The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-24
Social Notes

Last Wednesday vas Ash Wednes-
iay, the first in lent, so called from an
mcient Roman Catholic custom Of
Iprinkling ashes on the heads of those
condemned to do penance on this day.
The ashes were those of palms burned
IN palm Sunday. The most wicked
we're sprinkled with ashes and the
less offending were signed on the
seTehead with a sign of the cross, the
minister repeating a ritualistic cere-
nony the while, It is said that the
;astom was introduced by Gregory
The Great. Lent is the season when
society rests, and those who at all
,ther times are busy with social du-
Ties at this time give them up and
devote their time to charitable acts
Of some sort. 1t is customary to give
up something that one cares for the
most, something that is a luxury and
san well be spared with more or less
self-denial. From now until Easter
Sunday, which is April T. society will
pc very quiet. and there will be little
10 record except charitable gatherings
and the comings and goings of people
general. Something that filled the
lime nicely in the past and was most
9Fofitable as we'll, is. the afternoon
gatherings, where tea is served and a
pleasant time is spent in chat over
leedlework for poo families or
Tor some of the many chart
t1bie institutions in the city.
Originally lent was the Saxon name
sor March, because in this month
here was a very noticeable length
sning of the days. AS the most of the
Iong season of fasting falls in this
time, the period received the name of
Observation-Disclosures of the spring fast
time. The fast of thirty-six days was
introduced in the sixth century, and
At a very early date four more days
we're added to make it correspond with
)ur Lords fast in the wilderness. The
aaffodil is sometimes known as the
Ient lily ecaus it blooms at this time.
Society throughout the world is at
rest and will come forth in its spring
glory at Easter time. Palm Sunday
Is the Sunday next before Easter and
is so called in memory of Christ's tri-
umphant entry into Jerusalem, when
the multitude strewed the way with
palm branches and leaves. Easter is
regulated by the paschal moon or
hrst full noon between the vernal
equinox and fourteen days afterwards.
Easter was the Saxon goddess of the
east whose festival was held in the
spring, and Easter is therefore the
April feast, which lasted eight days,
and in modern times is celebrated
with humorous social functions, where
lilies and spring flowers abound and
the new spring styles are tried out.
o
Bismarck Tribune: Judge and Mrs.
Newton arrived in Bismarck last eve
ming and after the judge spends an
other month here closing up his bust
ness affairs. they will cave for an ex-
tended trip to California, where they
nay reside permanently or ma decide
20 continue to travel. Judge Newton
IAN be counted among the pioneers of
Bismarck. He came here from the
east in 1888, and soon won for him
self a prominent place as a practicing
attorney before the bar Of the state.
Some years ago he moved to Fargo
where he continued his extensive law
practice, but returned to Bismarck
about eight years ago. when he asso-
ciated himself with Atty. G. F. Dull
lam, which partnership still exists.