The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-10

year. These holidays used to be holy
days. but they are not very sacred now.
I7rhey seem necessary, however, for the
rest and relaxation of the mind as well rs
the body The routine and tension o.
business cares must be broken a least
once 4 year. 1t is like greasing the wagon
to make ii run easy 1t Is like recess and
Saturday to school children. The major
ity of people In this country live too much
on II strain and do not take relaxation
enough a man should not live IN a
treadmin Camp meetings. excursions,
picnics and an occasional sporting day
all help the tired mind just as a good
liver medicine helps the digestion. This
rest and change reacts upon the physical
nature and keeps mind and body in tune
The American people are in TOO much
hurry more 50 than any other people
The habit came from New England
where the rigor OF climate and poverty
Of soil forced them TO extraordinary dill
gence. Down South. in the City Of
Mexico. there is no haste. Merchants
chose their stores and mechanics leave
their shops at O'Clock. and all hands
go to their MONDAY meal and stay for an
hour and Il half They take their time
to eat and then TO smoke-thc men their
cigars and the women their cigarettes
The stores are not opened until 10 o'clock
in the morning Everybody has leisure
and enjoy it, The English people work
hard. but not all the time. They will
set al the table and discuss their roast
beef and the affairs of the nation for an
hour or more il the world is shaking with
an earthquake. They have holidays all
through the year and they observe them.
There arcz~seven legal holidays that the
church established, such as Good Friday,
Easter Monday Ash Wednesday, etc.
They have many more on the civil and
military lists.
We have but two in the United States
that may be called national and are gen
orally observed, namely, the Fourth Of
July aud Christmas day Thanksgiving
Day is observed when it is proclaimed,
but il is not enjoined by any law. II is
only a custom. just as is Declaration Day
up North and Memorial Day down South.
Washmgton's birthday is observed by all
but seven of the States, and New Year's
Day by fourteen of them. General
Lees birthday is Al holiday lin several
Southern States. I'm Louisiana they have
Mardi Gras and the battle of New Or,
leans rs holidays, and in Texas there is
Independence Day and the battle Of San
IacintO.
Georgia observed all the days of 81 ma
tioual character and All that show de
yotan to liberty and reverence for
herosn ! am proud to say that Georgia
has been always true 90 the principles
that our fathers fought for Iler dele
gates signed the Declaration of Independ-
T. 1. I. - l. Z.
and weeks the fate Of that declaration
huug in the balancc-humg by a hair
and was carried by single vote
Thirteen colonies were represented After
long and secret discussion and much bit
teruess six voted for il and six voted
aginst IT, Pennsylvania was last on the
roll Her five delegates were called
amidst the breathleSs silence OF the con
vention. The first. VINO was Ben. Frank
lin. voted yea. the next voted nay. the
third voted yea. and the fourth voted
nay John Morton was the fifth and
last, and upon his decision hung the
destiny of a nation that was yet to be
He was Il man of great ability and in
tegrity and man of prayer. The con
vention trcmbled with painful anxiety
when he arose aud in column voice said
Il cast my vote for liberty and iedc
pendenee.'
For some moments there was an awful
silence No cheers, no shouts, no ex-
ultation All felt the tremendous respon-
sibility they had taken John M0rtQn'S
vote turned the scale. Ii completed the
arci they were laboring to build. His
vote was the keystone, and hence Penn
sylvania has ever since been called the
keystone State. John Morton died Il
few weeks after Had he lived no doubt
he would have been notable actor in
our revolutionary history.
All the colonies soon afterwards ratified
the work, and the war began. After its
close the constitution OF 1877 was framed
by Madison and Jefferson and u conyen-
ton called to consider it, The States
all voted for it save Rhode Island but
onis -four voted for it unanimously, AMI
Georgia Was one Of them. Little Rhody
objected 10 something in the constitu-
lion and put on war paint and withdrew.
She stayed ont nearly three years and
tben Congress prepared to treat her as
u foreign power and to send an Ambassa-
dor aud Consul over there to make
a treaty. This made her ashamed and rs
she was already feeling lonesome and was
getting tired OF padding her own canoe,
! She surrendered and came into the Union.
! The adoption of our present constitution
was fX no means a peaceful and harmoni-
, Gus work. II was fought through under
great tI-ibulation. but the Georgia dele
CATION gave no trouble. Abraham Bald
win and William Few signed without
hesitation. Georgia has honored Baldwin
rs she did the signcrs Of the Declaration
Of Independence. | wonder why William
Few has never been 50 hon0red!
Most Of our counties and towns have
been named for our notable men. but
Few has no uamcsakc. Georgia was the
iirst State to name a county and town
for Washington. and she has not for
gotten the great men Of the State and
nation. bu She has forgotten William
Few His record in Appleton and in
Whites historical collections is very
remarkable one. He came from Penn
sylyania and settled IN Augusta: was
II colonel in the Revolutionary war; was
the first Judge Of Richmond county; was