To-day is April 1, and, apart from any humorous connection about this date, one begins to feel that, however unnecessary, a little formal announcement (as it were) of the arrival of Spring would not be out of place on this page. A week ago did not the thermometer touch 85?
And conscience (irrational as always but still clamorous) insists that something ought already to have been said about Spring being once more with us, ete, Analysing this calmly, according to modern decree, one cannot but reach the conclusion that such feeling and/or state of conscience only goes to' prove that the conventions 'Of modern civilized life, although many cases a boon, are at times bane, For it is' and can be, nothing else than convention that demands Spring should be formally announced each yern Why should it? Is summer yearly feted in print. Docs winter an-unally for itself, receive any parti-gular attention? Does Then why should spring—spring of all seasons of the year the one which. comes upon us most obviously.
The shops windows ery it to us in the town: buds are see to be replaced suddenly by an uncomfortable warmth of day which lasts not more than a week. Altogether there is nothing meek land gentle about spring as we have boon told, sTt has not the slightest hesitation in announcing its own Why therefore should the fact announced in print and then enlarged upon each year according to point of view?
"Because it is' always dono" is the only answer—an answer which should appear, in itself, sufficient to eter one from giving any further publicity to the affair. For, it is reasonable to suppose, that if Spring has been annually announced for many years (and discussed at the same time) then everything interesting on the subject must surely have already been said, and, as a writer, one trusts read, For who has not read, willingly or unwillingly, during the earlier months of one year oF another, of} the dreadful fever which was} attacking all housewives, making their menfolk's lives a burden to them, as they create havoc in the house, room by room, until the poor men know not whither to turn their steps? Or of the directions of a young man's fancy at this time of year? Or of the strange unreasonableness which overtakes some, oF again of the promising signs of vernal life which will surely be! Aisastrously nipped by a late frost the day the poet's song is published.
Truly there is not an aspect of the matter which has not already been touched upon; and one can only be convinced that, in spite of the prickings. of conscience, to attempt anything further would be folly indeed. "One can only. write Ladies, 'This year, in defiance of convention, 'Spring' will not be formally announced and discussed, and no publicity will be given' the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.