davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

whereas the suns revolution is eleven
minutes ten seconds less than that. This
slight error might have been corrected
at once by a reduction in the number of
leap years. But the error was allowed to
grow. so that by A. d. 1852, the year in
which it was corrected, 1t amounted to ten
days. In that year Pope Gregory de-
creed that the oh of October be the 18th,
thus canceling the error of the past.
The correction was not adopted by all
the countries at once. but gave rise to
what Is known as the new style in those
countries which did adopt it. To this
day Russia holds by the old style, and
in some places in Great Britain the terms
are regulated by the old style.
Having corrected the error of the past.
Pope Gregory endeavored to prevent its
recurrence in the future. The error was
equivalent to an excess of about three
days in four centuries, so he decreed
that of the last years of the century only
those which are Invisible by 400 are leap
years. So that, though 1900. a multiple
of 400, was a leap year, 100, 1900 and
1900 were not leap years.
The year Is now just exactly as it
was after Gregory had corrected it. Even
after his correction, however there re-
mains slight mistake, but it is so very
small that it will amount to only a day
in $500 years. The error is one of ex-
cess, so 1t is proposed to make the year
1900, otherwise leap year, a common
year. After that the calculations are
SO minute that the length of the year
VIII SO exactly correspond to the earth's
revolution around the sun that they will
not differ more than day in thousand
centuries
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

the Demon Rum" been able to hold its
own.
But even in these citadels of the liquor
traffic the war is being carried with great
est vigor. Recently in the city of New
York one of the most prominent brewers
advanced the extraordinary argument
that if the beer makers of the country
want to escape the coming storm they
will cooperate with the prohibition advo-
Gates in movement looking to the sup
preston of the low-class dive and saloon
which in the estimate of the brewers is
responsible for the greater part of the
disrepute into. which the liquor traffi :
has been brought.
But this offer has been promptly reject
ed by the Anti-Saloon League, which,
through its spokesman, has responded
that it seeks the complete and absolute
destruction of the liquor traffic in this
country, that the establishment of a
respectable saloon is not recognized as
progress, and that not until the sale of
spirituous liquors of every kind is made
a crime against the law will it regard its
work as finished.
To large extent the anti-liquor prop
uganda has undergone a change
Formerly 1t had it's existence mainly
in the enthusiasm of supporters of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
. LID maids, young maidens and the
rest of the feminine gender who
mara disanDointed matrimOnially

LID maids young maidens and the
rest of the feminine gender who
were disappointed matrimonially
in 1904, should take fresh courage, for
beginning with Wednesday, January J..
1905. they will be at liberty to throw
out the dragnet and bring in a life part
ner If they wish.
Yes. it will be Leap Year." the year
set aside by the calendar makers for the
exercise of "womans rights" a valued
privilege which comes to the fair sex
but once every four years. Don't stand
back. ladies, but get busy and avoid
the rush. Inc crop of old bachelors
Is large and a rich harvest awaits the
fair ones who will pop the question in a
gentle and confiding manner.
As for the name leap year." 1t seems
to be a misnomer, since on leap year.
February, the changeable month. does not
leap a day. but takes or one. However.
the most plausible tradition as to the ORR
gin of the name is to the effect that the
law knew but 1856 days to the year, and
that when. every four years. the 18th Of
February appeared on the calendar, it
was not counted as a day in the eyes Of
the law. but was 'leapt' over.
The history of leap year. however. is
clear, and, moreover, very Interesting.
AS year is the time OF the earth's revo-
luton around the sun. IL should contain
365 days and a fraction or a day. The
ancients, having great respect for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

use of alcohol, and misery and crim6
increased through a taste that once ac-
quired in its full virulence removes con-
science and opens the way to wrong
doing that sober brains never could con-
ceive.
The result of this systematic battle Is
astonishing. 1t is the old story of striking
at the psychological moment. Allies are
being found in the most unexpected places.
Men who have themselves been given to
the drink habit are allying themselves
with the Anti-Saloon League. No aid is
refused SO long as it is directed to the
ultimate object of the absolute abolition
of the traffic Politicians of both parties.
having their ears to the ground have felt
the force of the movement and are seek
ing to perpetuate their power by indors-
ing it.
Like huge SNOWFALL rolling downhill
and gaining weight and speed at every
leap, the anti-saloon fight has prospered
during the last twelvemonth. Not less
than one-thir5 of the successes were won
in the year 1907.
The same rate of progress maintained
in 1903 will make the place where an old
fashioned New Year is celebrated. with its
conviviality and good cheer dispensed IN
the old way, a point difficult to locate in
Uncle Sans domain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

moon, wanted the year to be subdivided
into parts corresponding with her reyolu-
ton around the earth. The difficulties of
adjusting the moons revolutions, or
months, so as to be together equal to the
earth's revolution around the sun gave
rise to February itself. and to many of
the changes which the month has under
gone before it stood with it's present num-
Der of days.
Romulus division of the year is the
first European one known. and the one
upon which our own division is based.
He had ten months, whose total length
year with the odd days so as to make II
anything like correct Is not known. To
remedy this mistake, which left sixty-one
Gays unaccounted for, Numa Pompilius,
second hang of Rome added two months,
January and February. January. named
after Janus, the god who presided over
the beginning of all things, was made
the first month of the year.
February, in Latin, means to expiate.
In this month the expiatory sacrifices
were performed. and as the sins of the
year were very naturally atoned for
after they weree committed, February
was made the last of the months
Two hundred years after Numa Pom
pilius, February was brought by the de-
cemvirs, for reasons best known to them
selves, to its present position. Although
the two months had been added January
and February, the year was not long
enough yet. Numa made his months to
correspond to the revolutions of the moon,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

reality he was trying hard to work, only
he was stuck.
He said he resembled a man who made
a bet one summer day at the shore that
he would swim out mile and half to a
certain buoy. The bet was accepted, the
man stripped and plunged in. His friend
retired to the hotel. to watch his progress
from the window.
From the window with field glass the
friend saw the swimmer reach the buoy
in due course, draw himself up out of the
water and sit down comfortably, with his
legs dangling over. So far. so good. Evil
IDENTIFY he was resting well pleased with
his feat.
Some minutes passed. and the SWIM
mer had not moved The watcher re-
turned to his book. But every now and
then he looked up, and still the swimmer
sat in the same position on the buoy
IAN hour, two hours went by-still the
swimmer remained. A white, slim figure
seen against the oncoming dark, he sat
on the buoy's edge; his. feet dangled in
the sea; he seemed to be musing
Finally it began to grow quite dark,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

Christmas, Thanksgiving Day. all have sc
many other features that it will be nc
especial hardship to abstain then. but
New Years with the flowing bowls re-
pressed, will seem a strange New Years
indeed.
Yet this kind Of New Year'se has al
ready dawned in some sections of the
United States.
There are prohibition laws which pre-
vent the sale of liquor in all or parts of
Delaware, Tennessee. Florida, Alabama
Maine, Texas. Arkansas. South Carolina,
North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia,
Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts,, Iowa,
Rhode Island. Maryland. Michigan, South
Dakota, Colorado and Washington.
1t has been estimated that in fully one
half of the United States the once-filled
bottle will be empty January 1, 1908,
and with the advance of the prohibition
spirit in every section Of the country
northN east south and west-it is diff
cult to tell what will be left to the con-
vivial spirit by the time New Year day,
1910, has worked around
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
Written for The Star.

Written for The Star.
p - Ow near is a dry New Year
Many a convivialist is asking
i u the question in accents of
dread.
The changed attitude of the nation on
The question Of the liquor traffic has
raised an issue that once would have
been thought beyond the bounds of posi-
bility.
IN the bygoneJ New Years could with
-fpt disrespect be called the day when
slN did reverence to Bacchus. Men who
ddSSx the other 1854 days of the year
borekhemselvss with fitting propriety and
a sterR regard for the laws which forbid
hdulsAnce i1 the wine when it is red
relaxed their rules. Drink was prime
feature. almost the essential feature, of
the days celebration.
The Custom of the New Years call when
carriage loads of well-dressed men moved
from house to house to extend greetings.
and to hope that In the new twelvemonth
sAight come nothing but joy and good
fqtune, was merely shifting from one
glass to another.
Everywhere was drink. In the homes
of wealth the coming of a new January
first was signalized by the popping Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

around the sun, and Caesars attempt at
Its solution brought about the introduce
ton of leap year. And thus Caesar proved
himself lasting friend to the gentler
sex.
Caesar did not consider the moon in
his calculations. but made months of
thirty and thirty-one days, alternately,
except February, which had twenty
days in ordinary years and. thirty every
fourth year. because of his Strengthening
out the calendar difficulties, and because
day in each year, Caesar was deemed
worthy of a lasting memorial There
fore, the name of the month Quintillis was
changed to Julius. Augustus Caesar, the
successor of julius, after some victories
by his armies had a month named for
him, too. 1t so happened, however that
the month named for Augustus had only
thirty days, whereas that named for
Julius had thirty-one Augustus did not
like this. SO he had an extra day tackled
on to August. Thereafter February had
twenty-eight days in ordinary years and
twenty-nfne in leap year.
Since the time of the Caesars, how
ever. it has been found necessary to re-
duce the numper of leap years. If the
dictionary were consulted for the mean
ing of leap year, it would probably read,
every fourth year. That answer
though it would have done well in Gaze
sars time-is not correct now, because
the arrangements which had been arrived
at made the year of the proper length
except only the fraction of an hour The
year was. on the average. 365A days long.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

the corks that hold in Imprisonment the
costly bubbles of France. The middle
class good cheer got its inspiration from
port. iclaret or sherry; the German put
out his Rhine wine or made happy on
just plain beer. And good old Pat from,
Erin's shore, got out the little black bot
tie, poured out four fingers and hoped
that Mike might delve as deeply in
happiness as he went to the bottom of
his glass.
The open houses Of the clubs Of New
Year day! Picture them with flowing pitch
ers of ice water taking the place of the
punch, the mulled ale, the claret cup, or
the eggnog moved ahead three months
in advance Of Easter.
What of the hot Tom and Jerry which
every boniface must needs set forth as
soon .as his calendar apprises him that
the month of December is tottering on
its last legs.
Yet the end of all this seems at hand
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

fauns used to carry the canvas back and
forth for him.
THE porter was a quaint chap; his
services were called for many days in
requisition; he became quite friendly with
Sir John and seemed to take a hearty in
te-est in the progress of the painting
We'll, Chill October was eventually
finished and sold little while afterward
for thousand pounds. This fact some
how reached the porters ears. He met
Sir Johns brother-in-law at Kinfauns one
day and said excitedly:
Mon. is't true that Sir Johns sold
t'picture and got thoosand poond fort ?'
Yes, certainly was the reply.
"A thoosand poondv repeated the po--
ter. Why, mon, 1 wadna glen half a
Groom fort"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
The Frank Critic.

Frank r. Elwell. the New York sculp-
tor, declared at a recent dinner that. save
for the work of Rodin and one or two
others. American sculpture was superior
to the French.
Nor do l speak," said Mr.. Elwell,
smiling, without authority. 1 will ask
you not to put me in the category of
critics to which Sir John Millais' famous
railway porter belonged.
when Sir John was engaged in paint
ing his Chill October amongst the rushes
on the banks o. the Tay, near Perth
railway porter from the station at Kin
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

police guardianship for the community.
The advocates of temperance went into
the southern states and told the people
that the curse of the south, its greatest
menace, was the drunken negro. The ne
gro sober could be controlled, but the
black man drunk was a grave peril. The
south believed. 1t knew that he was right.
1t followed his lead.
The country of colonies that knew no
hospitality unless 1t came from the rare
old Bourbon of home production aban-
doned it's time-honored indulgence for
what 1t believed the common good.
X X
The mint julep, theme of poem and song,
was thrown into the discard, not that the
true southerner loved it the less, but be-
cause he loved more the improved con-
ditions that he felt would come from
denyingg himself.
In the west was told the story of how
the normal citizen became the bad man
just as soon as whisky had filled his
brain and made him reckless of how he
used the six-shooter he carried in his
pocket. The west listened and sent its
legislature to work on prohibition laws.
In the crowded cities of the north the
opponents Of liquor are quoting statistics
which tell of poor made poorer by the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

usually are made. 1 was about to engage
a maid.
''There was a certain applicant whose
manner l liked very much. Her face
seemed somehow familiar.
by the way said at last. haven't
I seen you at the Baroness Exe's"
Yes the maid answered. I was
formerly in the baroness employ
And why said l, did she dismiss
your
1.-The maid blushed and faltered.
'Because-er-I couldn't shave
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
The Bearded Countess.

Miss Mary Garden. the singer. talked at
a dinner in New York about the hirsute
strength which Frenchwomen develop as
they ripen in years.
"Once, In Paris" said Miss Garden. lat
the New Year season when such changes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

and, thoroughly alarmed at last. the
watcher got boat and a couple of
bargees and rowed out to his friend.
Out there the mystery was soon ex-
planned. The man was stuck fast to the
buoy, which had been freshly tarred that
morning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

which made 351 days, or eleven days
short of the earth's annual journey
around the SUM- When the Romans
found one month had to be changed they
hit upon February. for no apparent rea-
son unless because of it's being the month
of the dead.
The clumsy alteration was made by
naming month which appeared on alter
nate years. Several other clumsy cor
rections were made until the days and
months came out pretty even. Things
did not work very well, however, under
this system, for politics appeared. The
calendar was in charge of the pontiffs
and If they wanted to keep friend in
Office they could iengthen the extra
month, or if they wanted to hold cleo
tions before their enemies were ready
they would curtail the month and catch
their opponents mapping. 1t was a fine
game of politics. After awhile matters
became so badly mixed that in Julius
Caesars time the winter months were
in the autumn and the autumn months in
the summer, and so on.
IL X
Caesar took the bull by the horns, so to
speak, and introduced two months of his
own between November and December.
This gave the Romans year of AS days.
This particular year. which was B. C.
46, is known to history as 1.-The Year of
Confusion This wonderful year cam
celed all previous errors and when the
question of how to make the succeeding
years of equal length, and to correspond
to the annual revolution Of the earth
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
On the Move.
Dangerous Enough.

Rear Admiral Mason, chief of the gov
ernment's bureau of ordnance. talked of
martial inventions at recent dinner in
Washington.
Many of these inventors.,,' he said.
with their automatic torpedoes. their
new explosives and what not fail to take
into account the danger to the users OF
their inventions, They are like the farmer
and the bull.
"A farmer was driving bull along a
fairly busy country road
That's dangerous looking bull you
have there. friend. milkman said.
''Oh. no. said the farmer; he's just as
civil as sheep. He wouldn't hurt any,
body, unless. maybe, women and children
and such like /"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
It Makes Trade.

Homer Folks, New York's noted au-
thority on charity. said the other day of
an applicant for help:
His Recommendation was not very
satisfactory. 1t reminded me of woman
L heard about recently.
Somebody said to this womans hus-
band:
SO you've insured in the Blank Com
pany, eh? Who on earth induced you TO
choose that of all concerns?'
My wife, was the reply. She says
they issue the prettiest 1908 calendars.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

The temperance wave sweeping ire
sistibly over the country will compel mere
man to revise his holiday observances.
Perhaps he won't mind SO much being
abstemious on other holidays. Washing
toms birthday, July Fourth, Easter,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

tumn, a swallow that nested in his gar
den. he fastened to it's wing a piece of
oiled paper inscribed with the words:
" Swallow, little swallow, l wonder
where you pass the winter!
THE next spring the swallow returned
to its nest at the usual time. Attached
to its foot was another piece of oiled
paper with the inscription:
Florence, at the house of Castelar,.
Cordial greetings to the friend in the
NORTH"
Prompt.
A reporter, interviewing Thomas A.
Edison about his remarkable $1,000
cement house-a house that will be mold
ed and ready for occupancy in a few
days-pointed out certain objections to
the structure.
These objections caused Mr.. Edison to
smile.
You have not yet seen my house." he
said, land you find fault with 1t. Isn't
that rather previous? You. my young
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29

Rural United States is now In greater
part dry. Only in the larger cities has
what the white ribboners are prone to call
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
Stuck.

A magazine, editor Of New York was
praising Rudyard Kipling.
II am glad Kipling got the Nobel prize, v
he said 1T will encourage him. He is
in bad way now.
You know, he is writing scarcely any
thing l thought he was idle, lazy and
in London last year i took him to task
He said he knew he looked idle, but In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
A. Nature One.

1.-THE late Francis Thompson. the Eng
,lish poet" said a magazine editor had
a great love of birds. He once told me a
pretty story about a swallow.
Catching, one day in the early au-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
The Green Sailor.

Mark Twain was talking about a play
that had failed.
mo wonder II failed" he said. Its
author was a greenhorn. He knew no
more of stagecraft than young Tom Bowl
ing of Harvard knew of sailoring when
he shipped before the mast
"G=eenhorn Tom, you know, being told
to go aloft one dark. wet night, started
up the rigging with a lantern and an
umbrella"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29


Occasionally it pleased one of the coun-
try's dominant parties to- throw a bone
to the prohibition party in order to gain
its support in some close fight But the
appearance of the party in politics and
the essentially religious nature of its
fight prevented it from making any SER
ious advances in half century of eff
fort
But now almost overnight the whole
nature of the fight has been changed
and the movement has assumed a giant
form. No longer does the prohibitionist
aim to advance his cause exclusively
through the agitation of his party. Now
he has dropped the sentimental argu-
ments. He has turned to the practical
side of the question.
He contends that nine-tenths of the
worlds crime is committed under the
influence of liquor. He tells statesmen
that by abolishing the traffic in liquor
they can eventually cut down. almost
abandon. the present expensive system of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
I'VE
E,Sw

friend. are more previous than a girl
my assistants have been telling me about
The first day of-let us say 190s-New
Year day-a man proposed to this girl and
was accepted.
But. she said, 4 must insist that our
engagement be kept secret for a twelve
month";
Why?' said the man, in dismay. lie
had looked forward to a speedy marriage
-" Because. dear she answered 1T is
leap year now, and people might think I
had done the proposing"
On the Move
The Rev. A. c. Jeffries, the father Of
the pugilist. was contradicting again the
rumor that his son would return to the
ring.
Jim" said Mr.. Jeffries, sis strong.
When he makes New Year resolution he
sticks to it. When he says he'll do a
thing that settles it. My boy is never
going to fight again.
Jim doesn't vacillate like old Ephraim
Caldwell, a >quondam friend of mine.
Ephraim vacillated even in his choice OF
home. He was always on the move.
They said that when Eph moved he
tied his chickens legs together for con-
venience of transportation, and in time
the chickens got so used TO this that,
whenever he entered the hen house, they
would all lie down on their backs and
hold up their slim yellow legs TO be
tied. -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
Conspicuous Economy.

Willie Hoppe, the billiard champion,
was talking in New York about the con-
spicuous retrenchments that the money
panic has caused many millionaires to
make.
1T is conspicuous this economy We see
on all sides now" said Mr.. Hoppe. 1T
is like the economy in the family of Jim
Bartholomew. the pool player.
Bartholomew two boys turned up at
school one morning dressed exactly alike
In suits of very bright green cloth. 1t was
a startling costume. and at first the
neighbors were puzzled. All was clear to
them. though. when they learned that
Mr. Bartholomew the week before had
slit the cloth in pool game at Mike
Hennesseys