EASTER PARADE IS NO LONGER FASHIONABLE






<PRE>
Brooklyn Daily Standard Union
14 APRIL 1906

Spring, the magician, making everything look fresh and new after the 
long winter sleep, touching with his sunny  wand flowers and people 
alike, has them don gay attire, and show it!

Our Easter parade, now on the wane, it is true, has been an old, old 
custom, and Parisians, too, knew how to combine churchly devotions and 
dress parade.

Near the right bank of the Seine, a quarter of a mile from the village 
of Bagatelle, now part of the Bois de Boulogne, facing the gate of 
Longchamp, was the abbey of that name founded in the thirteenth century 
by Isabelle de France, a sister of St. Louis, who died there in 1269 
during the second Crusade of her brother, the King.  The nuns of this 
abbey were called Minor Sisters [Minimes], and followed the rule of St. 
Francis.

Curiosity as well as worship drew there a great number of Parisians, 
who came Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week to attend the 
service of tenebrae.  Some went to see, others to be seen.  Women 
showed themselves in gala attire, covered with precious stones; princes 
came in rich coaches, and later the rivalry between the houses of 
Orleans and Artois could be noted.  On that day was worn the newest, 
most elegant to be had.  Tailors, dressmakers, milliners, jewelers, 
coachmakers, horse dealers, tried to outdo one another, and often made 
their reputation by the things they created or furnished for this 
occasion.  Merchants, workmen, in their Sunday best, went on foot; 
young men rode horseback; old, dilapidated livery coaches with their 
poor, lean horses only helped to bring out the more the luxury 
displayed by carriage owners.

La Promenade de Longchamp, which drew such crowds, went out of style in 
1792.  The church was torn down shortly after and in 1796 the 
Incroyables and the Merveilleuses alone were still going there.  This 
was kept up for a number of years on Good Friday, but now carriages no 
longer go to Longchamp.

In 1856, a half century ago, Auguste VILLEMOT, a writer on the staff of 
the Paris 'Figaro,' was complaining of the vanishing of this public 
spring opening and had only noticed two handsome dresses in the gay 
procession, but had discovered that the only thing to wear in jewelry 
with hair jewels, a fashion that suited him, as it could only be hard 
on the bald-headed and was within reach of all purses.  LEMONNIER, the 
fashionable jeweler then, could, with a lock of hair and a bit of gold, 
turn out a bracelet or a locket that had all the value of an art object 
and the charm of a keepsake.  But what had drawn the most attention was 
a horsewhip made of hair with a gold handle displayed at Longchamp by 
the dandiest of dandies.  History does not tell whether the horsewhip 
was a blond or a brunette!

Nowadays it is later in the season that tailors and pretty women are 
busy getting ready for Longchamp.  The first Sunday in June is run the 
horse race known as the 'Grand Prix de Paris.'  Then carriages once 
more find their way long the Champs-Elysees, the Bois and the beautiful 
avenue leading to the race track.  Spring clothes, the latest 
creations, are displayed, viewed and criticised by modern beauties just 
as much as by their pious sisters centuries ago.


Tanscriber: Marilynn Wright
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