The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-05-14
HOW WOMEN GOT THE RIGHT.
Tradition Gives the Credit of Leap Year
Customs to st. Patrick.

The words OF Thomas attempts,
Man proposes" suffer impeachment
each fourth year, when. according to 4
mythical custom, the right to the matri-
mOnial propositions is extended, though
not surrendered, to the gentler sex, says
the Washington Star. The leap year
1896 should be accepted by the hopeful
maidens who are determined to make
hay while the sun Shines" for there
will not be another such opportunity
for eight years. Once each century,
with certain exceptions, the leap year
IS omitted This eXtra-long year was
the device of Julius Caesar, who under
took to remedy an evil which had
grown up through the practice of the
Roman priests of frightening or short
ening the calendar year at pleasure.
But his proclamation that a day be
added to February each fourth year was
misunderstood, and each third year the
increase was made, so that gradually
there came 10 be a discrepancy between
the calendar and the astronomical year,
which was partially corrected by Au-
gustus in B. c. Pope Gregory in 1877
undertook to straighten out the Calen-
dar and brought things out right by
annulling ten days. He ordained that
the four-year rule be strictly observed
throughout the Christian world, and
practically provided for a fractional
discrepancy by eliminating the leap
year in all but one in four of the cen
fury years. In other words. by virtue
of the leap-year system the gain would
be too great in a century, and thus 1870
had but 365 days, also 1880, and 1900
will be of the same length. The year
1000 will be yeap year, also 2400. In
short, the same rule of division by four
that applies to the ordinary twenty
years to place the extra day is also
urged with the century years.
Thus the Notwithstanding woman
starts on her career with a handicap.
She must forego the privilege con-
ferred upon her by the custom that is
believed to have had its origin during
the first century, when st. Patrick was
ChristianiZing Ireland and incidentally
driving out the vermin. The legend
runs that, having accomplished this
most praiseworthy feat, the holy man
was walking along the shores of Tough
Leagh, when he was addressed by ST.
Bridget, weeping because there was 4
mutiny in the institution over which
she presided. Her charges had claimed
the right Ito pop the question" St
Patrick acknowledged the general JUS
tice Of their demands and said he would
grant the right to propose every seventh
year. st. Bridget protested that her
girls would never be content with such
a plan, whereupon ST. Patrick agreed to
reduce the time to four years and Of
fered in the bargain TO select the long
est year of all, leap year, as that in
which women might propose. That
identical year being provided with an
extra day, st. Bridget Immediately in
augurated the custom by proposing to
st. Patrick, who, of course, declined in
Difference to his priestly occupation.
st. Bridget protested that this was a
violation Of the bargain and a COM
promise was finally reached by which
st. Patrick escaped from matrimony by
giving kiss and silk gown, which for
centuries formed the penalty paid by
man who declined woman's Dropos.i