The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
NOTABLE FEBRUARY DAYS.


Although February is the shortest
month. it draws within its compass many
notable DAYS. To begin with the 1st of
the month though not strictly notable
II is of interest to note that it closes the
season for partridge and pheasant shoot-
ing in England. and makes the beginning
of the salmon fishing.
The ID. Candlemas day. is the ami
versary of Christ's presentation in the
femme. An old superstition alluded TO
by the poet Herrick, required that all
the Christmas decorations, to the last
twir should be moved by the eve of this
day, There is a popular superstition
throughout the country in England and
Scotland. which is not new to our coun-
trv neople, that good weather on this
dav indicates q long continuance of VIM
fer and bad crop; if the weather is
bad. it is a good omen. The popular
Scottish rhyme runs;
.'1f Candlemans day be dry and fair,
The half o. winter to come and MAR;
If Candemans day be wet and foul,
The half o. winters game at Yule.
Shrove Tuesday, being the day prior
to Lent may occur on any day between
the I'd of February and the Sth Of
March. This oil English holiday was
land is. wherever it is celebrated sea-
son of carniyal-like mirth and jollity.
The merriment strictly began on the day
before, Collop Monday, from the prac-
tee of eating collops of salted meat on
that day. Pancakes were devoured as
if some important religious principle
were involved in the eating.
Ash Wednesday. whenever it occurs in
February. must be named among the
notable days. 1t is an ancient custom
OF the Christian church to hold as a Pc
Rod of fasting and solemnity the forty
days preceding Easter. in commemora-
ton of the miraculous abstinence of
Jesus when under temptation.
On the 18th of February we have the
now much degenerated festival of st.
Valentines day. The pretty, quaint
old custom of choosing on this day ones
valentine for the year no lonoer obtains
In series of essays published in 1886.
called the Connoisseur, a young woman
writes:
Last Friday was Valentines day and
the nioht before | took FIVE hay leaves,
pinned four Of them to the four corners
of my pillow and the fifth to the center;
then, if | dreamt Of my sweetheart.
BETTY said we should be married before
the year was out. But to make it more
sure / boiled an egg hard. took ont the
yelk. filed it with salt. and when | went
to bed ate it. shell and ALL without speak
ing or drinking after it. We also wrote
our lovers names and rolled them up in
clay. and put them in water: and the
first that rose nm was to he our valentine.
Would you think it? Mr. Blossom was
nv man! ] lov a-hed md sH'rt NV ovos
all the morning. for | would not have
seen another man before him for all the
world"
Shakespeare. CHANGER and the poet
Iydcate. who died in 1440, all mention
st Valentines Day.
TO the national holiday of the odd
Washington's Birthday. is now added
to the joy Of school children the ami
yerSary of the birthday of Lincoln on the
18th.
Historically. one of the most notable
Of February days is the 26th. On this
day, the King of France, who had gov
erned for eighteen years, offended the
people of Paris by allowing a certain
political dinner-party to take place The
result was revolution. The king shaved
off his whiskers and fed TO England as
plain Mr.. Smith, and a republic was
proclaimed before the Hotel de Vile in
Paris.
The Doth of February is a day that is
most often notable by its absence. OF
ten high-school boys and girls who were
asked to explain why February some
times had 20 days. not one could give a
clear answer The earth makes the
year by travelling round the sun. for
which journey. 3R5 days. hours As min
utes and 40 7-10 seconds are reonired
The odd fractions of day are allowed
to run till they make a whole day which
is tackled on to the end of February. But
even this ma es the year a few minutes
too long, so February mist renounce its
claim to a Doth in the years 1900. 21bJ
and every other hnndredth wear. which
cannot be divided by 400 without re-
mainder.