objects on the banks of Time's stream. This sta- tinnary principle is indicated by many other trivial things. As you near the shores of Italy, in a steamer with the last improvements, you pass a boat rowed by a man wearing the Phrygian cap that Paris wore before the battles of Troy ; and the postman that brings you a letter conveyed by ROWLAND HILL'S penny postage has on his feet nothing but an improved version of shoes that might have been owned by an ancient Dacian. In spite of the "march of in- tellect," fools are made on the First of April, just as, about the same season, they were made thousands of years ago, if not uncounted ages ago in India, with fooleries like our own errands for strap-oil, pigeon's milk, and other products more difficult to procure than the talking-bird, the singing-tree, and the dancing-water. On Good Friday we punctually eat our " hot cross buns," marked like the leavened bread which is the sign of civilization in the Egyptian hieroglyphics, whose records go back to times before the Deluge. Yet have we not advanced so very far in one great matter of social refinement : it is not yet half a century since we abjured slavery— not a tenth of a century, if we look to the West Indies; and our nearest relations of America own the institution in as revolting a form as ever obtained. The bun, therefore, is truly in some things token of no higher civilization than it stands for in the Pyramids. Possibly there are matters in which the world has gone back. "Easter Sunday," says FORSTER, "IS styled by the Fathers the highest of all festivals, the feast of feasts, the Queen of festivals, the Dominica gaudii, the joyous Sunday. Masters granted freedom to their slaves at this season, and valuable presents were made to the poor." The master granted freedom to his slaves! "Cur igitur cos manumisit ? "—what was the fun of that ? In the greatest republic of this day they know better, and manumission is so restricted by law and custom that in many parts it can scarcely be accomplished. It almost implies something wrong to perform that Easter charity ; and at this moment Jona BROWN lies under sentence of death for aiding a slave to escape. The Roman, with the painted egg of Easter in his hand, may look abroad and see that the world has herein made lee-way, for the Christian is behind the Heathen. Would it not be as well to make a little more haste with "the progress of mankind"? Pray let us "turn over a new leaf on Monday."
Previous page
