The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-06-12

IAN Essay read by Rev. c. S Converse at the Seminary
at Rngoes, May I'd, 1881
The theme lave sesscted for our consider
attention in every audience like the one before
me. If there is any one topic that will bright
en- the intellect, quicken the memory, and de-
velop generally the faculties of the average
school-boy or schoolgirl, it is a holiday 1t
improves the intellect, for the scholars are al
ways scheming how to secure one quickens
the memory, for forgetting it is something
unheard of in the annals of the schools de-
velops the imagination, for the holiday is the
best kind of foundation for gorgeous arcas-
tles-idle dreamings of the busy brain. We'll
coined by all, to some it seems to bestow
special blessings. To the dull, lazy scholar
the holiday appears an oasis in the midst of
the dreary desert of life, a ray of sunshine
bursting through the clouds of sombre day,
or the refreshing shade of great tree in
hot and weary Summer land.
There are various kinds of holidays Some
are known to the schools alone, as Wednesday
and Saturday afternoons in the schools of by
our present system. Precious boon to the
young idea learning to shoot, and in some
places, where the work is laid aside on Satur-
day afternoons, to the older folks also but in
general unknown after the days of school life
are over. Then there are holidays designed
not for the young alone, but for the benefit of
the whole community. Such is Sunday, the
day of rest. Experience, no less than religion,
demonstrates the advantage of breathing
spell amidst the bustling cares of life, and one
day in seven is set aside by law for the re-
freshment of man and beast. But more than
this is necessary, for this day bears a religious
character, and secular holidays are felt to be
needed A number of these have been gen.
orally recognized, as Christmas, New Year,
July Fourth and many others. In some plac-
es the number is larger, in others smaller
There are countries where their number
makes them public nuisance, by withdraw
ing too large portion of the laborer's time
from his daily toll in other lands their num-
Der might well be increased, for the good of
the people demand pure recreation. Some of
these days are recognized by law, and suspen-
sion of business may safely be INDUCED in
without fear of evil consequences. Thus the
law provides that the post-offices and other
Government Offices may be closed on certain
days. except for certain specified hours, gen
orally from 8 to 10 o'clock in the morning,
and that notes falling due on such days are
payable the day before.
Some few of these general holidays, design
ed for special purposes, are of recent origin,
but for the most part these are local, and have
been unable to gain recognition beyond limit
ed circles. Thus in some large cities GER
tain day during the exhibition Of the State or
Agricultural Fair is set aside as holiday
the schools are shut, the stores closed and
business generally suspended. Another H.
lustration of this class is Memorial Day, or
Decoration Day, as it is called in some places
This too is a day of the people, when business
is laid aside, and old and young together re-
pair to the cemetery where the dead heroes
sleep, and there feed the fame of patriotism
in their breasts by Offering tributes of affec-
ton to those who have sealed their love of
country with their blood.
Holidays, to obtain general dominion, must
exercise their sway through the affections of
the masses, not the laws of the rulers. Many
efforts have been made from time to time to
regulate them by laws, inventing new ones
and abolishing the old. Thus the French
Convention, in 1903, abandoned the weekly
Lords Day, and set apart one day in ten for
popular recreation but laws on paper, here,
as elsewhere, showed their impotence, and
twelve years, even in those revolutionary
times, sufficed to restore the old order. The
arguments of philosophers, the dictates of
prudent politicians could not perform the
work that must spring from the affection of
the masses.
One result of this law of holidays, is that
most of them are very ancient Generation
after generation for many centuries have kept
the same days in the same manner, and de-
livered them as legacies to their children
The origin of most of them is lost IN the twi-
light of the early dawn of civilization. There
are indeed some of recent birth. Such are
Washington's Birthday. and the Fourth of
July. Both of these sprang from the great
revolution of 1775-'S3, in which America
sprang into being as nation-they are the
birthdays of our Republic endeared to us by
all the ties of patriotism and national pride.
AS such they have an exceptional existence,
but can not disprove the general law. In this
busy age of progress the minds of the people
are too much occupied for their affections to
have time to centre on any great event or per-
son. 1t is an age of inventions, of science
and of philosophy-and it may be doubted
whether the nineteenth century could have
given origin even to a Fourth of July. One
great event presses too closely upon the heels
of its predecessor to allow time for any to
take firm hold on the affections of the multi
tude. To certain extent this has been true
ever since the revival Of learning that termi-