The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-01
LEAP YEAR THOUGHTS.
AN ENTERTAINING LECTURE BY THE
REV. DIR. 8. H. soNNEsCHEIN.
The Learned Jewish Rabbi Demonstrates
by Mathematical Methods That wom-
an Has the Right to Propose Delight
full Musical Program.

night. The preponderance OF those pres
ent were from jewish circles. though
Gentle faces were seen numerously scat
tered among the handsome audience. The
program arranged for the occasion was an
unusually brilliant one, consisting Of vocal
and instrumental music and lecture by
the scholarly and eloquent rabbi, DR.. S.
ii. Sonneschein, Of st. Louis. The enter
tainment began promptly at s o'clock
with an overture by Arnold's orchestra.
Following this came delightful vocal
duet, Rubinstein's "Wanderers Night
Song" by Misses Florence Gage and
Emma Peake, and Nevins "Sercnade,"
vocal solo, by Miss Mary Mhoon. Both
numbers were heartily encorcd, and the
accomplished vocalists graciously respond
cd. ..
DIR. S. II. Sonncschein was then intro
duced, and after the round Of applause
that greeted his appearance delivered
very interesting lecture, taking for his sub
ject leap Year Thoughts" as stated in
the program. The speaker began by ask
ing the origin OF leap year. Every one
axis and around the sun docs not finish her
year exactly within a certain number Of
days that make up full year. there are a
few hours, and minutes. and seconds TO
spare, and they have to be rcckoned for in
some way. The speaker admitted that
this apparently gave little food for refec-
ton II II were not for the fact that leap
year is somewhat distinguished by a GER
tain amount OF freedom allowed that sex
which at all other times is restrained by
the most rigid rules Of social modesty. We
must not forget that the month OF Febru-
airy was originally tho twelfth month
Of the year. December used TO hold
only tenth place, January the eleventh
and February the twelfth or the last. II
corresponds with the twelfth month OF the
lunar year, which is the month. Of Adar,
and the speaker only had two reasons TO
give why the twelfth month is selected for
that additional date; ii was not 80 much
because II happened TO be the last, as for
that II kept the first day Of new year, that
from time TO time should be had to make
the proper calculation, but that thanks
were due to the good Queen Esther, who
introduced the dignity and the splendor
and the gaioty ofthe twelfth Jewish month,
and also 10 the people OF the old Latin and
Roman times who, in the month OF Feb
ruary-that Is, the last Of the year-granted
kind OF unbounded freedom, and for
once not only slave, but also the women,
in Rome were set free 10 do as they pleased.
So far, the speaker said, he had kept him.
self within the bounds OF mere fact, but
| the fact was not fault. In the first place,
why is Il that the year, being made up by
the revolution OF the earth around her
axis and around the sun, IL not
methodicalg Where Il II? Where does Il
come from that there are hours and min
utes and seconds 10 spare7 Now every
thing In nature, and especially in the con-
stellation OF the stars and the heavens Ii
mcthodical-scrupulously. infinitely true
and rounded up and finished and COM
pleted, and yet we have something 10
spare. Where does II come from2 IL IL
the inertia, the inertncss Of matter, which
is constantly, sluegishly fighting against
motion, resisting the propellingpower that
makes the globe swim andspin around and
around, time and time eternally. Earth Is
earthly, matter Is dull. Matter, per Sc,
| would not move an inch II not driven by a
force OF some kind. Now" continued the
speaker, "for 20 many countless thousands
oil years this old globe which We have in
nhDltcu ihH Dttu tohinR hhu Ioilhk unu
rolling through endless space UNI
out and II goes little
bit slower and in about 10, OOO, 900 years Il
will go little Bit slower yet. and In about
100, 900, 600 or 1000, 100000 years II will
come TO slandstill and there will be no
leap year at all. think this IL the rule,
because Of these few hours and minutes
and seconds We have 10 spare, and II il a
great lesson which history and science and
religion and anything that makes up the
world intellectually better for humanity
which Is reproduced In the fact Of the
cause and effect Of leap year. ! take IL
for granted that here n the dull earth
sluggish and We have forever the ami
mated, constantly moving spirit defined.
] think the first leap year was when old
| Adam WAS about 10 leave the Garden OF
Eden. think, poor fellow, he could not
muster up courage enough 10 propose 10
Eve when sho appeared before him, and
that Evo took advantage Of Adams timid-
ity and the leap year privileges and pro-
posed 10 Adam. Eve, correctly speaking,
was named by the good old book the
mother Of all.
'Tho speaker cared not what the living
| Adam, who never had done what human.
| ity has achieved during these numbcrless
| Thousands OF years since tho first Adam
was created, OF how that clay was formed
into shape OF n human being. Humanity
commenced with Eve. Adam represented
he dull, sluggish mass, was the very type
OF dullard and couldn't comprehend his
real position there until Evc came along
and by mere glance OF the eye, or by n
mere touch ofthe hand awokc him. Adam,
where art thou9 Gctupl Move onward
When they say that the mind Of woman
changes and the mind Of a man Is UNI
changcable, say In accordance with this
| iBt leap year that TINT proves that there
II moro spirit. more movabiliiy, and more
go.aheaditiycncxs In woman aud morc
ncrtia In man. [Applause from the
ladica.
Ihc speaker next proceeded with the
arithmclical key 10 the calculation Of leap
year. II WIS the square root. Divide
any given number 81 years by four and
YOU will have leap year, and there was
something Ia that. What was the square
root 81 humanity at might sound
strange" said the speaker that ask that
question. What IN the sqnarc root 81 hu.
manity3 Finl, man N alone. Multiply
the man thatis alone and You will have
tho family; multiply the family which Is
alone and you will have the nation; null
tiply the nation alonc and you will have
tho entire humanity. That Is the square
root Of humanity"
The speaker went ON 10 relate the part
woman bad played In the history Of tho
I.... ..at.e. The s.uf..o "a nal.nf.H Ia ftlua.