Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-03-20


founded city. he divided the year into ten
months. and named the 6rst month Mar
thus. in honor Of bis father, Mars, the
heather god Of war. Ovid. however. says
that the nations Of Italy had long previ-
ously named one of their months after the
same deity. but that they differed in the
place they scverally assigred to it; some
making it the second. others the third.
fourth. fifth. sixth. or even the tenth
month Of the year. Numa Pompilius, the
successor Of Romulus. added the months
Of January and February to the Roman
year. and reduced March from bcing the
6rst month to the third rank in the calsn.
dar. in which station it continued until
the Christian Church adopted the season
Of Easter for the commencement Of the
year.
10 France this arrangement was again
altered by an cdict Of Charles TX. in
1864. which decrccd that the year should,
from thenceforth. begin on the LIST Of Jam
nary. This example was adopted By the
Scotch in 1899; but in England the 25,h
Of March continued to be the new years
day until the year 1852. Although this
month was banned by the Romans after
the god Of war. it was considered rs un-
der the more especial patronage Of Miner
va. the goddess Of wisdom; it has always
consisted Of thirty -ono days. no subsc quent
reformcr Of the calendar having altered
the arrangement of Romnlus in this re-
spcct. March was considered BY the 70.
mans an unlucky month for the celcb.a-
ton Of marriages By our Saxon anccs-
tors this month. says Verstegan. was cal
led Rhede or Rcihe- sionsth. according to
some authorities. to express its general
boisterousness Of character. Rhcde sisni-
flying in their interpretation rough or rug
ged; but. according to others. from its
being dedicated by them. before their con.
version to Christianity, to their idol. Rhc-
da. The name was afterwards changed
to Lenet Monat. or Length Month, be.
cause it is in March that the length Of
the day first begins to exceed that Of the
night.
The month Of March is interesting in
many particulars. Notwithstanding the
boisterous winds and frequent storms which
have acquired for it the character Of COM
ing in like lion.' yet we seem. at its very
commencement. to DO taking leave Of the
rigors Of winter. The air. though cold,
is generally clear. healthy. aud free from
damp and fogs; the trees begin to pu,
forth their leaves. the birds to sing. anil
those who have taken shelter in our cline
from the intense cold Of northern win
ter. are already returning to their native
regions. 1t appears. in fact. as it all ma
ture was preparing to welcome the return
Of Spring. which commences on the Goth
Of this month. when the sun enters the
Of Aries. or the Ram From
this period the weather generally becomes
milder. yielding gradually to the genial
rays Of the sun; bees venture out of their
hives, and flowers begin to stud the fields
and gardens. until March. which. accord
ing to the prorcrb. has come IN like a
lion. goes out like lamb The hero
glyphic or pictorial representations Of
March. have generally consisted Of. man.
Of tawny color and fierce aspect With q
helmet on his head. representing. in fact.
the heather god Mara. He Is unaccom-
panied. however. by any other warlike en-
sign than his hrlmei: one hand holds .
bunch Of almond blossoms and other scions,
while basket Of seeds hangs upon the
same arm. The other hand either holds
or rests upon . ram. typical cf the sign
Aries. The poet Spenser represents him
rs riding on . ram. and scattering seed
over the ground
Sturdy March, with brows fun ssersiy beat
Ard armed strongly, rode upon . ram.
The same which over Heilespontns swan;
Yet in his hand spade he also heat,
And in . bag all sorts Of seeds ysame,
And hlled her wo0e with fruitful hops Of aoar-
ishment."
A dry March Is reckoned .mosa favora.
bic TO the future prospects Of the garden
CT. the florist. and the hnshandman. and
hence The proverbs. A bushel Of March
dust i worth kiag's sansom;' "A dry
March never begs IDS bresd;' and On the
osher hssd. March grass (vhieh vosla
require Vet season 10 grew - sariy)
never did good
!. DEues,sr's AloxraGs.-Ths April asu-
Der Of this popular periodical comes to -
Itesh - . Spring daisy. Il l. very much
sal.rred. and every vsy Improved. and
re gsess The hdies a-s right shea they
. u = -