The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-01-01
FREDERICK w. BAKER, Editor.
A Happy New Year.

A whole year of happy days The Egii
wishes to all its readers-366 happy days, fol
1892 is leap year. Leap year, we all know
was 30 arranged that the perfect system Of
time might work itself out and the Goth day
February is said to be the one upon which
the sun frowns because somebody has to do
an extra days work. If, according to one
modern scientist, ode sun do move" it is
probably old Sol himself who has an extra
hard time of it.
This year is the one in four during which
lovely woman may. if she will, take aggres-
sive steps in the matter of choosing part
ner for life. When this custom first came
into use nobody knows, but if the legends
are to be trusted it was leap year when our
mother Eve made her appearance in the Gar
den of Eden and put matrimony into
Adams head, but about this no man knows.
Leap year is said to be especially popular
with the men-poor, shy frightened crea-
tures-as well it may be. Woman goes
through life in one-half, one-third sort of
fashion in the main now is her opportunity
New Years day is the time for good resolu-
tions; rouse yourselves, maids, the field is
open resolve for one year that you will not
stand back and watch the man of your choice
drift from you without making sign of dis
tress.
So
Superstitious fancies concerning the new
year are numerous and curious. In general
the first actions of the year are regarded as in
some degree symbolizing what the remaining
days will bring FORTH hence the idea that
when you sweep on New Years you should
sweep toward and not from the house, lest
your good luck be swept away. Another
fancy Is that if you do not have something
new on the first day you will have nothing
new all the year. A light must not be taken
out of the house on that day lest there be a
death in the family.
One of the curiosities of superstition is
that it is more unlucky to meet a woman on
New Years day than man. In the Isle of
Wight the housewife spreads ashes before
the door on New Years eve and in the morn
ing looks for foot print. If it points in
ward there will be an addition to the family,
either by birth or otherwise; if, however, it
points outward the omen is death. In many
countries the weather of the first day of the
year is Indicative of what is to come. The
Shepherds Kalendar" declares, "If New.
Years Day in the morning open with dusky
red clouds, it denotes strife among great
men, and many robberies that year"
In regard to conduct the superstition is
that the day should be spent in good deeds or
ill luck will follow. This is doubtless the
origin of the time-honored custom of forming
good resolutions with the opening of the new
year. What shall we say of them j. e. good
resolutions? They are either commendable
or contemptible-plants whose value depends
upon the seed and the soil. Good resolutions
are in order at all times-therefore at this
time but let them be eternal, not ephemeral.
1t is our own fault if they are like Jonah's
gourd that withered when the sun was hot !;
they might be like David's tree planted by
the rivers of water that bringeth forth its
fruit in its season.