New Britain herald., 1919-04-02
HOLIDAYS THREATEN
 TO HURT BUSINESS
There Are Many Such Days on
 Calendar

as to thelr control or limitation oe they seriously interfere in business. The tendency everywhere is toward their constant addition as new rea- sons arc found for honoring distin- guishcd men or signaling important events. The issuance of bonds is re- osnized as necessary for many states and municipalities, but we find it ne- ceSsary to put some limitation on them, and we find it equally necessarv to take the same action in limjtinp the number of holidays AS things now go, we protest whenever a new holiday is suggested because we al- ready have too many. Thus at the last session of tho Louisiana leeis]a ture, the objection was raised that ue had already too many holidays and were drifting to the condition of Latin America. where nearly every other day is a set day. When it was pro- posed Q, year ago to make Columbus Day, October 12, a, public holiday, all though the arguments in it's favor Were strong as the greatest day in all Am erican history and although it is celebrated in 63 countries and states, It was objected to and defeated at one session of the legislature for this req son, and granted, not without obiec- ton, at the last.
 Louisiana has more holidays than most of the American States-12 in all-and Ala abama is only one ahead, with l3, while Oklahoma drags far behind with only seven, when busi- ness is suspende for fetes or cele- brations. There are. of course. some local variations among the states, but generally the same holidays are ob- served in all.
 Christmas is already a universal celebration throughout the world but Brazil celebrates three Christmases New Years Day is also generally ob- served everywhere, and Thanksgiving Day is universal throughout this country generally. The latter cele- bration seems to have met with great favor in Great Britain--both the idea and the manner of celebra ting-and we may see it adopted by. our British cousins. American holidays are gain ing abroad as well as American ideas just now. July 4 is now a public hol- iday in Brazil, Qua temaia, New foundland, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay out of respect to the United States, If the Wilson enthu- siasm continues as high as it is today we may count on a score more of nations joining with us in celebrating the Glorious Fourth. This is the only case where any country celebrates the holiday of another state except the great French holiday, Bastilc Day, July 14, which is honored in many l.. There is only one day that may be said to be an anti-American celebra- tion--in Costa Rica, of the victory of the native forces over General Walker, the filibuster and "los Americanos," where the Costa Ricans gather at the monument which recalls that vic tory.
 Washington's Birthday, February 22. is celebrated in all the states--he is the only American so honored. We are not given to this method of hon. bring our great men. Columbus is thus distinguished in 32 states, but only four other effer- son, Lincoln. Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee--are similarly hon. ored. Jefferson has a single admirer, and, strange to say, not one of the 12
 
 through the Louisiana Purchase, but Alabama. Lincoln's Birthday is eel ebrated in 25 states, one Southern, and Davis and Lee have each nine celebrations, all in the South. Davis Birthday is Confederate Memorial Day in Louisiana and several of the other Southern States, but it is not honored ill North Carolina or Virginia. and Lee is similarly ignored in Lou isiana and Texas! What 8 paucity of distinguished men worthy Of this honor as compared with some other countries! Salvador, in Central America, has special holidays com- memorative of it's military heroes-- General Morazon, General Gerardo Rarrios, General Delgado, General Arce and General Rodriguez-we seem lacking in distinguished generals or indisposed to glorify them Wit, only two military men thus recog- nized in our entire history-Washing- ton and Lee.
 They are very given to holidays and saints days in Latin America. Ar gentina has 19 holidays. of which If are saints days, and Brazil has 30 general holidays, of which 26 are saints days, besides 56 special state holidays. Queensland, Australia, seeks to please all it's population by ce1e- brating St. Georges Day for the Eng fish, St David for the Welsh, St. An drew. for the Scotch and St. Patrick for the Irish.
 In the colonies of Holland the peo- pie show their. devotion to. the royal family in spite of some republican talk. by celebrating not only the birth day of tho queen, but of her daugh- ter, the Princess .Juliana, and her mother. Spain goes even further, for the king has two public holidays, one his birthday and the other special with tMn for t-ls aueen--