The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-31
TURNING THE LEAF.
A New Page in the Calendar of Time..'
See that You Begin IL Right.
Observing the Day.
EXIT 'S5. ENTER '86.

At12 O'Clock tonight old Father Time
will shake HIS year glass up and turn 1t
over and another year In The astronomical
calendar will have been commenced The
exit of 'S5 will he the birth Of '66. The
first day of January as marking the begin
ming, of the year. was observed-as a pub
lie holiday in Rome from at least the
time of the Julian reformation OF the cal
endar. The day was in ancient time, OBJ
served with abstinence from litigation and
strife, the smoking affairs. the white ROBBED
professions to the capital; exchange Of
visits, giving and receiving of presents as
at Christmas time, disappearing and
feasting. II was the one greatest holiday
common to all under Roman rule. Par>
ticipation by christians in the ordinary
New Years day obscrvances, as well as
in Saturnala of the preceding month OF
December, which was from the first dls>
couraged by the church, called forth re-
peated protests, not only from eminent
individuals, but also from various provin,
cial aynods; christians were expected to
spend the day in quiet meditation. reads
ing the Scriptures and acts of charity and
beuiiicence. When about the fifth cen-
tury, the 25th Of December had gradually
become a fixed festival commemorative of
the Nativity, the lst of January ultimate
ly also assumed specially sacred char
acter as octave of Christmas day and as
the anniversary of the circumcision OF
our Lord. and as such it still figures in
the calendars of the varions branches of
the eastern and of the western church,
though only as II feast of subordinate
importance. The practice of giving and
receiving ''strenae" for luck about the be-
ginning of the year survives in such in
situations as the French 'Jour DIFFERENCES "
and the Scottish "IIandsel Monday" The
Persans used to celebrate the beginning
of the year by the exchange of eggs.
The civil calendar in ell European
countries was borrowed from the Romans,
The ancient Roman year commenced
with March, and it was not until Caesars
reign that January lat was finally settled
upon as the beginning af the aslr"n"m
ical year, the first Julian yeat commencing
January, of the 4Gth before Christ and
the 10Sth from the foundation Of the city
of Rome, which, as our calendar dates
from the birth Of Christ. fixes the first
observance Of January as the beginning
of the astronomical year at 1881 years
ago. Modes of celebrating the day have
changed during modern times 1t has
become day of revelry. OF calling upon
Lady friends. wine drinking. etc.
The transition from one year to anoth-
er has served immenorialIy as a conven-
lent turn table for the locomotive of life.
Those who wish to make change in the
conduct of their affairs can readily run
into the round house where two wears
| meet and come ont headed the other
| way. This change Familiarity knt as
turning new leaf. is generally for the
better Some times one calls a halt upon
himself during the year, saying, mo more
of this until next year and when the
time limit expires he resumes. Happily
that sort of turning the leaf backward is
the exception rather than the rule and
the new resolves for the new year are
generally in the right direction
As the old year is on the eve Of final
devastating each one would do well to
borrow from Diogenes his lantern. and
search every nook and corner of that little
world called self to see just what there is
in it and whittier it all tends There is
certain unity in every human existence,
however inconsistent the conduct and va.
riable the moods There is one purpose
and tendency which leads all the rest and
determines the course The train may be
a mixed one, with all sorts of freight and
all sorts of passengers, but it is bound to
move in one general direction, The best
of traits may ultimately go for nothing,
overborne and crushed down by one bad
habit While searching ones own self
| the inevitable importance of any such evil
tendency or habit should be viewed in
the light of consequences Appreciation
rather than self>scourgings tends to genu
inc reform. TO realize whittier one is
drifting IN needless disregard of the les.
sons of observation and experience is the
first step towards the new and better way.
IN ROCK ISLAND
tomorrow will be observed as all national
holidays. The postoffice, county and city
buildings will be closed and business will
be generally suspended, III the afternoon
at any rate.
vices in Trinity church in commemoration
| of the feast of circumcision. and in the
evening at 80 the missionary guild meets
at the church.
Freight trains will be annulel on most
of the roads, and the general offices
closed, but the passenger trains will run
| as usual
The American and United States ex-
press offices will be closed AT noon, and
| after this at 80 each evening
The banks will close as on all holidays.
WHO ARE HAPPY,
The ARGUS is in wishing all it readers
"a happy New Year
]. 5, Gilmore is because plows and pork
| go SO well together.
c. c. knell is because he has good
hold of Harper's theatre. :