Sharp County record., 1891-12-03
ADVANTAGES OF LEAP YEAR.

IAN Essay read before the Irving Society il
Evening Shade, Noy. 2S, 1891, by Miss BERT
DAvIDsoN.l
Leap>year possesses the advan'
tage of variety if nothing else, fol
it occurs only once in four years. 1t
is called Leap.year because an adj
dltional full.grown day leaps into
the calendar, thereby lengtheniug it
out to S66 DAYS. 1t so happens that
the leap-years coincide with those
wears Of the Christian era which are
divisible by the number 4, without
remainder.
Is there anything in this to sug'
gest that by proper utilization of
the rights accorded them there may
be brought about such a ringing of
wedding bells that at the end of the
366th day no remainder of the hon
orable society of ancient spinsterS
stands TO the right of the quotient
made by the division of eligible
young green-horns? Well, hardly.
yet perhaps there is suggestiyencss
in the suggestion.
Other important advantages are,
that it gives eighteen additional
hours over our solar year. Then,
there is time for more weddings, and
to those already married there is
time for longer repentance. A
greater advantage is the supposed
freer privileges given the old maid
to 60 up and down the earth to seek
whom she may devour; and this ad-
vantage given her, brings out the
bashfuI and tlmid young man or the
widower, always difident, as the
case may be, and all have ample op-
portunltles of getting married, or
knowing the reason WHY, as this has
long been year set apart For the
ladies to propose instead of the gen.
tlemen; and there being few men
who can resist the smiles of the be-
witchlng old maid as she snaps her
false teeth and fourishes her won>
derfully constructed bangs, much
good is accomplished and many fine
catches made.
While discussing this most impor-
tant phase of the question, | will
Just relate the story Of gentleman
friend of mine who was very, very
timld, and how he was blessed all
on account of leap-year, 1t has long
been the custom in Northeast Arkan,
sas to have party on the first day
of leap>year, ana for the gins - 4
send their cards to the young gen
tlemen and accompany them.
THE STORY.
Situated amidst cluster Of beau
tiful hills whose SUBMITS are crowned
with evergreenpines, is flourishing
Arkansas village, sometimes called
the "Gem of the Hills" wherein on
Jan. lst, 1888, resided kind old
gentleman, a wilowor; but this was
no fault of his. TO this kind, good
man, as the story books say, there
went bevy of girls and insisted on
his giving a party; and, | believe
promislsing HIM that the school"
ma'am upon whom he had been
paying his most DEVOTED attentions,
should propose that evening. So, of
course he consented, and the girls all
prepared their cards. There was a
iimid young gentleman, of whom |
have spoken before, who had com
pleted his education but had never
made his debut in society.
The girls seemed to like his apN
pearance, but were afraid to approach
hlm on account of his timidlty. At
last a fair.eyed girl proposed that
she would try to capture this much
admired but sly beau, so she sent a
card and offered to escort him to the
party, but alasl he refused, though
it was evident that this advance set
his big heart to throbbing and before
the year was gone, the beau had made
himself very agreeable to this same
young lady, and now, alas! again, il
il whispered that before the first day
Of another leapyear rolls around they
will bo united in the bonds Of matri'
mony.
Now If 1t had not been for there
being a leap year, coupled of course
with the bravery Of the girl, this
young man might have been cleft to
blush unseen" and this young and
tender heart might never have been
thrilled and might add tire young
lady might have become an old
maid.
But tho greatest advantage we de-
rive from leap.yearafter all is the adj
ditional day given US TO more per-
fectly prepare our duties, the thous'
ands Of smiles that may DO given to
be treasured in the heart, and did you
ever think Of it2 the thousands OF
souls that may be saved to the Mas
| 4. A L., Il