The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-01

rss--HApPY NEW yEARI-IssT


TIE New Years day OF January has
fought down all rivals since the far-oT
days OF King Nama Of Rome. who IS cred
tied with making that month the frat in
the year. Some several hundred years be-
fore the Christian era. or about z,5zo years
ago the name OF the god, Janus. who is
the deity presiding over openings, was
given 70 the opening % the year. The year
or the ancient Greeks began On December
q. the winter soIstice, but e was not I'M
~ 1864 that the advanced nations OF thu
world accepted January ! az New Years
day. Beginning the new year with the re-
turn OF the sun. as II vas thea regarded.
Was beautiful Idea. It Is supposed that
the Romans intended the year TO begin at
The Same time as the Greeks with the true
notion Of another beginning. but julius
Caesar who finally fixed he exact day for
the old IAtlns. put Il several days later.
in order 70 have It agree with the new
moon.
IL seems hard 70 realize that only about
80 years ago Sex Year's day fell upon
different dates. among Ensllsh-speaking
people In some parts OF the British Isles
New Tears day was March Is The Jews be-
gan their ecclesiastical year about March
2. but their civil year began with the
Astumnal equinox. September Q. and the
ancient Egyptians. ChaldeAns. Psrsiahs.
Syrians. Phoenleians and carthasenians
yeckonsd In the same way. In Russia ths
year. until the time OF Peter the Great. be-
gan September !.
All peoples SEEM, hewcver. 20 have
agreed that the entering upon another
cycle OF the sun was a time 20 he oele-
brafsd with rejoscing. The early CHRIS
tan church condemned the celebration OF
New Years Gay. not only because " was
a rsfc OF heather worship. but because
they dated the beginning wiki the time Of
the nsayfty. The social custom prevailed.
however. end the Christians gave il re-
lbgieus character by making s. festival
IN honor OF the circumcision. and IA the
Anglican churches this II stili retained
Bearing IN mind that Janus was god
WHO hooked both backward and forward.
II Is easy 20 comprehend how 81 cams 10
he favorite period for the forming of
now resolutions. II IS tho day Of retro
speot and prospect. The old dead leaves
save been buried beneath the earth. the
6scsying remnants Of the old period have
been covered by the soft and ohartta5se
mantle OF ire SNOW. and Man looks for
ward to the new buds OF promise 70 eoms
In the spring Each New Years day be-
comes milestone on the road OF life,
marking the increasing distance from the
beginning and tho decreasing distance 60
tae inevitable end.
Each years l-rst day brings with 4,
fresh hope. ard while the forming Of reso-
buttons may De foolish because Of their
failure through human fraslty. q be5okens
an instinct m &Ae heart 10 discard faults
anG fo3lios and attempt TO reach some
tAlng better.
New Years resolutions do no harm aud
may do Eood. Il IS certain that there Is
90 man who couas not honor himsslf by
ore sustained determination % avoid the
Shortcomings whose evils experience has
pointed out z, forms good starting
po'ag. snd chose who have che desire 60
mark an advance n fhsir own Develop
mens viii succeed r they have the moral
courage - stand ny WHAT they know to De
f-~wf