Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-06

constantly showing us the dependent con-
dition under which we exist in regard to
them-not, of course, with any idea Of
boasting over their superiority, but to show
us how inestimably fortunate we are in
having them about us to act as Interpreters
between us and the forces of nature. With
in the last two or three months two phe-
nomena have puzzled us all very consld-
erably-the brilliant red sunsets and the
almost unbroken cloudiness of the past
February. Are not these two facts very
singular, and, to the average mind, quite
ineXplicable? Let us turn to the scientific
men, and ask them to enlighten our darken..
ed understandings. Very happily we find
at hand an article which goes at length into
this interesting question. We read it with
patient care, and sitting it of scientific terms,
and "boiling it down. to the capacity of
the ordinary understanding, we find that it
informs us that there is possible c0nnec-
tion between the red sunsets and the cloudi-
ness of the past month. But what the con-
nection is, or what causes one phenom-
enon or the other it does not say anything
about. Nevertheless, we undoubtedly owe
much to meteorological science, as we could
still further show if we had time.
THE ORIGIN OF LEAP YEAR.-A young
lady writes, says an exchange, to know the
''origin of Leap Year, and the reason, if any,
that ladies can propose to gentlemen during
this year." From the best authority, it is
narrated that on one occasion the good St.
Patrick was strolling along the shore of
Lough Neagh, cooling himself after exer-
tions in eXterminating the snakes, when he
met st. Bridget in tears. 1t appeared that
the young ladies in the convent school pre-
sided over by Miss Bridget had given the
worthy lady much trouble by insisting that
they had as much right to propose as the
men. st. Patrick thought the matter over,
and finally offered compromise. lie said
he would give the ladies the right one year
in seven, when st. Bridget threw her arms
round his neck and exclaimed, "Arrah!
Patrick, jewel, / daren't 60 back to the girls
with such proposal. Make it one year in
four" TO which Patrick, with gallantry
doubtless learned in Ireland, replied: "Brid-
get, acushla, squeeze me that way again,
and I'll give you Leap Year, the longest of
the lot" Bridget thereupon popped the
question" to Patrick on the spot, and the
Saint was compelled to console her the best
way he could with. civil words and new
silk gown. Ever since ladies have had the
right to propose during Leap Year, and, if
refused, to claim silk gown.
THE CURE FOR INTEMPERANCE.-Butt the
great and only real cure for intemperance is
the steady elevation of the community.
TO keep men from drinking you must give
them something else to dO-supply them
with better amusements, with entertain
ments of higher order. You cannot ex-
pect Woodworking men to live without
amusement. Rich people must have their
amusements, their theatres, balls, clubs,
drives, yachts. \ total-abstinence lecture
will not always attract them, nor will a
scientific lecture usually be enough. We
must, therefore, furnish them with every
kind of innocent recreation posssible-pub-
lie garden and park and fireworks in the
summer; libraries and reading-rooms, as
much more as can be added. l am glad of
all cheap popular entertainments, summer
gardens and museums. l wish some rich
man would endow geological garden in
Boston. | wish our theatres might have
good and entertaining plays acted, and then
be opened more freely to the poor, for am
satisfied that you can never eXpel low
taste but by furnishing something little
higher-Jtmes Freeman Cidrke.