Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-11-01
CBy Augustus W. Dougherty)

eer of winter. and is universally re
garded as the gloomiest and most
darksome month of all the year, for
with the exception of a short period
of Indian summer" leaden skies and
choking fogs are frequently in cyi-
denCe at this murky season. II is
about this time of the year that i'm
mense flocks of field geese and ducks,
in V-shaped files high in the air. may
daily be. seen winging their way south
ward. Squirrels. chipmunks. field
mice and other industrious little ami.
mails are also at this threatening sea
son busily laying up a goodly store
of winter food, while such quadrupcds
as usually pass the cold months in
! sleep are preparing TO hibernate,
where they may comfortably snooze
away the bleak winter period. Heavy
/ gusts OF wind shake down and scatter
the last remaining leaves from the
trees, leaving the branches bare. and
we then more than ever realize that
summer and autumn are decidedly on
the wane, and that winter-in its
sloomiest phases, with it's cold rains
and sleets and deep SHOWS and chill
! ing blasts-is fast approaching.
November, which is the eleventh
month of our year, derived its name
from the Latin nOvem, meaning nine:
! for IL was the ninth month in the old
Roman calendar, at an ancient period
when the year consisted OF only ten
months. Although the unaltcred name
has been retained, it does not of
course flt exactly as ii once did, be
cause 1t was named ages ago when
the year began with March instead of
January as ii now does.
This murksome month was known
among the early Saxons as Blot
mOnath." or blood months" on ac-
count of the general slaughter OF cat
tie and other meat producing animals
at this time in the year. to salt down
and store for winter privision. II also
bore the nickname OF "Wind-month. -
from the fact that fierce gales of wind
invariably prevailed during this month.
There are two notable events that
always occur in November: A general
election day fixed by law for the FIRST
Tuesday after the first Monday" and
a day of thanksgiving, which usually
falls on the last Thursday in the
] month
The first day of November will b,
observed in Louisiana as "All Saints
) Day" while Friday. November 2. will
be celebrated by the children OF tn,
public schools in Montana as "Pionec1
Day"
November ?, 1895, was the day OF
r which James X. Polk. the eleventh
: president of the United States. wa
, born
Il The 5th of November marks the an
l., niversary of the discovery and prever
ton of the gunpowder treason in Eng
land, commonly known as the Cur
powder Plot of 1906" or Guy Fawkc
Day" a band OF conspirators ha
planned to blow up the ParIiamcn
II House in London, by placing thirty-si
D barrels Of powder by night in the vaul
h directly below the old House of Lords
e which were TO be touched off on tn
y 5th of November when King James
4 was expected TO open the parliamcn
r in person. The cellar was examine,
q on suspicion on the night before. an,
y Guy Fawkcs was found with fuse il
l. his pocket by which he was To fir
the mine llc was tried md execute,
c with scr"n others on January 90
e 1906
c The 9Th of November this year vii
be general election day in man
Ic states and cities.
10 on November .. 1920. the NJ, ,iiowc
y arriyC' nj Cape Cod. The notabl
10 vessel. with men, women and CEildrc
X numbering about 100 on board, Ia
sailed from Plymouth in England o
September 9th Of the same year;
finally landed in what Is now MassG
h chusctts on December %. 1920. whic
date has since been celebrated a
'c "ForcfathCr's Day"
Is November 10. $40 4. D., Is the pur
ported anniversary of the birth of Nc
= hammCd the Arabian prophet. an
a. founder of Islamism. This so callc
q. inspired prophet" composer Of tn
re- Koran. and founder of the Mohamm,
NJ dan religion. was born in the city q
Mecca, in Western Arabia He and hi
,c successors spread his religion by tn
@, sword. and II is at the present tim
4. the faith OF many OF the nations c
20 Asia and Africa.
n. by n queer coincidence Martin Lutl