The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-12-27
SILK GOWN OR MAN?
Leap Year Nears CIOse-Last Chance
at Charity Ball.

In a few days another leap year will
end. 1916 will be remembered by
many, for it has been a year full of
events
It is interesting to know the charm
ing story of how leap year became
the one time in a woman's life when
she could pop the question"
And it must be remembered that
the charity ball at the Turner Opera
house tonight is a leap-year dance,
and our local girls will have an op-
portunity to win life-partner, or a
silk gown and a kiss.
Mythology has it that st. Patrick
while walking along the shores of
Lough Neogh one day, was accosted
by ST Bridget. st. Bridget weepingly
complained that dissatisfaction had
arisen in the nunnery because the
women could not pop the question:
Celibacy was not observed strictly
st. Bridget's day, although a prin-
1iple in the church.
st. Patrick was deeply moved by ST.
3ridget's tears, and he conceded the
5omen the privilege of proposing one
ear in seven. But st. Bridget wept
he more and threw her arms around
It. Patrick's neck and said: "Arrah!
oathrick, jewel, | daurnt go back to
he gurls wild such proposal. Mex
, wan year in four"
Patrick CALAMITY replied: "Biddy.
cushla squeeze me that way again,
nd III give you leap-year, the long
st one of the lot"
Then Bridget showed a keen sense
# appreciation and popped the ques-
ion" to Patrick, but he had taken the
ow of Celibacy, and refused He
noothed Bridgets disappointment
yer with kiss and silk gown.
'And ever since them" concludes
ne legend, eff man refuses a leap
ear proposal he must pay the penal
of silk gown and kiss.
History also has something to say
\ the year 1888 the following is said
have been passed in Scotland
ut is statut and ordained that
during the rein of his maised Bills
as lepe yeare, ilk hayden ladye or
both highe and lowe estait shall
haze liberte to bespoke ye man she
likes, albeit he refuses to talk his
to be his lawful wyfe, he shall be
mulcted in ye sum ane pundis or
less, or his estait may be; except
he can make it appeare that he is
IL
shall be free"
A few years later a similar statute
as passed in France and approved
the king. And according to a un-
lue book entitled Love, Courtshfp
nd Matrimony," published in London,
i 1906, the leap-year privilege be-
anne part of the lex non scripta, or
COMMON law.
Rossini, the famous musical com
5oser, was born on Feb. 20, 1892, a
zap year. In 1854, when 72, ne ceIe-
rated what he called his 18th birth
.ay; and he declared to his colu-
'anion the purpose to turn over a
ew leaf and disregard the frivolities
youth and the indiscretions of his
ems"
But it was only his 18th birthday,
or 1900 was not leap-year. Pope
regory XIII. in 1882 had ordained
hat a year ending century should
.ot be bissextile, or a leap year, un-
ass its figures, omitting the ciphers,
we're divisible by four. Hence 100,
500 and 1900 were not counted as
cap years, but 1000 will be-
When the New Style" calendar waa
dopted the year consisted of 355
lays only, October becoming Octo-
er 18th.
Russia is the only country in Eu-
-ope which has not adopted the New
Style" calendar. and Russia is now
Twelve days behind the rest of Europe
in its reckoning.