The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-11-21
THE EDIToRS'S LEISURE HOURS.
Points and Paragraphs Of Things
Present, Past and Future.

JULIUS duu paragraphs C1 In1u&S
Present, Past and Future.
One OF the most striking literary
ventures Of the times is the prepara-
ton and publication of "The Jewish
Encyclopedia" It is published by
Funk & Wagnalls, of New York, and
is to be in twelve volumes with 5000
pages.
The Jews are great people and this
publication, which is the Joint work OF
more than four hundred Scholars
Jews and others-will give much infor-
nation concerning them. A people
without a country now, yet dwelfers In
all lands, foremost in many things and
still distinct people, they merit the rec
ord which the "Jewish Encyclopedia -
will give. One says of them "a people
without country, they have made all
countries their own. They have
thriven on persecution and haye sur
vived the blind despotism of hatred
They have, with tenacity unprece-
dented, preserved their racial integrity
while keeping place intellectually,
morally and in national prosperity,
with the utmost progress OF mankind. -
Thursday, 18th, of this month, has
been set apart by President Roosevelt
as day of national Thanksgiving, and
Governor Aycock has issued a like
proclamation for the State of North
Carolina. This is beautiful custom,
for it has become custom now, and
it is fitting that the people of such a
great country as ours should at least
one day in the year concentrate their
minds on the one theme of thanksgiv-
ing to Almighty God. But with the
beautiful custom there has sprung up
a great abuse OF the days privilege.
In many places it has become farce
and meaningless as day of thanks
gi~iEg. Here in North Carolina hun
dreds and thousands of people spend it
as a day of revelry and frolic. Many
take it as day of pleasure in which to
hunt fish and do other sports. Some
even MAKE it day of dissipation, as
they do also the Christmas time.
We believe this Is great mistake.
If the day is to be observed as one OF
thanksgiving we believe it ought to be
kept sacredly, and it is our olf saon that
the person who claims to worship
God on that day and spends it in hunt
ing, revelling and the like, misses the
spirit of the day and loses its benefits
to himself personally and fails in his
example az devout worshiper of God.
The following item from Washing
ton correspondence to the Philadelphia
Record being about the Presidents
family riding outfit" might as well
have place among passing events" !"
we suppose:
"Few, if any, of the many handsome
equipages in this city support finer
looking pair on the box than the new
coachman and footman of the White
House, who appeared to-day for the
first time in the livery and tall hats
with cockades selected by tho Prest-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt.
"The Presidents carriages and other
driving traps are beginning to arrive
and this afternoon shortly after 4
o'clock one of the finest of the outfit
drew up in front of the White House
tn take some members of the house.
hold for a drive.
"The vehicle was one OF the most
elaborate seen on the streets OF Wash
ington for many years and consisted OF
a two-seated open light driving wagon
na1nted a dark blue and upholstered In
light yellow leather.
"The body of the wagon was OF hgnt
yellow basket work with iaint stripe
of red. The monogram "T. r." was
ON the panels and two heavy brown
horses with silver-trlmmed harness
we're hitched to the vehicle.
"Two young colored men were Oh
the front seat, in the handsomest livery
displayed by any President since the
davs OF President Arthur. They wore
long dark blue coats with double rows
of hra.s buttons and on their tall hats