The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-02-19

N ton's birthday a national holt
DAY that might be more uni
v~ersally observed without harm TO the
country aud the citizenship. paiticu-
larry the newer portion Of ~ There
are those who hold that we nave too
many national holidays: too many
DAYS on which business IL interrupted
and trade is forced q rest. But II
there is any wrong In connection with
our holidays IL Is because we do not
have enough of them and because We
do not observe those WI have. ospc-
ciaIly our strictly patriotic days. with
the enthusiasm and unanim'ty that
should he displayed.
This year newspapers from various
cities all over the country record
spontaneous movements for the gen
oral observance OF Washington's
birthday. for the closing Of stores and
Tor patriotic exercises which viii tend
10 recall to the minds Of tho people
inf flN'ilulh aAuffN 'iitb'b VI VIZ
Father Of His Country.
The Herald would like to see such
"A spontaneous movement In Albuqucr-
que next Tuesday. II would he "A fine
Trims should the stores Of this city
resolve on their own account. and
without any organized movement or
rging to close for this particular
holiday. We can at least zee to II
tina our flags are On displa..
The Roswell News records some in.
tcrcsting history In connection with
the Wsshington's birthday cate In tn,
following.
The birthday Of George v shinr-
ton viii Do celebrated FcbrU 81,
and Tor more than a century the u"m-
orablc event has been observed on
that date. though the date on which
the great American was born was
February II. iT32. tntil he was 30
years old Washington always OBJ
served February II as his natal day.
and even after Washington had be-
come the greatest and mos famous
American February II was Observed
as his birthday. which sometimes was
celebrates In different places both ON
the nth and 2end of the month.
Washington's diary for 1889 con-
tains this note. February ~ went
with the family to a ball in Alexandria
given by the citizens of 1t and its vi
entity IN comncmoration Of NY birth
day" That birthday bail In Alexan-
aria was held on Monday. because the
nth of February fell on sunday.
Washington diary for 1893. the
year of his death. contains his birth
day reference. February II went w
to Alexandria To the celebration OF my
birthday. Many maneuvers were per-
formed by uniformed corps. and an
elegant ball and supper at nisht. Feb
ruary II, returned home
The change In Washlngton's birth
dag was brought about by the change
IN the calendar. England In 1852
adopted the G~rcgorian or reformed
calendar. which corrected the error
-of tho Julian calendar. tn new cal
'ndar dropped ten days. and events
which took place from Febrsary i9th
To .ist inclusive were deemed To have
inF"n place on February g.
IL would appear that there was no
observance uf Washineton's birthday
an th" Continental army u0,ll 1854.
ana Il is likely that that wax the first
observance of the anniversary by any
other persons tina Washington and
his family. On that occasion Ro-
chamhouu aud "a number OF French
ana American officers celebrated the
koehambcau wrote 10 Washington:
Yesterday WAS the anniversary ~
Your o~Ncelloncy's birthday, We have
pat off celebrating that holiday until
today hy reason of tine Lords day.
and we win celebrate IL with the sole
regret that your excollcncy l.. not a
iwtnoss of the illusion and gladness
of our hearts
The FIRST popular celebration Of the
February % date was at Newport.
H. +, IN ltSi Tn. chronicle. Of the
event say that the bells OF the town
wore rung, The houses were decorated
with flags and bunting ANA brilliant
entertainment was given. Yno Tam
many society OF New York IN 1890
adopted a resolution that tn, after
The 22nd OF February be c.. moe
rated as the birthday OF Was on