The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-12-27


fashion. Penelope was always awak-
ened from Incidence by the possession
OF a new textbook. It's respondent
cover. It's crisp, clean pages the in
centives 20 an ambition that the dis
carded old volume could never have
called forth.
In Just such manner the Great
Teacher stimulates the grown-up
Penelope 20 new thought new pur
pose. new endeavor, By again and
again placing a bran new year In her
eager hands.
The new-year idea IS almost as old
and universal as the instinct Of i'm
mortality. but the first OF January has
not always been the starting point
for the procession Of months. and
even now by no mean the whole
world folIws the Gregorian calendar.
The ancient Egyptians. Phocnicians
and P~ersians began their year on Sep
TENDER 20, the Greeks OF Solon's time
on December 81. and the Greeks Of the
Peyicles period on June q.
From Julius Caesar on, the Roman
civil year commenced January !. but
] AAAN aNHAnM EANAEtAAHAaAaA ahAA jew ~
ways begun az the vornal equinox,
March %. and this sprIng opening
day-of bud and blossom and uni.
yersal hopefulness-hecAme the hon
ored one with Christian nations gen
orally throughout the medieval
period.
In the latter end Of the eleventh
century, England. which had strange,
" enough been starting is annual
records on December %. began quite
accidentally to pay homage 10 the old
Roman divinity Janus, Tor by chance
Wuuaai tho c~onqueror's coronation
took place on the arst Of January, and
the birthday OF the Norman rule be-
came the birthday Of the year as well.
Remembering The loyal old Saxon spir.
it-conquercd but not tamed-we are
not surprised 10 learn. however. that
soon the inhabitants Of England fell
into the more general habit OF indulg
Eug IA uew-year festivities upon the
25th Of March.
The Gregorian calendar. formulated
IN 1882. restored January ] as New
Years day. The Catholic countries
enthusiastically accepted II, but the
Protestant ones adopted u slowly. and
Il was not until 1859 that conservative
England fell into line
The ancient Romans honerod the
whole OF January BY Offering saori.
ices on ~ affairs to the god with two
faces. whose namesake the month
Janus am 7; Oldest Or petentrtes;
Forward look, and backward. and BE-
low
/ count a. god Of avenues and gates.
The years HAT through my portals
come and So"
While tho whole month was kept
the arHt day WAS the gala occasion
, Litigation was suspended. r~econcilla
tions effected. impressive proccssloni
made TO the capitol offerings laid on
the affairs. the emperor surprised By
B magnificent gifts, visits exchanged
everywhere. foaats spread 81 hospit
able houses, streets ringing viii
laughter and music Of masqueradors
The giving Of New Years gifts wa
not confined 10 old Rome. The Per
SLAMS always exchanged New Years
eggs, and q was the pretty custom o
the Drulds 10 give a sacred aprig q
mistiet0e 20 the faithful on their New
Years morning. while the bestoWlni
I Of presents upon the monarch boeam,
q an absolute obligation.
/. Queen Elizabeth. the peoples favor
a tie. was simply shoWered with New
Years contributions-gold for he
e purse. chains. necklaces. bracelets
e rings, embroidered gowns and man
n ties, p~ettieoats, smOcka. stockinga am.
garters: and for the royal hrder "a
|, oxen. sheep. geese. turkeys sHani
capons. fruit. preserves, ~maTchpane
and sweetmeats
? hut soon this custom Waa rreardo
= as a tax rather than a privilege. an
, during the rule Of the sustero Crou
well ID died a natural dcath-neye
10 bohblng up again % make a populu
Z bow. as sometimes happens to a doa
stage hero recalled 10 NE BY the aud
ence's applause.
Closely associated with the ne
year season Is the Uaaraii bowl, a
name derived from the old SAKE
= phrase: Wass Hael-"ro 80.
!. heaihi-
Unul Queen Eiizabou's reign. o.
Wsssail lovecup was handed obo
the charmed circle gathered rOuad q
- great bowl hut aitog ward the heal
"a was more hygieni0ally, e less y
a. ~turesquoiy. drink 10 indigidssi cup.
al The poor carried an immWise Wo'
en- bowl decorated WIN Say rihboI
- around the noighf0fhood. beggl
lio smsil coin 10 pay Tor the precious
gradients that made ~ the Text
~eoReQcilons