The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-16
AMERICAN HOLIDAYS

same patriotic purpose. Montnna's
"Pioneer Day" is set ON the last Friday
Because. during the War of 1912, the
British, under General Ross ana Admi-
raj Cockburn. failed IN their attacks on
Baltimore, both by land and by sea.
September 18th as Defenders. Day"
1t was this defense of the city that In
spired Francis Scott Key to write the
nat. hymn, for with the dawn OF
star-,spangled banner. proudly waving
| In the breeze, IL solace to the be-
/ leasuered city and an inspiration for
On the sith day 1 'o Of July. 1917, car
avnn OF Mormon people. after long
ana and Wearying journey. paused on the
mountain ,,i, crest overlooking great
with eyer-roceding shores. A. sick man
pushed aside the flap of hfs wagon,
Looked a., on the scene, and announced
which they sought. Ills people thought
OF the weary march behind them and
saw Ga"r little LITTLE. Of promise on the desert
saw beyond the dreary waste He saw
irrigation projects stone temples, great
cities, fertile farm lands and thousands
Of homes In that valley. The caravan
J the man knew they would. and because
OF this great faith and courage>and In
dustry the people of Utah. celebrate
The decoration of the graves of the
soldiers In America is of Southern sr&-
gin, the women of Georgia and Alaba-
ma beginning the work as early as 1865.
both the North and the South and now
there are two legal holidays In some of
the States. for where sentiment was di-
vided In the sixties there Is n Decoration
Day for the Union dead and Memo
rial Day for the Confederate dead.
For the Union celebration the 30th OF
May Is the ONE and only day. This
was formerly Southern date, then
Of tho Republic. but It was not until
May 8. 1858. that the day was fixed by
official order. On that day General
Orders No. II" was issued over the
IN chief of the g. a. r.. naming May
3oth as Decoration Day. with the hope
that It Will be kept up from year to
Memorial Day varies in the South
2sth is observed in four states. May
80 In several others. There is a gem
era movement to have June Sd, the
birthday of Jefferson Davis. set aside
Day. Not, long ago writer offered a
special plea that the two decoration
days be united In one and observed as
Union Day y ,,a was such fra.erna
OF Columbus, Miss. to garland the
graves of the Union dead as well as
the Confederate one year. and so IN
spirc that beautiful poem. Tho Blue
and the Gray"
There are only four days In tho cal
endars of the nation and the states that
are set aside because they are birth
Lincoln and Jefferson Davis are SO
honored:~ The observance of Wash
iIngton's birthday Is general, and runs
the careful reading of his farewell adj
dress in Congress and the biennial pro-
cession through the streets OF historic
Alexandria. Va to gay parties where
hatchats. 1t is a legal holiday in all
States and Territories except Missis-
sippi. Seven Southern States recognize
Lees birthday as holiday: fourteen
Northern and Western States pay like
tribute to Lincoln, and nine Southern
States set aside Davis's birthday. Re-
Gently. Los Angeles set aside as Arbot
plant world. Luther Burbank
Aside from the observance OF Christ
mas, the church calendar days on the
Tuesday is holiday in the state Of
Alabama and in the parish of Orleans
in Louisiana. Good Friday Is legal
holiday in nine States. while All saints
iday. 1t Is on All Saints Day that
this Southern city witnesses the deco
ration OF the vaults In old St Louis.
the most aristocratic of all American
cemeteries. for they who lie there were
known to high estate in the old days of
history. Election day in different
States, Arbor Day In twenty-six and
Labor Daysin the States and Terrific
ries except North Dakota, are consid-
cred legal holidays.
Even as special days in the church
calendar for many centuries have proved
a stimulus ito religious farvor. so ma
tional holidays prove stimulus to en-
slightened patriotism. Says George
Eliot: NO nation has ever become
great without holidays and professions
dedicated to the. noble"
-morrow-American Railway En-
gineering.l