The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-13
Anniversary Of Lincoln's Birth
Almost Forgotten.
ONLY PUBLIC OFFICES CLOSED.
In the Rush of Business the Great
Oceaxion-Even the Banks, NOmf-
naily Transacting No Business.
Kent Side Doors Open-Steamers
and klondikers Cannot Wait.

legislative bill. making II a holiday, would
have been fiattered If he had been IN Seat
tie yesterday. The day suggests Shake
spearean quotation, In which Hamlet an
swers a question of Horauos as to Gus
tom: AYE. marry. ist. But 10 my mind
though / am native here and 10 the
manner boru-it Is a custom more hohof-
ed in the breach than in the ooserV-
ance" That is the way II was In Seat
tie yesterday. only there was no oDserv-
ance at all Of the birthday of the martyr,
except that the public offices and the
banks were all closed.
In 1895 the legislature passed the follow
lag:
BE II enacted by the legislature of the
state OF Washington:
Section l. That the 18th day OF FeDru-
airy of each year, the same being the an
niversary OF the birth or Abraham Lln-
coin, be and 1t is hereby declared TO be a
legal holiday in the state OF Washington
The bill passed the senate January 30;
the house passed il February s. and il was
approved February II. the day it COM
memorated. Its passage made three birth
day celebrations In the month of Febru-
airy One a national holiday. Washing
toms birthday on the I'D, St Valentines
day. on the 18th, recognized only by GUS
tom and children. and the state ceiebra-
ton of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. AS
the bill did not contain an emergency
clause il was not effective upon its APP
prevail and 1895 did not celebrate Lincoln's
birthday. neither did 1898, at least. as far
as the general current of business in Sc
attic was concerned.
The day is a legal holiday In but five
states in the Union-lllinois, Minnesota.
New Jersey New York and Washington.
Its celebration usually finds expression in
the state by a half holiday In schools the
other half day being devoted TO exercises
commemorative of the great man in honor
of whose memory the day is set apart. AS
the 18th of February, this year, fell on
Saturday, there were no exercises. The
banks. which are usually alert to the OPP
portunity TO declare a holiday, whenever
half an opportunity offers. hung signs out
Friday announcing that Saturday was
a legal holiday the institutions would be
closed. Yesterday the front doors OF the
banks were closed. Those that have sid,
doors allowed the latch string to hang out
so az TO catch the odd business that the
Kiondike excitement might send their
way. AS usual on Saturday. the banks
closed in the afternoon. All branches Of
trade thrOve under the auspiclous sun
light and the arrival OF train loads Of peo-
pie who were bound in the direction that
the needle Of the compass points. Several
merchants who were asked about recog-
nziug the day In a hefitting manner look-
cd incredulous when informed that the
1-th Of February was n legal holiday ana
asked what the occasion was.
Ianooln's birthday, far as yesterday d.
in Seattle wa concerned. was a thing that
was emphajically forgotten and for It's
proper observance In The future the next
legislature would do well to fix the birth
day for some Sunday. say the second sun
day in February. The fiat would not be
impossible when some of the legislative
enactments Of the past are Inernbercd.
The Seattle Chess Club celebrated Lin
So q MI yin 81
games n the rooms II the Chamber Of
Commerce.
In remembering the fixing % the day as
GRE for patriotic Observance Il Ia not arnixs
60 recognize the sentiment that prompted
She legislation q IS6 There were all
sorts II political stripes in that body and
al sections of the country were represent
e. Party lines were lost sight Of and the
narth. the south. TIA east and the ives,
united in declaring a day that should be
an honorej ;ss; moniaI to the savior Of
his country" and the greatness of his
character. IN this wOrk-a-aay world
With taouss nds In the city coming from
states that have rot Sc; aside the l2tn
CT February as legal holiday its proper
Observance would have been attended
with a great measure OF difficulty and a =
steamer schedules We're not arranged 10
avoid a clash witA sentiment and a. the
needs ~ people had 20 ba supplied Il Is ma
turai enough mat Father Ahrahsrn's''
natal day sanuli have been forgotten
SEE Tgeea's al page L. Special sale -
shoes. Nctice bargains ia their windows.
PARTIES hound for Alaska should
take a. least twenty dollars tn silver
quarters. halves and dollars along with
theuf- az il s. very scarce in that caur-
Try and The inability - make exact
change Frequently results N ex;ortion on
the p8rt az packers. boa;msn and others
often resulting in compelling parties 10
pay from 0fgy cents to ;wo or three doI-
lars IL excess q regular rates
DR. J n LOUGHARy. Bailey eugiAi,-
Special stfrutioa given diseases If brain
a1e nervous system
HANNA Aatlseptic foot powder fer
sweaty feet.
Chic anA Peru hSse arrived al ferns
- s7tt enl*f,t over the sRgffrsntp ~ me
prav,uexs 81 4&eua agl Arm.
o@o@c>e2 ce>o 100000
. the CREAMERY" INC. 4.
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