The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-01-15
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
APPROVES OF THE HOLIDAYS AND
- WANTS MORE OF THEM.
Philosopher Gives Some Interesting Facts
- as to HOW Our Constitution Was -
Madc-He-SusgestsC Changes ,....
TheLslidass ars O sr ,aua nov, Ist; rs .ail


buckle down TO the work of II new year.
Fhese holidays used to be hoiy-drys, but
they are not very sacred now. They seem
necessary, however, for the rest and rclaNa-
tion of the mind as we'll a tho body. The
routine and tension Of business cares must
be broken at least once a year. 1t is like
greasnG tho wagon 10 make it run easy. lt
is like recess and saturday to school chill
dren. The mai iority of people in this country
---lis~-teo much on IL strain and do not take
relaxation enough. \ man should not live
in trcadmill. CampmcCtinSs. excursions.
-picnicS and an occasional sporting daS al
,helpthe tired mind just as Il good liver med
icind lsk,sstfi digestion This rest and
change reacts upon the physical nature and
keeps mind and body in tune. The Ameri-
can ncoplc ara in too much hurry. more SO
than any othCr people Tho hahit came
from New England, where the rigor OF cii-
mate AMI poverty of soil forced them to
extraordinary diligence. Down south, in tho
City of Mexico. there is no haste. Merchants
close their stores and mechanics leave their
shops ut ! O'clock. ard all hands go to their
noonday meal and stay for an hour an"
half. They take their time to eat and then
TO smok".-thc men their cigars and tho
women their cigarettes. Tho stores are not
opened until 10 o'clock in the morning.
Everybody has leisure, and enjoy il. The
English people work hard. but not al tho
tim" They will sit NJ tn" table and discuss
their roast beef and the affairs Of the nation
for an hour or more If III" world IL shaking
with an earthquake. They have holidays all
. There are seven legal holidays that the
. .rhurch established. such rs Good Friday,
Easter Monday, Ash Wednesday, ct". They
have many more on the civil ana military
lists.
We have bu! two in the United State that
may bc6all"J national and are generally OBJ
scrvcd. namCly. the Fourth of July and
Christmas day, Thanksgiving Day is OBJ
served whom il is proclaimed, hut IL IL not
r.njoinnIi hy auy-law. 1t is only custom.
Just ~ is Decoration Day up north and Me-
mortal Day down south. WushinSton's
states, and New Years Day by fourteen of
them. General Lcos birthday is holiday
in several southern states. lu Louisiana
they have Mardi Gras and the hattl" of New
Orleans ~ holidays, and in Texas th"r" Is
Independence Day and the battle 0f San
Jacinto.
Georgia observes all the DAYS Of national
character and all that show devotion To lib
"rty and rcv.r"n"" for hcroiSm. | am proud
to say that Gnrrcia has been always tru" To
the principles tnat our fathers fought for.
Her Il 'lrgiltrS signed the Declaration Of In
Il, peadcnr" without ravil or h"sitatior. For
days and week, the fate Of that declaration
huns: in the balance huu, hya hair and was
carried by i sinE!" vote. Thirteen colonies
- were rrpr.srntwL After long and secret
discussion and much bitterness six voted for
il and six voted against i. Pennsylvania
was last on the roll. lIrr five delegates were
called amidst the hrcalhI"ss silence Of the
convention. The first. who WAS Ben Frank
lin, voted yea. lhr next voted nay. the third
vUic,i yea. and tn f"arth voted nay. John
Norton was the nth AMI last, and upon his
drcyioi hung tho destiny Of nation that
was vet 70 be-. H. was II maa of great ahil-
ity and integrity and II man If prayer. The
convention tr2mhl"d with painful anxiety
when he arose and in solemn voice said:
Il east my vote for liberty and ind"pcnd-