The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-02-02
SPECIAL DAYS IN FEBRUARY

the infant CnFlSJ IN Ln0 LeWple anC
the publication of the Virgin Mary
1t cen to have been instituted in
the first half of the 9Th century.
On this day the Roman Catholics
c%onsecrate the candles and tapers t.
be used for the year. The feast IL
still observed in the Anglican church
and the Lutherans.
In Scotland February End is one
of the quarter-days for settling rents
interest, school fees, etc.
Ground Hog Day-February End
is called Ground Hog Day. The
saying goes that If the animal, on
coming out of his hole that day sees
his shadow he returns to his burrow
for six weeks. If the day is cloudy
he considers that winter is still on,
but spring will come at an early date.
A reasonable Interpretation of the
matter is that a bright sunny Feb.
ruary is generally followed by a cold
stormy March and a backward spring
while a wintry February pressages
the exhausting of cold conditions in
time to usher in warn spring weather
with the spring month of March,
technically the 21st of March.
The ground hog is also called wood
chuck and warmot, and a similar an
imal in Africa and Madagascar is
called the anteater because 1t eats
insects.
The American ground hog is from
Is to 18 inches long.
LincOln's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Lin
coin was born in Hardin county, Ken
lucky February ~, 1909. In 1928 he
made a trip to New Orleans to sell
farm products and visiting the slave
market he was much impressed
against the institution of slavery by
seeing young women led out and
placed on exhibit before the bidders
with as little respect for their per-
sons as heifers at a cattle sale.
Lincoln is said to have registered
a VOW that if he ever got a chance
to deal a blow against slavery he
would do it, and the chance came
when he made the famous emancipa-
tion proclamation during the civil
war.
st. Valentines Day-The custom
of sending valentines had it's origin
in a heather practice connected with
the worship of Juno, and after the
martyrdom of St. Valentine , about
27O A.. D., the date of February IA
was taken as the festival when per-
sons might express their preferences
for ~sweethearts by making little
gifts.
1t was originally supposed that the
birds selected their mates on that
day.
Juno, in Roman mythology, was
the wife of Jubiter and queen of the
heaven. She was considered the
special %protectress of marriage and
guardian of women from birth
to death.
George Washington-Born Februa-
ry %, 1892, died December ii,
1893. He served two terms as pres
ident of the United States, and de-
clined denomination, giving as his
for it that he wanted to lay
down public burdens and enjoy his
home life. For 43 years he had
been in the public service most or
the time, either as surveyor, soldier,
delegate to colonial assembly or con-
tinental congress or president, and
each time he returned home he hoped
he might remain and simply manage
his estate.
When his first term as president
was drawing to a close he wrote an
address for publication, setting forth
his wishes to retire from public life,
but the country was in such a tur-
MOL on account of the wars in Eu-
rope, and the efforts being made to
draw the United States into an al
lance with France, that he consent
I'd to reelection for public good and
was obliged to u command of
he army when war seemed unavoid-
lille.
In 1896 he declined denomination
ind insisted that there was no valid
'eason why he should not be spared
rom public life and be permitted to
njoy the retirement he had 50 long
lesired.
The popular notion that he said
wo terms OF the presidency was as
ong as one man should serve, IL .
lisconception. He presented this
uestion fully IN q public document
ated Sept. ~, 1896, and expressed