The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-02-07

.
Ia that particular city will be open
that day Does any one around the
Race know whether January Is a
bank holiday In Picking or Athens or
| Cape Town? Usually no one does
lis hard enough % keep tabs on the
81 holidays rampant in these Tn ted
States II therefore becomes neees
sary 10 send ~, expensive cabIegram
to get the information This sort Of
, thing happens not once, but many
times, In every banking house with
an extensive foreign business.
Among the hol days established by
custom the occasion Is generally the
anniversary Of IN important political
went or the birthday of q national
Zero Such holidays are therefore 10
cal, while church holidays are for the
most part general The former class
prevails In the newer and more dem
ocratic countries. while the older ones
continc themselves largely 70 the
church fasts and festivals.
Where Holidays Are Thickest.
Contrary 10 the popular notion, the
ueW democraceS Of the west enjoy
greater number OF holidays than their
sister nations OF the eastern hem-
sphere or the 81 nations or depend
encies listed Brazil leads, with 81
holidays The United States. with
81, is close second, although she,
unlike Brazil, practically ignores the
church days. Another popular deIu-
sion is shattered when we find that
France has only IS formally observed
days and Italy only %. We had sup
posed the Latins always. outdid us In
this particular Among the other bel
ligerents Germany, 1t is presumed,
will observe 20 days next year, Great
Britain l6 Japan Is and Russia IL.
In most of these countries numerous
local holidays ordinarily observed
have been abandoned during the war
The study OF holidays is fascinat-
ing 10 the historian. Those Of our
own country offer particularly rich
field. II one knew the mean .ng of all
The half a hundred days celebrated In
the United States, with the collateral
events connected with each, he wo Id
be well versed in the nations history.
one OF the first surprises in store
for such a student is to learn that the
United States has no national hoi-
day. The reader will at once think
OF Fourth OF July and OF the Presi-
dents Thanksgiving proclamation
But not even these are national Acts
Of Congress and Presidents pro
nouncements IL this respect apply
only to the District OF Columbia and
the territories The states usually
follow suit. but as matter OF Gus
tom only and not of law. Here is a
chance to win some bets from your
friends.
Americas Red Letter Days.
American local holidays are rich In
historical significance. OF such are
the concentrations OF Bunker Hlil
aud Bennington ana New Orleans and
san Jaclnto; tie all hut forgotten
Fast Day Of New England. still sur
ylyIng In New Hampshire; Patriots
Day In Maine and OlI Defenders Day
III Baltimore. Pioneer Day in Id no
ard the various AdmsS IN Days plp-
MAR with other Western states, Con-
federate Memorial psy In the South,
together with the birthdays ~ Lee
and other heroes Of the Confedera "
Two states have Independence DAYS
~ their own Texas observes her sep
araiion from Mexico on March .
North Carolina commentaries the
Halifax independence resolutions on
April II and the Mecklcnburg decla-
ration nn May ~
II remains for Frederick county.
Md. 10 celebrate all alone the renn-
dlatlon 81 TIC stamp ACT. one of the
most loral celebrations ~ an impor-
lant national event on record
Among The fayoriie months for hol
daYs the world over November leads