The Delta independent., 1907-01-04

When pigtails and school were her
fashion. Penelope was always awak.
ened from Incidence by the possession
OF new textbook. its resplendent
cover. Its 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 bran new year in her
eager hands.
The ne~-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 foliws the Gregorian calendar.
The ancient Egyptians. Phoenicians
and Perxians began their year on Sep
tcmbcr %. the Greeks Of Solon's time
on December 81. and the Greeks OF the
Periclcs period on June 81.
From Julius Caesar on. the Roman
civil year commenced January /. but
the Jewish ecclesiastical year had al.
ways begun at the vernal equinox.
March IS. and this spring opening
day-of bud and blossom and pni'
vcrsaI hopefulness-became the hon.
osol one with Christian nations gen.
orally throughout the medieval
period.
In the latter end of the eleventh
century. England. which had strange.
ly enough been starting Its annual
records on December 20. began quite
accidentally to pay homage to the old
Roman divinity Janus. for by chance
William the ConQucrors 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.
i,-conQucrcd but not tamcd-we are
not surprised to learn. however. that
soon the Inhabitants OF England fell
into the more general habit OF indulg.
Ing In new.year festivities upon the
c5,h OF March.
The Grcgorian calendar. formulated
In 1852. restored January l rs New
Years day. The Catholic countries
enthusiastically accepted It, but the
Protestant ones adopted II slowly. and
It was no, until ITS. that conservative
England fell into line.
The ancient Romans honored the
whole OF January by Offering sacri.
Aces on IL affairs TO the god with two
faces. whose namcsakc the month
was.
FORWARD look. and backward. and be-
! count. Ms god Of avenues and gates.
Tho years that through my portals
come and go'
While the whole month was kept.
the first day was the gala occasion
Litigation was suspended. reconcilia.
tons effected. impressive professions
made to the capitol. offerings laid on
tho affairs. the emperor surprised by
magnificent gifts. visits exchanged
everywhere. fcasts spread in hospit.
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
tue DTu"S w kINe u SDTlK OF
mistletoe to tho faithful on their New
, Years morning. while the bestowing
of presents upon the monarch became
an absolute obligation.
Queen Elizabeth. the peoples favor
itc. was simply showered with New
Years contributions-"gold for her
purse. chains. necklaces. bracelets,
rings. embroidered gowns and man.
ties, potticoats. smocks. stockings and
gartcrs: and for tho royal larder fat
oxen, sheep. geese. turkeys. swans.
capons. fruit. preserves. marchpanes
and swcetmeats."
But soon this custom was regarded
as tax rather than privilege, and
during the rule OF tho austere Crom.
we'll It died natural death-never
bobbing up again to make a popular
bow. rs sometimes happens to dead
stage hero recalled to life by the audi.
ence's applause.
Closely associated with tho new
year season is tho wassail bowl, its
nnme derived from tho old Saxon
phrase: Wass Haei-"To your
heaith!"
Until Queer Ellxabeth's reign, one
wassail love.cup was handed about
the charmed circle gathered round the
great bowl. but afterward tho health
was moro hygienically. u less pic.
turcsquely. drunk in individual cups.
Tho poor carried an immense wood.
en- bowl. decorated with gay ribbons.
around the neighborhood. begging
small coin to pay for the precious In.
gradients thst made up the festive
ecucoetioa.