davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24
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Pre-lentsn Festivities.

WITH all the authority Of the
church, In the early Christian CEN
turtles, 1t was impossible to lure the
masses entirely away from pre-Lenten
festivities and In some districts the
period was extended from the twelfth
day of Epiphany to Ash Wednesday.
This period presently gained title az
the carnival" period, the word being
derived from the Latin carnis, flesh,
and vale, farewell. signifying: fare
well to the flesh. According to an
other authority the derivation is from
carnis and levamen. solace, meaning
the solace Of the flesh, but the former
seems the more probable origin Of
the term. In modern Rome these fes-
tivities are limited to eight days. In
several southern cities Of the United
States, as New Orleans, Memphis. No
bile and Galveston, short carnival
celebrations are held each year begin
ming on Monday before Ash Wednes-
day and continuing through Shrovs
Tuesday. Mardi Gras Is applied to
this carnival In America.
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24
Easter Customs
in Other Lands

Easter day, the only church festival,
according to an authority, that is sane
toned by the Bible, yet takes its name
from the heather goddess, Eastre. In
every part of the world, almost. this
Joyous season In which we celebrate
the greatest event in history, the Res
direction Of Our Lord, is marked by
many picturesque customs, many Of
which, unhappily. are gradually fall
ing into disuse.
In Russia.
One cannot help specializing how
Easter will be observed this year in
this land, where Terror still reigns su-
preme. In prewar days 1t was the out
standing event in the year In the lives
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24

Russian Peasants Salute Each Other
on Easter Sunday, Saying "christ Is
RisenI"
Of countless peasants. For months be-
forehand they scraped and saved every
kopeck, so that they might provide
themselves with at least one new gar.
ment to wear for the first time on
Easter day. If they could afford II
they bought themselves an entirely
new outfit.
Men and women meeting each other
change the customary salutation of
Good morning" to Christ is risen,"
to which response is promptly made,
He Is risen, indeed"
The Easter dinner was q most elab-
crate meal, and in many places the
festivities were continued for q whole
week.
In France.
During this season In the south Of
France crowds Of young men in holi-
day attire. and Of merry mien. parade
the streets, carrying chairs lined with
white silk and decorated In lovely
fashion with spring flowers and gay
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24
The Two
Greatest
Festivals
of the
Christian
World

Easter. like Christmas, is a season
Of great rejoicing throughout the
Christian world, writes George B.
Catlin in the Detroit News. The two
might be termed the alpha and the
omega of Christian festivals, since
one celebrates the nativity and the
other the resurrection Of the Lord
Jesus Christ from death and the
grave.
AS the early Christian records are
fragmentary and imperfect it is i'm
possible to determine when the cele-
bration Of Easter began. The early
Christians Of the church In the East
were mostly converts from Judaism
and these Christians continued the
observance Of the principal feasts and
fasts Of their ancestors, the ancient
Israelites.
The death and resurrection Of Christ
occurred at about the time Of the
Passover, which Jesus and his dis
ciples had gone to Jerusalem to OBJ
serve. The Last Supper, held in an
upper room" of a private home In
Jerusalem, by some authorities sup
posed to be in the home Of the mother
of st. Mark, was the Feast Of the
Passover.
The only allusion in the New Tesla
ment that would indicate very early
observance of Easter, as feast cele-
brating the Resurrection, is In the
first collection Of the letters Of St.
Paul to the Christians Of the church
In Corinth; fifth chapter and seventh
and eighth verses: purge out the
old leaven, that We may be a new
lump, even as ye are unleavened.
For our passover also has been sac.
rifced, even Christ: wherefore let
US keep the feast, not with the old
leaven, neither with the leaven Of
malice and wickedness, but with the
unleavened bread Of sincerity and
truth"
In the subsequent records the nrst
allusion to Easter Ii In connection
with a dispute between two groups
Of Christians as to the date Of the
observance when, In the last decade Of
the second century Of the Christian
era, Polycrates, bishop Of Ephesus,
and Irenaeus, bishop Of Lyons, wrote
letters to Victor Of Rome, differing
with him on the subject Of the proper
date for the feast
The crucihxion occurred on the
sixth day Of the week. or Friday. The
following day was the Jewish Sabbath
and the Resurrection occurred on the
FIRST day Of the week. The early
Christians Of Jewish ancestry wished
to signify their separation from their
former faith, 30, presently, they
ceased to observe the Jewish Sabbath
and made their holy day Sunday. the
FIRST day Of the week.
The Jewish calendar Is based ON the
phases Of the moon, having months
Of % and 30 days alternately. The
days Of the month In the Jewish cal
endar, therefore, change from year
to year during period Of 10 years
or the metonic cycle. at the end Of
which period the phases Of the moon
reoccur on the samer day. A partial
readjustment Of the dates IL achieved
by introducing an extra or interclary
month In the third. sixth, eighth.
eleventh, fourteenth, seventeenth and
nineteenth years.
The years having this interclary
month are known ~ "embolimic"
ysarA The length Of the Jewish
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24
ltaIys Easter Flower.

The rose, queen Of all the flowers,
Is dedicated in Italy to the glorious
service Of Easter day. whilst In Ger
many, the peony rose is sacred to this
occasion, and also to Whitsunday.
This flower was regarded by the
Turks as having divine origin and to
come from the moon. 1t was credited
with wonderful curative powers and
supposed to ward off evil spirits when
planted near a house.
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24

year varies from 353 to 1856 days and
because Of this irregularity the Jew.
ish. new year may occur anywhere be-
tween September s and October 5.
All other dates, including the Pass
over, are movable because Of this
popularity Of the calendar.
In 325 A. D. the date Of the Easter
feast, In dispute because of calendar
and religious differences, was finally
settled, but this did not obviate all
difficulties. Because Of the imperfec-
tons Of the Julian calendar days Of
the month and year began to fall be-
hind. By the year 1882 the calendar
was 10 days behind and the vernal
equinox, supposed to fall invariably
on March p, fell upon the 18th. This
caused difficulty in fixing the correct
date of the Easter celebration and
because Of that the Gregorian re-
formed calendar was invented and
adopted.
This festival was always preceded
by a fast of some duration. At first
the fast began on Good Friday and
continued for 40 hours. A little later
1t was extended to three days and
later still it was extended to a week
known as Holy week, during which
there was general abstinence from
flesh meats. The first mention Of
the fast, corresponding closely to our
present Lenten period, occurs In the
fifth canon of the council Of Nicea in
which 1t is styled "the Quadrigesima"
or 40 days.
a;;@zz|;SRee.
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24

Easter!-and the lumber mold
Feels q kindling thrill Of gold
Gold upon the willow tips,
Gold upon the crocus lips;
Feathery gold of baltimore
And the colt's-foot by the shoroi
Easter!-and the bluebird'e wing
Shows an azure shimmering;
On the robins breast there glint0
Presage Of the roses tints,
While the grackle's prismy throat
Gnstens with each warbled note.
Easterl-and the lyric stream
Wakens from its winter dream:
Every strain the south wind breatA1D
Some fond prophecy beQueathes:
Every bough, q throbbing Tyre,
Voices some aroused desire.
Easteri-and the wondrous clue
10 the marvel ever new
Earth's rem scence. wherein We
See revived mortality.
Az In root and branch and bolei-
EASter-and the quickened souli
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24

I did not know by the reviving grass,
That the old miracle had come to pass;
Nor by the hawthorne trembling In the
lane
Or the light laughter Of the rain.
], In the fevered city's laundering mart,
Heard not the sounds that Quickened the
heart
/ hardly knew that Spring was on her
way,
80 desolate and empty passed each day,
With never a tree or fragrant cherry
bloom
To haunt my spirit like an old perfume.
/ did not hear the breathing Of the
flowers
Amid the tumult OF the hurrying hours;
did not see the ancient beauty come
Unheralded by fife or bell or drum.
But knew In the clamortns towers,
And the faces Of children that blossomsd
like flowers:
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24

9astsr 10 ths Feast Of Cherry elee
sems In Japan.
Dresses shake the boushs q constant
pink snowstorm prevails throughout
the day. The swsetly tinted petals fall
until they are an inch deep on the
ground, and then the children, daintily
dressed In their ktmonos, disport them
selves and roll about amongst the
fallen blossoma Laughter and song
ring through the land. for three days
the temples are thrown wide open, and
there II an entire cessation Of wsek
t. that period
! %ll%
The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-03-24

1 knew by a rose at the end Of the street
And the glad martial moving of thousands
OF feet
That the mischievous old March. ancient
yet new.
Had come TO the city, to me and to you:
And the seed Of his sowing had Weakened
again
In the hearts and the souls Of millions
Of men:
] knew by the look in the eyes OF the old,
That the grass of His growing had GOV.
cred the mold;
I knew by the wonder that came to the
town,
The stern. iron city with sorrow weighed
down,
That one had arisen who once had been
dead
And the white Easter message again had
been said.
Charles Hanson Towne In the Detroit
Free Press.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-16
NO SPLITTING HAIRS OVER GAS

1t is to be hoped that the Perth Amboy Gas Light Com
pany is not going to split hairs over giving gas consumers of
this vicinity the benefit of the reduction in price that has
been made by the Eizabethtown Gas Light Company with
which the local company is so closely affiliated. The new
rate in Elizabeth went into effect December 40. The direc-
tors of the Perth Amboy company meet on December p.
Officials of the local company say they may receive notice
of the reduction in time to discuss the matter at that meeting.
1t is a we'll known fact that the control of the two
companies is in the same hands. What one company does
the other knows all about without the Formally of an official
notification.
At the close of the hearing before the Public Utility
Commission when the EHzabethtown Gas Light Company
voluntarily reduced the price of gas, the attorney for that
company told the representatives of the city of Elizabeth
that hereafter when the city had any grievances against
the gas company to get in touch with the company direct
first before referring the matter to the Public Utility Com
mission so that the differences might be adjusted, if possible,
without the necessity Of long, draWn-out hearings before
The state board.
That is just what Perth Amboy has in mind now. An APP
real is being made direct to the Perth Amboy Gas Light Com
panv to give the local consumers the benefit of the reduc-
ton that the Elizabethtown company has put into effect
which reduction must necessarily effect the local company
because much of the gas sold by the Perth Amboy COM
pany is secured from the Elizabeth company.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-16
ACCOMMODATIONS At THE POST OFFICE

A little more consideration for the public IN the lobby
of the post Office would not be amiss at this busy season of
the year. 1t is a time when many bundles are being sent
packages are being registered and money orders taken out
More or less writing has to be done by the senders IN filling
out blanks, writing addresses and pasGng stamps.
There are only three desks in the post office lobby and
one of these is in the dark part of the corridor the farthest
away from the register window. AT best two people can use
these desks at a time. Thus there is accommodation for but
six persons. And when two of these have to do their writing
in the dark it is decidedly inconvenient, to say the least
Our post office facilities are insufficient for the cltys
needs at the present time. And this applies to normal condl-
tions as well as to the present Christmas rush. 1t seems
the government rates the post offices according to the amount
of business done, which means outgoing mail, particularly
the amount of stamps sold. As long as many of our leading
Industries buy all Of their postal supplies, especially their
stamps, in New York or other cities where their main Of
fees are located, so long will the post office at Perth Amboy
suffer. If all the local industries could be persuaded to do
their local business through the Perth Amboy post Office
tie city would benefit thereby in the way of better facilities.
But in the meantime it would seem as if more &C
commodations might be furnished the public in the post
Office lobby for the next week or ten days while the present
rush is on. A table or two placed in the corridor would help
tremendously.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-16
WHY NOT woRkF FOR PEACE EVERYWHERE?

II. G. Wells, the noted author who IS covering me
Washington Disarmament conference for the New York
World. in discussing the work that lies ahead says; II
America can be interested in Kwangtung, don't see why
America should not also be interested in SlIesla, or Clllcla'
or Senegal. or the Congo, which are all very much nearer.
Mr.. Wells might have added that if there can be no
objection to 'entangling alliances" with Great Britain,
France and Japan for preserving the peace of the Pacific, on
what ground can there be objection to a similar alliance to
preserve the peace ofEurope? And if we are willing to JOIN
With two or three other nations to prevent wars in certain
parts of the world why should we hesitate to become asso-
ciated with all the leading nations in the interest of peace
everywhere?
Yes, Americas splendid isolation" about which we
heard so much during the debate on the Versailles treaty,
is a piece of fiction and those who favored the ratification oil
the peace treaty including the covenant of the League OF
Nations, have known it from the beginning. America can no
more remain isolated from the rest of the world today than
she can dry up the Atlantic ocean. All the fallacies and de-
ceptions made during the debate against the League OF Ma
tons are now being brought out.
The United States cannot afford to refuse to ratlfy the
treaty that has been adopted at the Washington convention
for the preservation of peace in the Pacific for the next ten
years. It is a step in the right direction. But it is only a
step. Having gone thus far, why hesitate longer to go the
whole way and have a part in the preservation of the peace
of the world?
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-16

THE American is apt to regard
his New Year as THE New Year.
Had he a %penchant for celebrating
holidays he could travel in a more or
less ~leisurely way around the world,
and in the course of the e could
participate in six or seven New ear
festivities, adding a couple of Christ
mas celebrations for good measure"
according to a bulletin from the
Washington, ID. c. headquarters of
the National Geographic Society.
Our American might start his
progressive holiday jaunt by going
to some western European country
for the approaching New Year which
the United States too will celebrate.
He could then travel to Greece,
Jugo-Slavia, Rumania, or Bulgaria
in time for Christmas in these coun-
tries. Christmas is also December
25 in the countries named, accord
ing TO their calendars, but cores
ponds to January z in America.
Greeks Stick to Faulty Calendar
"In the meantime, the countries
in which the Greek Church is domi-
nant have refused to accept the
Georgian corrections and continue to
use the old style or Julian calen-
dar. The difference. which was ten
days in 1882, has now increased to
thirteen days.
Soviet Russia has officially adopt
ed the Gregorian calendar for civil
purposes and the same step has been
taken by most of the Baltic States
male up Of territory of the former
Russian empire. The Gregorian or
New Style calendar also is coming
into more general use inc Asia due
&c, 4lA nnno NJ nrnial nnnntrafinn Of
western countries. AS a result of
the Great War, directly OF indirect
ly, the world is now closer than at
any time III its history to having a
single. astronomic9ily correct system
of measuring time"
A Five Day Ne.V Year Period in
China
"By remaining a week in the same
country he could also spend New
Year Day, called January l, but cor
responding with the American and
western European January IA. BY
pushing or and making good con-
nections he might be able to reach
Singapore. OF by experimenting
steamers with airp!anes could reach
China itself 70 take part in the most
thorough going New Year celebra-
ton in the world. the Chinese New
L ear WHICH Will pC opoCi Ntu III LS-S
for the five days from about Febru-
airy 8 to Is.
after the Chinese New Year cele-
bration the traveller could pursue
his holiday hunting less strenuous
ly for a while. He could arrange to
arrive in Siam in time for the STA
mese New Year on April /, and af-
terward could have five months of
sightseeing before reaching Arabia
for the Mohammedan New Year on
September A. He could then cross
the Red Sea and make a quick jour-
ney into Abyssinia. to take part in
the New Year festivities of that
country on September 10. Return
ing tc the Red Sea and taking a
steamer north he could easily reach
Jerusalem in good time for the He
brew New Year, October 8.
1.-THE holiday hunter would now
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-16
Learn One New Thing Every Day

BULLETINS BY THE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

have taken part in all the principal
New Year celebrations of the world
and could return to the Western
hemisphere to spend the Christmas
with which he is most familiar at
his own hearth side. In six days less
than a year he would have chalked
up seven New Year and two Christ
mas celebrations to his credit.
Worlds Calendars In q Tangle
The worlds multiplicity of New
Year Days and Christmastides is due
to the FAC. that our calendar is
largely an arbitrary device. The
earth revolves around the sun in
365.2422 days, which makes the true
year a very odd measure of time.
And it is almost as difficult to choose
a logical beginning for the year as it
is to. find the starting point of a cir
Gle. Different people have selected
different surfing points and have
also assumed the year to be of slight
ly different lengths. This has not
only resulted in the years beginning
at different times but has also caus-
ed the times of beginning to vary
in their relations to n another
from year ID year. 1t is as though a
clock had half a dozen or more
diid VI lAOtlhS olOoliu Inv oAoA
from different starting points, at diff
ferent speeds.
THE most logical starting points
for the year would seem to be- sum-
mer and winter solstices and the
spring and autumnal equinoxes; and
all of them have been made to mark
the beginnings oe the years in some
parts of the world. Hhe Gregorian
calendar. that is now in use in the
United States and throughout most
of the Christian world, is the Julian
calendar Slightly modified. When
Julius Caesar caused it to be con-
structed, the beginning of the year
January /, was placed sever days
after the winter solstice, and not in
conjunction with it as logic would
seem to dictate. The Julian year
was made, by means of the leap
year device, S65.25 days long. which
was an excess yer the trle year of
II minutes and IA secNOs ). This
excess caused the nominal January
1 TO creep gradually farther and
farther beyond the winter solstice
so that by the time of the church
Council of Nice in 325, it was eleven
days beyond the solstice instead OF
seven.
INCW AOtI IoN iIS
Summer
"By the time If Pope Gregory's
correction in 1882, January 1 was
81 days beyond the solstice and
Christmas ii beyond. If the calen-
dar remained un~corrected, New Year
day would have gone on creeping
forward, first into spring, then into
summer. and finally completely
around the year.
when the correction was made
the calendar was turned back not to
it's original position in the time of
julius Caesar, but to its place at
the time of the council of Nice. De-
cember 25. which became Christmas,
then fell four days after the winter
solstice instead of c~oinciding with it
as julius Caesar intended: while
New Year Day was eleven days be-
,yond the solstice instead of Caesars
almost equally arbitrary seven.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-16

Perhaps you do not care for an
niversaries but if you do you will
be interested in the fact that 14S
years ago tonight on Thursday eve
ming. Dec. s, 1913, a group of men
disguised as Indians boarded three
ships laden with tea, then lying in
Boston harbor, and broke open the
chests, 342 in number, and threw
the tea into the ocean,.
In memory of that event, and of
the festive and patriotic crowd who
thus mingled their patriotism with
merriment, it would be in order to-
night to put the kettle on and have
a mild cup of Oolong, which our
fathers called Bohea.
Viewed from this distance il may
seem a trivial m1tter but old John
Adams did not think so. In his
diary he called it, The most magni-
1cent movement of ALL" He said.
There is a dignity. a majesty, a
solemnity in this last effort of the
patriots that I greatly admire. This
destruction of the tea is so bold, 70
daring, so firm, so intrepid and so
flexible and it must have so i'm
portant consequences and so lasting
that 1 cannot but consider it as an