davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Newton MacTavish
When
The Year q
Begins

one OF the QueereSt features or the
first day of the year is the fact that it
has been celebrated on many different
dates. With us the year begins on
January /, according to the calen-
dar prepared by order of Julius Cae-
sar, and later revised from time to
time as necessity seemed to require.
Hardly a month in the year but what
has been regarded at some time, by
some people, as the first of the IL,
and consequently the beginning of the
new year. Sometimes the date was
logical, determined by the position Of
the sun in the heavens.
Sometimes it was fixed by agricultu-
raj or industrial conditions, sometimes
by great historical event, and occa-
sionally it was merely arbitrary, de-
termined without any special reason
being assigned. At one time the
Greeks began their year September l.;
at another on the first day of July,
the beginning of the Olympian games.
In what is called the Alexandrian era
the year began on August 20. One
Jewish chronology assigns October 1
as the date on which the creation of
the world began, and consequently
adopts that New Years day. At one
time the Romans began their year on
April "a, at another on March 1, and
finally as We do now.
According to the meteoric cycle, the
year began on July Is. During the pc.
ind ~f A ~
mencement of the year was on Sep
tember /; the era of the Maccabees
was dated from November "a. The
people of Tyre began their year on
October 10, while the so-called Sido-
nian era commenced on October l,
and the Augustan era made February
Ia the first day of the new year. The
ancient Egyptians began their year
with the overflow of the Nile, when
ever that might occur, while in India
the annual flood of the Ganges fur
nished date for popular chronology.
and the Mexicans, although they had
complicated system of calculating
time. popularity reckoned their year
to begin with the spring planting.
The Jewish rabbis had four begin.
nings of the year, the first of the
month Nissan, supposed to be the date
of the Exodus; the first of Tishri.
which began the agricultural year;
the first of Elu, the day on which the
cattle were numbered, and the first
of Shebat, which was called the new
year for trees. Christmas day, East
er, the beginning of each solstice and
many other dates have been observed
at different times by various nations:
even now in Russia the day of the
new year is IL days behind that of
our calendar, the Russians having
never adopted the Gregorian calendar,
which, indeed, did not come into gen.
eral use until about the middle of the
eighteenth century.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Wondrous influence!

The comforts we enjoy in material
things from the influence of the babe
of the manger might be approximate
computed with our present almost
limitless powers in mathematics, but
how vain are the figures in an attempt
to compute the influence and uplift of
the babe Of Bethlehem on the life of
the world. The enlargement of life,
the development of character, the
inspiration. OF, lofty, Ideals the ever
widening influence that is building for
eternity.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
A Christmas PRAYER,

Oh God my Father, looking up At
the shining stars of the cold Decem-
Der sky I remember the patient moth
er and the rock-hewn manger in lowly
Bethlehem where lay Graded Thy
Love for the world. In the shadows
Of the silent stall I stand beside the
Child. Speak to my soul as l wait
I pray Thee. Let the trusting, loving
spirit of the Child steal into my life
until it Gains all anxious fears and
soothes all bitterness and pain.
In willing surrender and passionate
longing let me take the Christ Child
to my heart, that henceforth I may
live as He lived, love as He loved and
following in His footsteps bring Help
to the needy, Courage to the weak.
Comfort to the sorrowing and Hope to
the lost. Observation-Disclosures.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

caught wearing a tall silk hat. The
victim is greeted by the cry, Hut alb,
Hut ab," and ere he is aware his fine
hat is smashed down over his ears
by a crowd of jokers who surround
him. This custom had it's origin in the
riots on Sylvester's day, 1848, when
the lower classes resorted to this
method of displaying their hostility to
the bourgeoisie, most of whom wore
the high hat.
The salutation, "Prosit Neujahr,'
however, is more universal and better
characteristic of the New Year cele-
bration by the Germans. Thus greet.
ed, one is made a captive by custom
and must pay a ransom, not, however,
until he has acknowledged his captor's
sovereignty by the answer, "Meister."
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

st. Basil's eve. The city is decorated
and the shops TEEN with toys, sweet
meats and festoons. Women, days be-
fore, squat and joke around a low
table making st. Basil's cake, of which
they bake great quantities. On New
Years eve the Rajah boys in droves
go on the rounds of houses, knocking
at doors, until the master Of the
house responds, according to the GUS
tom:
Let the boys in at once. Give them
money, fruit and all that they can
carry of St. Basil's cake Come on.
servants, fill their pockets while they
give us their song. The boys then sing
a customary song, ending by calling
down blessings upon the household.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

There is, however, striking exception
to this rule in France. New Years is
the chief festival of the year, and the
gift" is the chief feature of the festi-
val. 1t is believed that the French OBJ
servance of the day combines the an
cient customs of the Druids, Romans
and Christians, since it involves the
highest homage to womanhood, sa-
turnalian effect In liberties to bonds
men, and the gala day of romping free.
dom to children. New Years day is
everybody's day. Each one Of these
features has it's special history which
would require the space of special
story to tell.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
New Year Day
The World Around. %.
Copyright, 1907, BY Wright A. Patterson,
By DANIEL CLEVERTON.

swept out" by men and boys who
black their faces to resemble sweeps.
and In other places 1t is "rung OUT BY
mud1ed bells until the midnight hour.
then allowing the clear notes to sound
thereafter. The hot pint. of the was.
sail drink at the midnight hour is still
quite common. The front and back
doors are opened at IL o'clock also. to
let the bad spirits out and the good
spirits in, while all peacock feathers
are thrown away before this event lest
i'll luck follow during the year. Also
bundles of bits of money, bread, wood,
coal and salt, are placed on the door
steps and if any one calls whose ini.
t1als may be formed by straight lines,
like A or F, he is admitted. given a
present and passed out the back door.
10 admit one having curved initials,
like c or 0, means bad luck for a
year.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

for their liberty. The little people
cause the keys to rooms and closets
to mysteriously disappear days, and
sometimes weeks, before the festival.
An unwary auntie who chances to be
caught in a room or closet by the
slanlming and locking Of the door by
the little brigands has no recourse in
the light of custom and tradition, but
to promise anything that is demanded
of her. The ransom to be paid is
more often some sweets: and this has
given rise to the terms sugar aunt
or sugar papa" which is applied to
the captive.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

caused by your treacherous dart. and il
was not until the flower. Of May began
to bloom that It would heal. But three
shorts months and yet they seemed like
years. like centuries. to me-
Dan Cupid-Good sir, the fault was
yours, not mine. Across that page can
you not read the promise. you made the
budding year? How did you keep them?
Not at all. Had you but been the angel
you started out to be, fair Eleanor would
have had no grounds for the curt refusal
she meted out to you.
The Bachelor-Ah, well, Dan, | was
but human-that is, to en-. She married,
yes, and | suppose believed she had
captured the one real matrimonial prize.
But yesterday twas good to read the
courts had cast asunder the bonds that
bound, and set her free to wound another
heart.
Dan Cupid-But you shall credit me
with other opportunities that made for
you-opportunites more in keeping with
your deserts.
The Bachelor Yes, Daa,; here was
Jessica, Of the yachting party. The wound
she left was not long in healing, but was
painful at first. Then. later, there was
Isabel. How | adored her. Your aim
was sure, and the bow was strong that
send that shaft into my heart. Never can
| forget the tender words with which |
wooed her at the seashore, nor the pull
sations Of my heart when she answered
"Yes." But, Dan. you rascal, you know
her. But once since those summer day.
have seen her. She served me coffee
and rolls in quick lunch room in No
vember. l did not ask her where might
redeem the ring.
"Yes, Dan, there were others. But
why review them2 And Ill forgive you,
you imp. Ill lay not up against you a
single pang- dollar they have cost
neon one condiion-that you shall
not, tor this next year, point your darts in
my direction. Do you agree? Then
well burn the book. and think no more
Of il" (Cast, it into the 6re.)
And now, then, Dan. the year is dy-
ing. A toast to it and its fond memories;
to your escapades and my escapades; to
the fair girls who caused the heart throb.
Of season to the broken promises that
saved me troubles; to the Old Year.
And another, Dan, to the year just
'bonins;' to the anticipaions which it
brings. The bells are ringing; the Old
Year is dead; the New Year lives, and
now. good night, but please remember
that you have promised rot to aim you,
darts in my direction"
exit Dan Cupid and Curtain.)
Wright A. Patterson.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

in calling on friends and the giving OF
''awabi," kind of mussel she'll, as
emblem of times long ago when their
forefathers were of necessity very fru.
gal. This is also interpreted as a
warning against luxury. In China the
people meet in the streets on New
Years day and salute each other
with: "Kung-h! Kung-hi!"-I hum.
bly, wish you joy," or "Sin-hi! !"-"May
JOY be yours" The cities are gayly
decorated with lanterns and artificial
flowers, with red paper notices on
the houses. Where blue paper is
seen it is sign that there has been
a death during the year.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

doused with the peas, while they
shower the wheat upon their friends.
A curious custom also is festooning
the handsomest horse in the village
and leading him to the house Of q
nobleman. The pea and wheat shoot
ers follow in droves. Both guests
and horse are admitted to the parlor
of the lord and the guests receive pres
ents of small coins The origin of
the custom is not known, but it is
interpreted to mean a greeting OF
the peasants to their lord. While
the horse is being entertained in the
parlor, there comes to the house a
drove of oxen, goats, hogs, etc., gayly
decorated and led by the children.
These are not admitted, but admired
from the window by the lord. Next
appear old women with barnyard
fowls, decorated with evergreens and
berries. These are given to the lord
as present.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

arts. Whence cometh the great ar.
lists of the world, such as Raphael,
D0re, Angelo. Tintoretto, Reubens,
Munkacsy, Hoffman, Tissot? Are they
not the products Of Chri1tian people?
This Is also true in the musical world.
It took a Christ to give inspiration to
the musicians. Take away the great
Christian composers and you take
away the productions of Mozart, Bee
thoven, Handel, Haydn, Wagner and
hosts Of others, and you leave q cry.
ing wilderness. u .f~%
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Would Not Compromise.

A German traveller who tried to pass
z meal ticket on the train was told by
the conductor that he would have to
pay the regulation fare of IS cents.
The German argued and refused to
bay more than Is cents, whereupon the
conductor stopped the train and put
him off.
In twinkling the traveller ran
ahead of the engine and started to
walk on the track. The engineer blew
his whistle violently, but the irate
German turned, shook his fist and
called out: "You can vissle all you
want to-; Won't come pack .'-Rehoboth
Sunday Herald.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
THE FAR EAST.

Y JAPAN the New
Years day of the
Gregorian calendar
is observed. It is
a universal rule
there and in China
that all debts must
be settled at the
end Of the year.
But the feature of
tho d9v in 1anan ;c
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

There 10 moro Catarrh in this section Of the country
than ali other diseases together and until the last
few years was supposed to be incurabe. For great
many years doctors pronounced 1t local disease and
prescribed local remedies, and by constantly failing
TO cure with local treatment pronounced 1t ncurable
Science has proven Catarrh to be constitutional dis.
ease and therefore requires constitutional
Hairs Catarrh Curo, Manufactured by F. j. Cheney
Co.. Toledo Ohio !! the only constitutional cure on
the market It 10 taken internally In doses from 10
drops to tesspoonful It directly on tho blood
and mucous surfaces Of the system. they ofIer one
hundred dollars for any case 1t fails - Send
Tor circulars and testimonials.
Addrese: FL. CHENEY 4 CO., Toledo, Ohio.
Sold BY Druggists, 75c.
Take Halls Family Pills for constellation.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
The Worlds indebtedness.

II you would take from literature
tho writings of Christian people you
would take away nearly all the writ
ings Of classic poets, historians, scien.
lists, journalists and scarcely any.
thing would be left worthy of read.
ing. The great productions of mans
intellect bespeak our Indebtedness to
the sun of righteousness who came to
illuminate the mind as well as to
regulate the heart. ..,
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Christ the Foundation.

The Bible is the Christians text
book. and no matter whether man
seeks to examine its literary excellen-
cies or to comprehend its doctrines
or to explore its mysteries or fathom
its revelations he cannot fail to have
his mind enlarged and to have his
mental faculties strengthened. The
greatest scholars of to-day are beliSv-
ers in Christ. The inventive genius
of the world is found among Christian
people This ID also true in the fine
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Pretty Hungry.

''Sesy 61OuSSys
"Waiter, beefsteak! Quick! I'm
In a hurry"
I'VE haven't any beefsteak, sir!"
"A chop, then"
Chops is Off"
''Well, then, an omelet."
Impossible, sir; we"
What! why have you nothing at all
In your restaurant"
Eyes, sir; we've got a sheriff"
Customer Sharpening his knife on
the edge of his plate)-Then let's
have one.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
BELGIUM.

PRETTY little GUS
tom is observed in
Belgium. Time has
given the children
the privilege on
New Years day of
locking up their
papas and mammas,
aunts or uncles, if
they can, and de-
manding a ransom
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
The Happv Man.

Happy is the man who has nothing
to swear of and therefore swears of
nothing. He will not have to invent
reasons for smashing his pledge few
days hence.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
TURKEY.

QUAINT New Year
custom is observed
in the Turkish ori-
ent, where t h e
Greek subjects of
the sultan live. It
is the special event
in Caesarea, where
st. Basil was born.
New, Years eve
I" rnr0 0ffn~ 1o11oJ
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
FRANCE.
N ET1ROpE

Y EUROPE it was
the custom, until
the time of Oliver
Cromwell, of ex-
changing presents
on New Years day.
But in the western
world generally the
practice has been
absorbed by the
Christmas festival.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Tbe Turnt>1g Of tte GLASS

~
I has come once more to a,e turning Of Che glass.
The sand is all but SPENT and Che days Of Ae old,
year are as chaff in Ae wake Of 4,e wind By
4e gray light in ae western shack. at Ae heaped
tables Of e r;ch within &e great places of exchange,
and even amongst those who go out upon 4e high
seas. men will give pause. For it is 4he time Of
reckoning. and sober thought must 60 to ae balance
against mirth and >menymakine. 1t is @e supreme
hour Of resolution. ! May ahe trend Of worship be
not towards ae god of gold. May men not qverlean
towards 4e side of materialism. May there be
reverence for simple things, for &e young babe
in he cradle and a,e old man nearing 4,e valley.
May 4e milk Of human kindness and the good
hand Of common sympathy go forth to Ae natal
FEAST Then might 4e New Year dawn bright.
and people ae world over could repeat with ae poets
Turn again ae wasted glass;
knsIy and warr;o.'s crest
Are not worth ehe blade of ara..
God fashions for Che swallows aest.
Newton Mac Tavish
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Daily Tholuuaht. i

Have a heart that never hardens.
a temper that never tires, and touch
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

!
cities, and especial
ly in Berlin, New
Years eve, or other
wise known as Syl-
vester's Nacht, is
the occasion of a
rough yet ludicrous
onslaught upon in
nOcent and unWary
persons W hO are
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
RUSSIA.

Y T H E country
town of Russia
New Years is the
great feast day for
the children. Boys
fill their pockets
with dried peas
and wheat and go in
bands from house
to house. People;
they have my
grudge against are
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

and this song is sung:
Wassail! Wassail over the town
Our toast it is white: our ale 1t Is brown:
Our bowl it is made Of the maplin tree.
We be good fellows all: I drink to thee.
In parts of England the old year is
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

nay" But what this means, no one
seems to know. The application of the
term is in custom of children to en-
robe themselves in street and go the
rounds of houses on New Years eve,
knocking at the doors and crying
''Hogmanay." In response they al.
ways get an oat cake, rich with fruit,
and sometimes, in addition, some
cheese and goodies. This is their
"Hogmanay." Housewives are kept
busy days in advance preparing little
cakes for their ghost-like visitors and
it ia regarded as something of a bad
omen to run short and not be able to
supply thu demand. While Hog.
manay' is the usual cry it is often sup.
plemented by 'trollolay'' and the more
daring will add the privileged rhyme:
Rise up. guide wife, and shake your fea-
theirs,
Dinna think that we are beggars;
We are BARNS come to play
And to seek our Hogmanay.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

A woman can keep a secret IL no.
body cares whether she does or not.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

Sccne-lhe lrving room of 1DeaHhy
bachelors apartments.
7ime-Neb Years Ebe.
THE Bachelor-How bright the fire.
How CHEEKY the cracking logs.
Outside the Dying Year battles with
the raging Storm.
"What has the Old Year brought to
me that should mourn its passing9
Loves in plenty. But were they love.
OF were they passing fantasies bright
spots Of blue peepins through the Stormy
sky. Tis many a sorry trick Dan Cupid
has played me during the past twelve
months. Could but have him here I'd
review him for his benefit.
"Ah, the bell rings! What friend OF
foe has braved the elements and come to
disturb my reveries Of New Years
Eve?"
(E.nter Butler)
The Bachelor - A wee, small gentle
man to see me, James. you say. But
just sweet-faced child. His card -
Dan Cupid Yes know him, and you
may show him up. But, James, you're
not a Judge of character. He's not a
child. he's old as time. and as full Of
deviish pranks as that neighbor's brat Of
whom you so complain.
Oames departs and returns ushering in
Dan Cupid)
Dan Cupid d-Ha, ha, dear sir, It's not
loves night. Business is dull. and so |
come to beg a chat with you and may,
perchance, revile you for the shortcom-
mgs Of the year that is passing.
The Bachelor-ReMle me. you imp
Of Satan! Why, twas but moment
before your ring that wished for you
that mi sht review for your benefit the
dme, you've played me false. Now sit
you down and let's turn back the pages
Of the passing year and see the record.
1t surely will show you up in your true
colors.
(Ge,s volume from the shelly
well start with January, and with
Eleanor. Dan, you rogue, you wounded
me for fair with her. | should not have
cared had time and eternity been made
up Of Januarys could but have had
Eleanor to sit beside me before the crack
ling fire throughout them all. Ipleaded
well my case, but she would have none
Of it, and then | learned that you had
played me false. Through February.
March and April | nursed the wound
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

ONLY ONE "BROMO QUININE"
That is LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE. Look for
the siRnature Of y. W. GROVE. Used the World
over to Cure q Cold in One Day. 25c.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
ENGLAND.

OSTOMS in Eng
land are very simi-
lar and in many
cases interchange
able with those of
Scotland. Even to
this day the an
cient salutation,
"Wass hael," or
ITO your health, "
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

4 No wind can do him good who
steers for no port. Italian.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

CIV YEAR is not
the day in the
United States that
it is in foreign
countries. In early
New England days
it received quite a
setback by the Pill
grims, who believed
that it's observance
woo q roo0pnif{nn
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Aiohball?

Yeast--"Did you ever exercise with
4 medicine ball?" Crimsonbeak-"Well
I've taken something for snake bites,
II that's what you mean."
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

Justice, it would seem, is both blind
and deaf.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

Hides, Peits and Wool.
To get full value, ship. to the old reliable
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27

Wise is he who kicks only at the
things that cant kick back.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
Hfoh Cream Prices,

Write US to-day for particulars and tags.
MILTON DAIRY CO.. St. Paul. Mimi.
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
SCOTLAND.

> IN + rance, so IN
S o t l a n d, N e W
Years is the chief
festival of the year.
The eve of the day
and the day itself
are called Daft
Days." or azy
days. And the eve
separated from it's
daft" associate is
c a IL e d "Hogma-
The Virginia enterprise., 1907-12-27
GERMANY.

:*.:. V7N MANY German
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-26
Cash quotations ranged as follows:
SPECTACULAR FIRE.
So 900 Pounds of Burning Lard I'm
closed I'm W arehOuse.


Pittsburg. April 25.--Oae of the most
spectacular fires ever seen
In this vicinity started last night in
the william Zoeller Packing Company
plant, Spring Garden Avenue. Ale
gheny.
Early today when the FIRE was
thought to be under control, a large
proof warehouse, in which was stored
1000 pounds of lard. suddenly burst
into flames. ALI efforts to extinguish
the fire in this department were futile
and the firemen finally fastened the
iron doors of the building, shutting N
the burning lard. The interior of the
building soon became seething fur
mace. Squirting from crevices, doors
and windows, streams of hot grease ran
into a sort of trench, previously pre-
pared, in an endeavor to prevent the
hot fluid from spreading over sur
rounding territory.
Danger was encountered at every
turn by the firemen. who stood by in
case the walls OF the warehouse should
collapse, and prevent the blazing lard
from reaching the adjoining property.
Shortly after the fire was discovered
last night and while thousands of spec
tators were gathered in the vicinity, a
dozen large ammonia tanks exploded
with terrific force There was a panic
among the spectators. but no one was
injured
At s o'clock this morning, the fire
had practically burned itself out, and IT
was then said about $780, 900 would be
n conservative estimate of the loss.