Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-22
BUSY MEN REMAIN HOME.
Down Town District With Flags
Flying is Deserted by All
But Street Car Men.
Patriotic Meetings in Various Wards
Tonight and &. a. II. Luncheon
Mark Extent of FormaIitics.

With the nag Of the country which
looks to him as it's Father flying from
every important office and public build
Ing and from many homes. the people
OF Salt Lake today laid aside business
cares to celebrate washington's BIRTH
day.
The tone OF the celebration was es-
sentlally a quiet one which sought an
outlet around the family fireside rather
than In any large public ceremonials.
a q. A. r. luncheon at the Rnutsford,
a banquet tonight at the Cullen. and
gatherings in all the wards this even
ing to render patriotic programs mark
the extent of celebrations
One unique incident marks the day,
It Is that over GOO homeless and unem-
ployed workmen lined up this morning
at the free soup counters to eat their
holiday allowance of soup or drink q
national toast in the cup of free coffee
After that they gathered where they
might to take hope from thte warmer
sunshine that betokens an arriving
spring, or from the lessons OF Valley
Forge that gave rise to faith In the
proverb that the darkest hours are
just before the dawn.
SHOW WINDOWS.
Show windows down town presented
an array of war time relics and me-
mentos of battlefelds, instead of the
usual display OF goods for sale. AT
one store the window was drnped in an
American flag, worn and dingy In color.
but bearing the legend; This flag was
carried through the Civil war by Mr..
Lyon of company ID. n. Y Vols, now
the property Of Thomas Butler" Little
hatchets. miHeature cherry trees, por-
traits of Washington. and similar arti-
cles decorated many windows, and gave
the day its particular flavor.
As the day Is a legal holiday, state
offices, banks, and all public places
were closed, except In the instance OF
the postoffice. which was open from !;
| o'clock till o'clock.
G. A R. LUNCHEON.
The Grand Army OF the Republic led
the patriotic features of the day In a
Knutsford hotel luncheon, given at ! p.
IN.
In the various wards, patriotic pro-
grams will be rendered tonight, the
details of which appeared in last nights
News
So far as appears on the surface, the
only men not enjoying a holiday today
are the street car men. a few elevator
boys, the newspapermen, and enough
policemen to I'LL the Main street beats
ONE YEAR AGO TO-DAY.
Had the legislature been in session
this spring, special patriotic exercises
would have been held, as these exer-
cises are usual every alternate year.
Tho day marks also the first anniver-
sary of most lamentable tragedy that
had its being in n legislative action
of one year ago, when junket was
arranged to inspect the mines of Bing-
ham canyon. or the party that went
out. Seth Taft, n representative from
Wayne county, and Clint b. Leigh, n
newspaper reporter. We're killed In an
accident on tho Copperbelt railroad.
and were buried with all the honor
that the legislature could show them.
NO NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
Considerable discussion arose In
different circles today regarding the
various holidays. The question was
asked number OF times. what ara
the national holidays?" Numerous
reference books are authority for tho
statement that there are no national
holidays. This was passed upon and
decided by Congress a few years ago
when It left holidays entirely to the
choice and desires of the states. or
course such days as Christmas.
Thanksgiving, and Fourth OF July are
observed by the entire country, the
president OF the United States and the
governors of the different states issu-
Ing proclamations, But aside from
these the celebration OF certain days
ore left to the states. Labor and Ar
Dor day are marked by tho issuance
of proclamations from tho offices ut
governors. other DAYS are observed
with or without having attention call
ed TO them by governors. These are
known IN the majority an legal holt
days. Utahs holidays arc Jan. 1,
New Year,, Feb. 22, tWashington's
birthday, the day the entire country
Is observing today. April 10, (Arbor
day., May &c. Decoration day.; July
Independence day.; July "a. (Pio-
neer day), first Monday in September.
Q,abor day.; Thanksgiving and