The morning call., 1890-05-18

WkNr .EdoR1AL DAY - c. e. l., Bozeman,
sNs8 Mont. Memorial day april 26tD is a
1SS1S legal holiday in Alabama and Georgia.
nv aud (Msy 3otm In California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Dakota THAT was, Iowa. Illinois,
indiana, Kansas, kentucky, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio. Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin aud Wyoming. Pre-
elsely when or In whaG community took place the
first instance OF calling upon the citizens In gen.
eral 10 come together for the purpose Of bestrew-
ing with flowers the graves OF the dead soldiers
seems TO be Impossible 10 determine. It's OBJ
seTvauce has been spontaneous growth from
the tender remembrance by mothers, sisters,
wives, sweeIhearts and younger relatives and
survivors generally II is claimed that there were
instances Of Tie observance OF Memorial day as
early as the spring Of 1863, while some say as
early as The summer Of 1862. For some years
there was no general agreement as to the time
Of observing the day, but when It be-
came desirable 10 settle on specific one
TO be kept every year, May Both having been
fixed upon by one or more Legislatures, was
adopted generally. Mrs. Sarah Nicholas Evans,
who died In 1884 IN Des Moines Iowa, was said
10 have b. en- one of four ladies with whom the
Observa nee Of the day originated. On April 10,
:
Mrs. Evans, with the wife and two daughters OF
Chaplain May of the Second Regiment, Michigan
Volunteers, decorated the graves of number OF
soldiers buried on Arlington Heights. In May,
1864 they performed the same service, and in
May, 1866, at the graves OF soldiers buried al
Fredericksburg, and Tor that Mrs. Evans received
formal recognition by Croker Post, No. H. OF Des
MONIES IN FEBRUARY, 1873, and few months later
also Miss Ella May, then survivor OF the four.
Memorial day or, as II was first known to the
Northern States Decoration day." is, on the
other nand, said 10 have originated IN the South,
and when The war had closed The custom had
become quite general and an unwrltien law had
fixed upon May 3Oth as the day for its observ-
auCe. In lie North, while similar services had
been iuaugurated, no especial unanimly was de
YeIuprd Until 1868, when for the fist time the
same dale was adopted and the daily papers of
Thai year contain The earliest general indication
81 popular movement, the q. A. r.. then In
The eaily days OF Its organization, naturally TAX
ing the lead IN estd bliShlng uTecedeuts. Tue day
was formally established by The late John A.
lUgaa, lheD CUmmandeT-in.C Chief, in a general
OideI designating the SON of May, 1868, - Tor
tile pun oSe OF strewing with flowers or other
wise decorating The graves of comrades who
died IN defense oil their country during the late
rebellion and whose bodies now lie In almost
every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the
land" AT the National Encampment at ProVi.
denee in 1877, there having heen "some
ulnr rences OF opinion as TO The intent and
meaning Of Memorial day" the encamp-
ment " resolved mat the Grand Army OF the
Republic seeks mus TO preserve the memory Of
IhOse only who fought IN defense OF the national
unlIy." Al The encampment at Springfield, Mass,
in june, 1878, IL was resolved that all flags
hoisteG on Memorial day be at hxll-mast" II
was The encalnpmenI al Baltimore, In 1882,
which made the request OF the COmmander-in-
Chief o Issue general order calling the atten-
lion Of The officers and members OF The Grand
Army Of The Republic and The people al large to
Ibe iaet thai The proper designation OF May Both
is Memorial day." and 10 request that IL NAV be
always so called. The veterans OF New Jersey
in Department Convention IN 1874 were II Is
believed, The nrst TO make an effort TO secure
legislative action 10 legaiZe the day as holiday.
/ lie b! 10 that effect was defeated in the Senate
on March 26, 1874, though II went through the
lower house without dlftculty," and was intro
duced by Colonel George Patterson, member
from Monmouth. General W. j. Sewell the
only soldier IN the Senate, had charge OF the
bill IN that body. In December, 1870,
James >. Negley Of Pennsylvania introduced in
Tie United States House Of Representatives a
measure Tor the collection, printing aud binding
OF tie proceedings OF different cities, towns,
etc, held on The 29th and 3Oth days OF May,
1869 ahd 1870, and 1.-The record OF the cere-
hivnles Of the decoration OF the honOred tOmbs
of lhe drlaTted," but tie resolution was never
reported UPON In February 1870 the Senate
Conmltie,- on Military Affairs reported adversely
on joint House resolution Introduced by Robert
L. Scheuc~ OF ONO ITO establish the SON day OF
May IN each year "A public holiday" No record
appears OF Il having been taken up again, though
Senator Ihayer of Nebraska gave notice at the
time that he would do so. In june 1872 Duel
OF New York introduced IN the House similar
bill, which was referred 10 the Committee on Ju-
dietary, but no reference 10 any subsequent &C.
lion Is found IN the Congressional Record-in
shout, Congress has never IegaliZed the day as q
holiday, though petitioned by the q. a. K. to
do 50.
LANGUAGE OF GEMs-H. H., City. The
sucents attributed marvellous properties to many
Of The precious stones and particular one was
regarded as sacred to each month of the year.
II is still customary among lovers and friends tc
notice the significance attached to the various
stones in making birthday engagements and we'd
ding presents. The stones sacred TO the months
and The language OF each are as follows; jam.
aTy-Garnet; c0nstancy and fidelity in every en-.
Raeenent. FebIuary-Amethyst; a preventive
against violent passions. March-BloodstOne
courage, wisdom and frmness In afftction
ApriI-Diamondi denotes faith, innocence and
virginiiy. May-Emerald; discovers false friend,
and inSuTes true love. Juue-Agate; insures
loBg life, health and prosperity. July-Ruby
discovers polsons and correcfs evils resulting
from mistaken friends. August-Sardonyx; in
suTes coniugal felicity. September-SapphIre
Trees from enchaDtment and denotes repentance
ocio6er-opal; denotes hopes and sharpens the
sight and faith Of the pOssessor. November
Topaz; bdelty and friendship and prevents baC
dreams. December-Turquolse gives success
especially In love.
MAY DAY.. F., Vallejo, Cal. From the an.
eient Foalia or festival In honor OF Flora, cele-
brated by the Romans from April 2Sth TO MAY
I'd, is probably derived the medieval and modern
custom OF observing May LIST MAY day with
festive and floral rites. The Drulds also were
accustomed to light large fires upon the summits
OF hills on the eve of May. From the time Of
Chaucer references TO May day festivities are
common 10 En- gltsh poetry. According to an.
c!eDt custom In England all ranks OF people
arose al early dawn OH May day and went oul
"a laying" to welcome The advent OF spring
rise with the Romans. The May pole was once
general throughout the country, and The Assem-.
blage OF the people, sanctioned by the presence
Of The priests marching on May morning in pro
cfsSlDn QelgllOT1nR wood Al
triumph with the pole around which were sus.
pended flowers, boughs and other tokens OF the
spring season. May pole once fixed often re-
NAMED until nearly the end of the year. and
there were some specially made Of durable
wood. which remained for many years and were
from time to time resorted 10 al other seasons Of
the year.
PAY OF WHALERs-T. H., City. Captains
and brst mates OF whalers do not receive sal.
sTy." They enter into contract with the
masters or charterers of the vessel by which
according to their respective positions, they re
celVe pIo rata percentage or LAY" OF the value
OF the catch Of the season OF their vessel. A.
a matter OF iaet, the services OF whalers are pro
cured for as little money as possible. On steam
whaling vessels the captain receives fifteenth
share and the first mate twentieth share OF the
eaiehi on sailing vessels, from tenth up, gener
ally averaging a twelfth, and the mate from
fifteenth 10 tweniy-nfth share, averaging about
an eighteenth. The only SALARY" received by
any one on whaler is by the engineer of a steam
whaler, who may receive small wages besides {
share 10 the catch.
PROVING Up BY A WIDow-A. L. N, Calls
toRa, Cal. Your sister and her husband having
seven years ago made presumption filing anC
lived on the land until the expiration OF the limit
III which 10 prove up aud then not being able Il
pay ior Il, took out homestead on ihe same
ana have lived continuously on the land since
that time, but the husband having died and III,
homestead not having been proved up upon owinf
10 The time Tor II not having arrived, the widow
Is entitled to all the credit Tor all tho time in tn
presumption claim and all the time they hay,
been on the homestead. both counted as resi-
dence on the homestead, and can prove up a
any time. The Land ONCE fees for the sam,
will be SO so.
The WORLDS FARM. A. G., Los Gatos
Cal. II was Intended to celebrate In 1892 by
great International exhibition The four hundredtt
anniversary of the discovery OF America BY
Christopher Columbus AS. however, there will
be Presidential election that year, Chicago
where the exhibition will be held. secured a post
ponement until the summer OF 1893, the exac
time not having been fixed upon.
MAJORITY VoTE-M. Met, City. Til
majority vote required in any society to carry
any general proposition would be one or mort
a Fnf H1....