The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-12-21

When pigtails and school were her
fashion,, Penelope was always awak-
ened from Incidence by the possession
of new textbook, it's respondent
cover, it's crisp, clean pages the in
centives to 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 to 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 means the whole
world follws the Gregorian calendar.
The ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians
and Persians began their year on Sep
TENDER %, the Greeks of Solon's time
on December 81, and the Greeks of the
Pericles period on June 81.
From julius Caesar on, the Roman
civil year commenced January I, but
the Jewish ecclesiastical year had al
ways begun at the vernal equinox,
March rs, and this spring opening
day-of bud and blossom and uni
versal opefulness-became the hon
ored one with Christian nations gen
orally throughout the medieval
4; period.
/ In the latter end of the eleventh
century, England, which had strange
ly enough been starting it's annual
records on December rs, began quite
accidentally to pay homage to the old
Roman divinity Janus, for by chance
William the Conqueror's coronation
took place on the first 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-conquered but not tamed-we are
a nQt~surprised to learn, however, that
sD0h the inhabitants of England fell
into the more general habit of indulg-
4 ing in new-year festivities upon the
25th of March.
y The Gregorian calendar, formulated
in 1882, restored January las New
Years day. The uGatle1s countries
enthusiastically acce0N 1t, but the
Protestant ones adopted It slowly, and
it was not until 1852 that conservative
England fell into line. - ~
The ancient Romans lonored the
whole of January by offering sacri-
fees on IL affairs to the god with two
faces, whose namesake the month
was.
Janus am I; Oldest of potentates;
Forward I look, and backward. and be-
|
The years that through my portals
come and co.
While the whole month was kept
. the first day was the gala occasion.
Litigation was suspended, reconcilia.
lions effected, impressive professions
made to the capitol, offerings laid on
the affairs, the emperor surprised by
magnificent gifts, visits exchanged
everywhere, feasts spread in hospit.
J able houses, streets ringing with
laughter and music of masqueraders
The giving of New Years gifts was
not confined to old Rome. The Per.
! SLAMS always exchanged New Years
eggs, and it was the pretty custom OF
the Druids to give sacred sprig of
, mistletoe to the faithful on their New
| Years morning, while the bestowing
an absolute obligation.
Queen Elizabeth, the peoples favor.
| tie, was simply showered with New
J Years contributions for her
? purse, chains, necklaces, bracelets,
rings, embroidered gowns and man
ties, petticoats, smocks, stockings and
garters; and for the royal larder fat
: oxen, sheep, geese, turkeys, swans,
! capons, fruit, preserves, marchpanes
and sweetmeats."
But soon this custom was regarded
as tax rather than a privilege, aud
during the rule of the austere Crom.
Y well it died natural death-never
. bobbing up again to make a popular
, bow, as sometimes happens to a dead
. stage hero recalled to life by the audi
: ence's applause.
f Closely associated with the new
, year season is the wassail bowl, its
name derived from the old Saxon
, phrase: Wass Hael-"To your
health!"
Until Queen Elizabeth's reign, one
wassail love-cup was handed about
= the charmed circle gathered round the
. great bowl, but afterward the health
: was more hygienically, if less pic
{ turesquely, drunk in individual cups.
, The poor carried an immense wood
!. en- bowl, decorated with gay ribbons
around the neighborhood, begging
! small coin to pay for the precious In
, gradients that made up the festive
concoction.