davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
WhENNEW YEAR(oM
WE KNOW BY CALENDAR ccQ1(CTnr
PUZZLE OF MANY AGESH yS1&&>F]

February, consisting OF twenty-five
and twenty-three days alternately.
Thus four years contained 1,465 days
and the mean length Of the year was
1854 days. This was one day too
much. From an effort to adjust mat
tiers more confusion resulted.
Politicians Of that day were no less
prone to manipulate affairs to their
own advantage than they are today.
Every third period Of eight years was
to contain only three intercalary
months instead of four. This would
reduce the mean length of the year TO
1864 days, but the care of the calen-
Gar was left with certain officials with
discretion to intercalate more or FEW
err days. To prolong the terms of or
flee or to hasten elections tt cues
ton of the calendar was ignored.
When julius Caesar came into power
he found the civil equinox differed
from the astronomical by three
months. Winter months had been car
ried back into autumn and autumn
into summer.
Sosigenes, an old mathematician
who was more familiar with the stars
than any man of his time. came to
Caesars rescue and devised plan
to put an end to the disorder. The
civil year was regulated entirely by
the sun and was fNed at 1854 days,
the quarter day being added to each
foorth year as we have it now. The
original plan was to have thirty-one
Gays each for the first, third. nth,
seventh, ninth and eleventh months
and the other months thirty, except
February, which was to have twenty
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

wSS neutral that the first month
should DE called in his honor.
nine on common years and thirty each
fourth year. This would have been
so much more simple that had 1t been
Kept We no doubt would want to give
thanks to Caesar. But then came that
other Caesar and SPOILED 1t all. July
had been named for julius and Angus
tus insisted the month to bear His
own name must have as many days
as July. One day was taken from
February and added to August to
crafty the vanity Of this ruler.
When the Julian calendar was In
troduced the equinox fell on the 23th
of March. In the course of few cen.
turtles 1t changed. The error in time
amounted to day in 12S years. In
1852 Pope Gregory Mi. abolished the
Julian calendar in all Catholic coun
tries and introduced the one now In
use. At that time the equinox had
slipped back to March II. Ten days
we're dropped from the calendar
Every one hundredth year that by the
old style would be \ leap year was to
be a common year, the fourth century
divisible by four excepted; 1900 was
to be leap year, but 100, 1900. 1900
of the common length, and 1000 leap
year again Some countries were slow
to accept this method, but Russia is
hri ct HnpG
not follow It.
Although for many centuries there
was so great variety in the selection
OF the day regarded as the first OF the
year, religious observances and festive
rejoicing were general among all peo-
ples-Egyptians, Jews, Chinese, Ro-
mans and Mohamnedans. Solemn in
auguration of the new year was one
Of the customs retained upon the es-
tablishment of Christianity. The date
ranged from Christmas to Easter I'M
til late in the sixteenth century.
Finally the date was accepted that
had been named by Numa, who also
had named the month In honor OF
Janus, the two-faced, who was thus
supposed to turn at once back upon
the old year and forward to the new.
Feasting and the interchange of
presents have been customary In all
ages 30 far as can be learned from
records of celebrations of this day.
Wishing Happy New Year has been
a custom as old as antiquity, but let
us hope 1t may never grow 80 old as
to be out of date.-Chicago Record
Herald
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
vassail, wassail all over the town,

Wassail, wassal all over the town,
Our toast II Is white our ale It is brown:
Our bowl il is made of {, maplin tree.
We be good fellows all, I drink to thee
In some parts of England the old
year Is swept out" by men and boys
with blackened faces dressed to rep
resent sweeps, In others it Is burned
out" with bonflres, Sometimes 1t is
rung out with mutiled bells that are
unmuffied aid rung clear after ~
o'clock.
In Derbyshire when the clock struck
IL the house door was thrown open
as for an honored guest, and the
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
new YEAR CARDS
AND CALENDARS

wv Nth the New Year gradual
NM ly dawning we must not be
" caught unprepared to greet
It, Good wishes for the well
fare Of our friends during the coming
year must be conveyed by some
means or other. Very few people are
fortunate enough to have their friends
living near, that they may extend YER
bally their wishes for the new year.
The next best medium for this pur-
pose Is the New Years card. or
course these cards may be purchased
at the shops, but it is very much
nicer to be original.
1t Is rather an expensive PROPOSE
ton to buy these cards from artists If
the friends happen to be numerous
Why not make them yourself?
Here are given few designs to be
used for New Years calendars. They
are pretty and dainty, much more at
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

unless torn away by some outside
force. There is unlimited depth of
meaning connected with the sun dial
The pedestal should be colored
white to represent marble; the metal
angle of the sun dial yellow or bronze
color, the ivy dark, rich green. The
background and numerals may be
tinted any color to suit the personal
taste.
These little calendars are sure to
be liked and admired by all who re-
ceive them. Take advantage of this
novel manner to express your New
Years greetings.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

the summer ana the
autumn.
The ancient Egyp.
tians and Persiaas
began the new year
at the autumnal equi-
nox, September %,
and the Greeks In
the time of Solon-
after whom every
rural lawmaker has
called himself ever
since-at the winter
solstice, December
81. The Romans be-
gan the year with
the winter solstice
until Caesar chang.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

The small calendar pads can be
bought for two or three cents. These
are fastened to the pictures with mu-
cilage.
January's emblem is the snowdrop
The next design introduces that white,
delicate blossom. Amy subdued color
may be used for the background
against which the flowers are thrown
out in relief. The blossoms are u
pure blue white and the stems dark
green. The lettering may be black
or any dark, neutral color.
The sun-dal design is most appro-
pirate and suggests much. We want
it to mark off only happy hours. You
desire to be a friend as sincere and
true as the angle cast by the shadow
of the sun. The climbing ivy is ever
green and clings always to the trellis.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
Casting Up Accounts.


With the dawning of the new year,
let us stop for a moment and invoice
our life for the past twelve months.
much as the merchant invoices his
goods. Retire to your room alone,
look over the books and see how they
balance. DO they show that trade has
been good, that people have come to
look daily for loving words, sympa-
thy, and kind acts, and received
them? Or do they show the oppo-
site? If so. let us order new stock
of goods this year from the Heavenly
Firm, clean, pure, up-to-date stock.
Then, remembering we are working
for the best firm. let us keep busy
each day. And people will buy, If
they see the goods are pure, whole
some and beautiful Let each one
resolve that the year 1913, shall be
consecrated to the helping In some
way every one we meet every day In
the year-Sunshine.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

49,. Cd it to January |.
The Jews begin the
new year at the vernal equinox, March
90, as the beginning of the year This
is astronomically the beginning OF
spring and is really logical time to
Jegin the new year. In England
Christmas Day. December %, was Ne"
Years Day until William the Con
Queror came. His coronation fell on
January and he ordered that that
day be observed as New Years there.
after. In 1882 the pope promulgated
the Gregorian calendar, and New
Year, which medieval Europe there
tofore had observed March 25, was
finally fixed for the first day OF Jan
uary.
The sole record of the observance
Of the New Year by the Pilgrims in
the New World named New England
was most prosaic, most brief-"we
went to work betimes." Many of the
good Puritan ministers thought the
celebration of the day savored of i'm
proper and unchristian reverence for
Ne heather god Janus. Yet these
English settlers came from a land
where New Years Eve and New
Years Day were second in importance
and in domestic observance only to
Christmas.
No English holiday was Of much
account that was not observed with
flowing bowl, On New Years Eve the
wassail bowl was filled with spiced
ale and drunk In families, and poorer
folk tied a bowl with ribbons and
begged for money for ale to I'll and
refill the bowl. singing
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
sy EDGAR ELLSWORTH OWEN.

ICORDS of the
fight OF tt M g
were in a sorry
middle In the
early ages. You
accept as a mat
ter of fact the ar
rival of N e W
Years day and
1t never &C.
ours to you that
there might not
be a new year,
nor any year, and
even if the year
did have n s! s.
tematic plan 1t
might open up In
the early spring.
time, or late in
fall, or some other
time Of the year
"a we know 1t
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

The New Year was & hire many
ushered IN win warthy, dark
shout OF "Wei- haired men went
comet" from house to
house on New Years morn ITO take
the New Year in." receiving gift OF
liquor or money from each host. In
Scotland this Questioning" was
ceremony Of much importance; and
SO universal was the custom Of visit
Ing from house to house that cen.
fury ago, In Edinburgh, the streets
were more thronged from 70 to in
the New Years morning than at mid.
day. AS 1t was deemed unlucky to
enter a house emptv-handed, the visi-
tors bore with them cakes, cheese
ard bowls or kettles Of "hot pint" AS
parties OF friends met in the streets
they exchanged cakes and buns and
slipped each others drink.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26
The New Year.

Who knows what opportunity may
come to us this year? Let us live In
a great spirit. then we shall be ready
for a great occasion..-Dean Hodges.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

tractive than postcards. Not much
time is required to make them and
scarcely any expense besides the pa
per and water colors.
Have piece of carbon paper, some
smooth water color paper and the box
of water colors. Place the carbon pa
per between the design and the paper
and carefully trace the outline. A
replica of the design will be trans
ferred ready for tinting.
The snow scene would be effective
tinted in tones of brown or gray.
Make the path a dull lead color, the
tall poplar trees dark gray, almost
black. and the sky Blush gray. The
lettering could be of brown or gold.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-12-26

New Year was
ushered in with a
shout of "Wel-
GOMEZ" and the
first human In.
'omer was watch.
ed for with much
eagerness, a wom-
an visitor being
thought - rather
ungallantly - to
bring ill-luck; a
light-haired man
was also regarded
with much dis.
favor. In Lanca.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
BEHIND THE POLITICAL SCENES

LaFollette has come and Roosevelt
is coming.
Taft has not yet decided that the
time is propitious or that the occa-
sion demands a visit.
Doubtless he feels that Minnesota,
rock-ribbed in Republican faith and
dancing to the tune of the governor,
will give him its delegation whether
or not he comes.
Meanwhile Governor Eberhart has
agreed to a primary test of strength
between the president and the colo
mel. The manner in which MIR. |. A.
CasWell urged the primary scheme
leads to the deduction that the Roo
sevelt chaps feel rather confident of
the situation.
There is some indication of an at
tempt at a LaFollette revival in this
state but there are few who seem to
seriously think the Wisconsin man
stands chance here.
Some talk has been going the
rounds in Redwood county recently
that the La Toilette hackers should
not lie down to pleasant dreams.
They are real progressives and would
like to see the man whom they be-
lieve is progressiveness incarnate
given at least complimentary vote.
nj. H. Hitchcock has been turning
this proposition over in his mind
without arriving at a definite con-
clusion. Mr.. Hitchcock, like every
other real Repub lican. is for har-
mony. He feels that the old party
can win along progressive lines next
fall if the various elements will get
together. He is far from wishing
to start trouble.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19

Inhumanity is the crime OF the
age. And upon whom shall we
place the blame? Alb, friends. upon
youand me. Not upon Baer. There
| is higher power that will take care
Of him and his divinity. Upon you
and me. We countenance, we en-
dure, by our silence we defend. the
position taken by the forces back OF
capitalism.
Our president says the people are
not fit to rule. We stand aside and
from afar off pity the Lawrence suf-
ferers and remain quiet under the
taunt Of inability to govern.
Where is our active, determined
effort to right wrongs, to redress
the innocent, to establish justice. to
bring labor and capital into normal
working relations?
Thecoward shirks. thecynic snarls,
the best are Indifferent.
There is nothing finer for tongue
action than the gospel of the broth
erhood of men.
The world is full of tongue action.
1t is time for the gospel of silent
effort.
Remember this, though the motive
be selfish: There never was labor
strife in any part of the world for
which the ultimate consumer did not
pay.
Make your protest heard. Sound
it in the ears of your congressman,
your senator, or president.
You have a nation big enough to
care for you. Make that nation do
it's duty.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
GOSSIP or THE PRESS

Cannonism has been announced as
the original cause of the breech be-
tween President Taft and his pre-
decessor in office; that Roosevelt, as
president, contemplated the espousal
of the progressiyes' program against
Sneaker Cannon but, as his term was
about to expire, he passed the ques-
ton on to his successor, with a rec
concentration that the progresslves
be given the Endorsement OF the ad-
ministration. This Endorsement was
withheld: in fact, the progresslVes
were disciplined for their position
upon public questions. The pubic
has no direct evidence in conhrma-
ton Of this incident, further than
that supplied by subsequent events.
Mr.. Roosevelt's speech before the
Ohio constitutional convention
stamps him a progressive, and ne
has been SO accepted by the leaders
Of that wingof the republican party
The issue seems to be clearly drawn
between these two great leaders.
Alexandria Post News.
lie the reports Of the brutality OF
1 the police and militia at Lawrence,
4 Mass, are true that women and
children have been mercilessly club
bed and other wise maltreated-it Il
to the eternal disgrace of the ole
Bay Tree State. Here is a splendid
opportunity for the democratic gov
ernor Of that state to demonstrate
what manner Of man he is. At TIL
distance it looks as If barbarous Rus
sian methods were being employees
by the greedy mill owners and thel
loficial hirelings to crush the unde
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
THE CRIME or THE AGE

Out Of Lawrence comes the wall
of children, the sob of women, the
despairing cry of men.
They may be foreigners, but they
are men, women and children.
Out of Pennsylvania come similar
sounds of anguish.
Doubtless they are Gebased coal
diggers and their families, but they
are men, women and children.
Divine Right Baer, of the Reading
railroad, is again haughtily in the
lime light.
The mines are his and his associ-
ates, by the will of God. So he said
ten years ago. So he says today.
Up at Lawrence the manufacture
ers are saying: THE means of pro-
duction are ours by the will of God.
1t is the age old cry of the privi-
legged classes. The Caesars called
themselves diyine and Louis XIV
described himself as The State.
And ever and ever there is the
bitter or imprisoned protest from
the people.
They know where divinity doth lie
and they do not look to Louis or a
Baer for the grace that makes men
divine.
They are more apt to look for it in
lowly manger, in the dreary cell
of Pascel, by the wretched bed of
a Calico.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
The CRY OF The BOY

E. M. Phillips started things in his
address here last week.
1t is earnestly hoped that he gave
them sendoff that will result in a
real gymnasium.
You may pirate of social reform
and destruction of the political ma
chine as much as you wish. And
surely you have a work in that field.
But what does it accomplish if the
boys are going wrong?
Do the duty that lies nearest you.
No fully grown man counts for
much in the effort to save the world.
His abilities are known and judged
of all men. He is a fixed quality.
Every boy is animate with poten-
tial powers.
What is he. what may he become,
what may he do?
Salvation lies in the hands of the
boys.
Come out of the tangled thicket
of your adult conceit and realize
that one boy properly handled may
be worth a thousand of you.
The future of Redwood Falls is
locked in the breasts of the boys.
It's up to you. men, to give them a
chance.
Senator Clague has the right idea.
Who will be next and next and
next and next.
Make the gymnasium idea hum.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
ROOSEVELT AND GRATITUDE

Theodore Roosevelt, candidate for
nomination as president
of the United States, has strange
ideas of political gratitude.
Hear him:
Neither Mr.. Stimson nor any
other man whom | have supported
for a public office owes me any graft
tude for doing So
True, isn't it.
The patriot works for his country,
not for men.
The men are incidents.
He may win the gratitude of thu
nation but he is beyond the reproacl
or thanks of the individual.
Roosevelt's position would be NOR
enjoyable were all men to take tn
exalted view of the case which h
takes.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19

useless waste Of time. Besides he
makes good official and there is no
need for change. St. Peter Free
Press.
Duluth women are agltating a
movement to abolish the high steps
at present found on street cars and
to cause lower ones to be installed
in their places. They say they do
not propose to change their style of
dress to conform to the regulation
height OF the car step. Thecomfort
of the women has been very little
considered in the construction of
most public utilities, hotels, rail-
roads and street cars being among
the number that cater little to the
demands of women.-Little Falls
Transcript.
1t cost P. g. Phillips, the Socialist
alderman of Duluth, 81 cents to be
elected It's a sure thing it cost his
opponents Inore than that. The
Journal editor has got that beat: he
took a turn in the congressional race
in this district six years ago at an
expense of fifty cents.-Bear River
Journal.
The Duluth Herald says that one
wooden mill paid for itself out of
profits in two years. That's nothing.
We have known men TO. pay for
farm in Marshall county, MINI out
of only one years crop of said farm.
Warren Register.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
TIE ROSARY

The hours / spent with thee, dear heart.
Are as string of pearls to me;
/ count them over, every one apart,
My rosary.
Each hour pearl, each pearl prayer,
To still heart in absence wrung:
/ tell each bead until the end, and there
A cross is hung.
o memories that bless-and burnt
o barren gain-and bitter loss!
/ kiss each bead and strive at last to learn
To kiss the cross,
Sweetheart,
To kiss the CROSS
Robert Cameron Rogers
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
paid and over worked mill operators.
Princeton Union.

paid and over worked mill operators.
Princeton Union.
That Governor Eberhart has a
large number of admirers in Man
kate il indicated by the action Of his
fellow toWnsmen who have indorsed
him for a denomination. That the
governor will have the support Of
the delegation from Blue Earth
county in the state republican con-
yention, there is no doubt. Free
Press.
Secretary of State ScLmahl. in a
statement issued, puts the number
of motor cars at 10000, and believes
1912 will find 10000 autos in Mime
sofa. 1t is estimated that in 1910,
$500, 100000 was expended by the
American public for autos, and the
expenditure will reach $500, OO0, 900
in 1912. And still the American
public goes on purchasing cars, and
the immense factories that have
grown up furnish employment to
hundreds Of thousands of people,
Echo Enterprise.
Some people are still trying to fig,
ure out how best to supplant Secre-
tarv of STATE Julius Schmahl. A
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19
ROOSEVELT IN REDWOOD

Straw votes show which way the
wind blows.
The Gazette publishes figures
showing Roosevelt overwhelmingly
the favorite here.
Why should he not be?
He is progressive. he is right, he
is dominant. he has experience, he
is world famous figure.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19

The LaFollette and the Roosevelt
men in this county are growing to-
gether and there is reason to believe
they will agree on the candidate be-
fore the district convention meets.
Eberhart insists he is still for Taft
though there are people who are
asking if the governor can be Still
for anything.
Gordon and his cohorts are out for
Roosevelt.
Lee, having the endorsement of
the state progressive league, can
hardly turn his back on the allied
forces and La Toilette as the league
has been active, under the manage
ment of Lotus, Manahan and Peter
son, for LaFollette.
All of which tends to throw the
old party in this great state into a
fine condition of ebullition.
1t was observed when <. nj. Clarke
OF Duluth was here a week ago he
was strong for county option. This
would suggest that the drys are in
tending to keep up the fight for this
cause and will make it an issue at
the next campaign.
Some Of the County optionists feel
that work this year would be useless
as the senate is opposed to the mea-
sure. Other far seeing statesmen
maintain that if the issue is to be
successful at any time in the future
the fight must be kept up ceaseless-
". If this faction wins county
option will play part in the next
legislative and gubernatorial cam
paign.
Alvah Eastman, candidate for Re-
publican nomination as congressman
at.large is sending Photographic
prints Of himself to his friends.
These prints are artistically mounted
and are real souvenirs of man who
has done great deal for the state.
His nomination seems assured and
his.election certain.
Success will n axe Mr.. Eastman a
dangerous man for Mr. Lindbergh
in the Sixth district to reckon with
in 1914.
Speaking of congressman: 1t
would appear from this distance that
Halvor Stevenson has digged fine
comfortable grave for himself and
will he in it after next November.
Judge Grindeland, one of the biggest
men in the district, has been men
toned for his successor but the
Judge is putting the honor from
him.
There was a time when Andy
Stephens might have grabbed down
the plums but that time has gone
Elmer Admans once was stronger
than now. This leaves an open held
in the Ninth and any aspiring soul
has right to throw his hat into
the ring"
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-03-19

This is no criticism Of La Toilette.
His time will come, buttoday Roose-
yelt is the strongest progressive IN
the country.
Success is possible to the progress
sives.
They have but to pull together.
Let's do it.