Continental Lent.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1046, 18 March 1892, Page 4

Continental Lent.

More than once it has been my good fortune to spend a Lenten season in gay and festive Paris. Gay and festive it is at all times, and although the Lenten season is partially observed as a most serious time of the year, yet with the exception of the would-be or really religious part of the community, gaieties lose none of their charm. When Parisians make up their minds for any particular observance, they do their work thoroughly. They have set fashions for set seasons, and the fashionable world of Paris issues special decrees foi the due observance of the Lenten season. Before Midi Lent has arrived a time of rigid living has set in. Black or sombre colours reign in every household. Fans, feathers, or flowers, with bright tones are put carefully away in the deepest drawer, and semi-mourning must be worn by everybody who has the slightest pretensions to be somebody. No theatre-going is indulged in, no visits paid to concerts, except they are strictly sacred ones. No preparing of luxurious dinners. The cook has a holiday from artistic work. Nothing but the plainest of- plain dishes being allowed. All the servants have an easy time of it, fer houseparties are unknown and visitors do not stay for meals. Yery austere, become fashionable people at Mid Lent. The breakfast is a cup of chocolate or milk, a dry biscuit and a little fruit. Yery thin Lenten soup, minus meat, serves for luncheon, and a repitition with daintily cooked fish and fruit serves, for the grand dinner in the evening. Only once a week can one attend a sacred concert and not more than one reception seche. Alcoholic stimulants are prohibited. Low dresses are avoided, the neck must be covered up to the ears. Even jewels are hidden away out of sight, and let me whisper, no * powder ’ must be used. All complexions must be ‘ au naturel.' There is a very strict attendance at church, especially in the mornings, not one day must be missed. In the afternoou one goes visiting the poor, and in the evening there is a reading of good books — tf there is any one visiting the house, if not, the books are of the lively order, but covered with a dull grey or slate coloured material —Lenten colours as they are termed. The fashionable world must let their horses keep Lent, few carriages are allowed to be out. You may take a walk, hut not to the Bois de Boulogne, that would be far too worldly, but you can go out into the open country and gather snowdrops, violets or anemones, but on no account must you wear hot house flowers. Not more than once a week may you invite friends to you house, and then you can only give them a fish and vegetable breakfast. It is true that the breakfast may, as it often does, extend till four or five o’clock in the day, but on no account are you to call the meal anything but ‘ breakfast.’ Dora.