The morning call., 1892-01-24
LEAP YEAR.
Il Was Poetic Justice 10 Dedicate Il 10 the Fair
MidGlS.

Il was chiyalrc conception Of the as
tranomers when they were regulating the
calendar of time 10 award every fourth
year to the fair sex who occupy a state of
single blcssedness. In doing so they were
liberal enough TO make it day longer than
the ordinary year in order that they might
have more latitude in the exercise OF the
freedom tits supposed to bring them.
The idea Of leap year is credited to Julius
Caesar, who, it seems, was puzzled as to
what disposition to make of the extra five
hours, forty-e Eht minutes and forty-nine
Seyen-teuths seconds that overlap the S6j
DAYS that mark the four seasons of the year.
February being the shortest OF the twelve
months, the plan was adopted Of making a
new day for 1t every four years by adding
the extra hours, minutes AMI seconds to-
ge,her and Quadrennially dignity ii with
tWeuty-niue days. This looping off the eX-
ira time and adding it together was called q
leap, ana hence the term leap year.
That was long ago, when the centuries
were young, bat the plan has been found to
work satisfactorily, and The ladies have
never been willing TO rennuulsh their pro-
prietoTship in the year that they considered
their own, and during which they are per-
mItted without undue criticism 10 take
hand in the cOurtShinS which are calculated
to cuTtail the bacheOThood of tmid young
men. And tile pertinent question is often
asked: Why should not q woman tell man
she loves him If she choose 10, and propose
to him that their lives be cast together for
better or for worse?
Men have a monopoly of tha counting
business for three years, and If they are too
mvdest 10 make their wishes known per-
hans it is meet that a woman should have
the privilege once in four years Of taking
the initiative that is to lead to her domestic
felicity.
They have a very ilustrlous example in
the person Of Queen Victoria. who cOurted
Prince Albert, and she made him a good
wife. Patti did not hesitate to tell the man
she loved that she wanted him for hus-
band, and he gladly accepted the proffer Of
her heart and hand.
More and more each year do the women
embrace the opportunities Of their own
year, and, If men are 10 be believed, they
are only too glad that the ladies have n wear
Of their own and the nerve TO tell the men
Just what they think on the subject OF
marriage
Newark is fun Of eligible young bache-
lors and they needn't blush when the g rls
approach them on tender subjects. Some
men are so contrary, however, that they
will not tolerate such advances, and there
seems to be but little use in girl wasting
her golden leap-year days on them.
This is to be great year for the ladies
who are growing weary of going it alone
through life. Sordld and perverse must be
a bachelor who can withstand their smiles
and the promptiDgs of their loving hearts.
1t is singular coincidence, however. but
the statistics show that while there are
great many marriages during leap wear.
there are also a superabundance Of divorce
suits.
The young lady who has curbed her fancy
Tor the past three years can unreln now and
tell the man who is the object of il that She
would like to become bis life companion.
This is their year, and if they do not appro-
pirate it to advantage then it is ali their
fault.
Let no man blush or turn deaf ear to his
fair speech-maker when she asks him If he
is not tired of being bachelor. PropOsals
for matrimOny are a legitimate function of
young ladies in this year of our Lord l8g2.-
Newark Journal.