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PUBLIC LEDGER COMPANY
CTBUS H K. CUHTIS, PsmMT.
CTrti K.Lmlltmton.VlesPmldeiitj John C.Msrttn,
SSfr5r JJP4 Treurr Philip 8. Collin. John B.
Williams. Directors.
EDITOrilAL BOARD I
Cratri It. K. Cnnt, Chairman.
P. B. WTIALTirr. ,....,....,,.,. ...BwutlTe gaitor
JOHN C. MARTIN... ...... Osntral BatlntM Mtnrr
Pnbllshsd ds.Hr at Pciua twxnm Balldlnr.
Indpefldnc Square, FhlUdelphU.
Ltca CxKniL...t.ii..I3rotd und Chettnat Struts
ATtiNito Cm.......,,.,., i.,.rrf-In(n Bulldlnr
Jfarr Tosc..,....,..,,,.,,170-A, Metropolitan Tower
DmoiTi. i,,i.i.82a Ford Building
ST. Lotus.,..,, ,,,,,,, 409 ola Democrat Bulldlnc
Chioaoo. ....... ..,..,.,,.,.. 1202 Trituna Building-
NEWS BimBAUflt
nrimmoTOH noni!tD.........i....,.,nlinr Building-
Naif Toms nnucn ...... . , ,.,.Th Timet liulldln
bolus iimiiD....... i. ...... ,,,,i;o Friwrienstrssso
London Itcmu...,......,,. .Marconi House, Strand
rin Dnuo.o ii 91 Hue Louis f Grand
sonscntPTioN terms
Br carrier, six cents per week, By mall, postpaid
eutald of PMUdstphlt, except where forelm poataie
Is required, one month, twentr-flre rental one rear,
three dollars. All mall subscriptions parable la
adrance.
Norte Subscribers wishing addreat chanted muat
gtT old aa well aa new addreta.
BELL, 1800 WALNUT
KETSTOKE. MAIN l0
tty Aidntt nil communlcolloiM 10 Evening
htaotr, ndrpnidcnoe Square, Philadelphia.
Mrrmio at iRa rmuDn.rnu rostornoi ai eicon-
CUM U1ILMATTII.
TUB AVBKAOB NET PAID DAILY CIRCULA
TION OP TUB EVKNINO LEDGER
FOR NOVCMUEU WAS 4,801.
rniLADELniiA. satumjay, jANUAnr i, i.
A Happy Xew Yearl
"CRACKERJACKS"
THE advertlsemont which Director Cooko
placed In tho newspnpera a few days
ago, In behalf of a number of tho workers
In his department referred to them as
"crackcrjacks." As an effort In behalf of
faithful servants, despoiled by the Inevitable
changes of tlmo and politics, Mr. Cooke's
action was applauded, but a great many
Phliadelphlnns, mindful of tho blessings of
tho past four years, feel that It did not go far
enough. Thero aro a few other public ser
vants, somo of thorn In no obscuro positions,
who will find themselves gently put out at
noon of Monday, January 3. If thoy were
Inclined to advertise, tho list would run as
follows!
Wanted A position for a man well ac
quainted with tho Department of Public
Works. Ho Is known for tho efficiency and
economy of his administration. A capable
official and administrator. Apply to Morris
Xi. Cooke.
Transit Specialist desires now position. A
man of sterling character with sufficient Im
agination to foresee great developments for
his city. Earnest and tireless In his work
and capable of Inspiring enthusiasm among
his fellow workers. Apply to A. Merrltt
Taylor.
Position wanted by a thoroughly experi
enced man with police department. Is
known for successfully terminating tho sys
tem of political assessments' from policemen
and flremon. Apply to Gcorgo D. Porter.
Business manager desires change Has
controlled supply department of a largo city
and Introduced great economics through
honest competitive bidding. Apply to Her
man Loob.
Thero aro others, but these aro sufficient
to show what the reform Administration has
accomplished. It has given Philadelphia a
now vision of constructive and honest gov
ernment which no changes In politics can
destroy. Fortunately, it cannot bo doubtod
that all these men will find work for their
capablo hands. One man remains.
For him who camo from tho quiet and re
spected seclusion of his business life to lead
a campaign for a new Philadelphia and who
succeeded against tremendous odds, In win
ning his campaign and in making good tho
promlso of it, no new position need bo found.
For, whatever their political creed or adhe
sion, tho citizens of Philadelphia have mado
a place In their hearts for Rudolph Blanken
burg. He leaves office untouched by scandal,
universally honored, and with tho conscious
ness of a great work well dona.
SLAVIC IRONY
irEniIE Russian character la canablo of an
oW ,-,. , .,. -...
n-- luuiiiiu iiuiuuor ul variations, uusi as it
Jlthad been settled to every one's satisfaction
othat tho Slav was a good loser and could re
treat better than most soldiers could ad
vance, the touch of Irony has leaped Into his
features. The Slav is grinning.
As he grins he is quietly but persistently
shouldering his way along the Bessarablan
front. Ho is threatening tho Teutonic allies
with every step. In the neighborhood of
Salonlca, where a battle was expected, thero
is an unprecedented lull. The armies of the
Invader aro busy elsewhere. They are
watching the Ironic Slav.
Twlco already in this war Russia has
astounded the world and twice she has saved
her Allies. Each time the consequences to
her were disastrous, but with a fidelity and
unity of purpose which only barbarian
minds, apparently, can acquire, Russia is
preparing for a third trial. She may ac
complish by her dogged refusal to be beaten,
with her Insufficient equipment and her
motley army, what all the finesse of the
diplomatists has failed to do. That Is, she
may win the war.
NONE KILLED
TOT a single passenger has been billed on
.N any of the lines embraced in the Penn
sylvania Railroad system In the, past two
years, and three years have passed since a
passenger was killed on the lines east of
Pittsburgh. The average number of pas
sengers carried each year has been 108,660,000.
This record for safety shows what can be
dona when managers and the employers set
their minds on a thing. Traveling by rail
has become less hazardous than travel In
any other way. Horseback riding is much
more dangerous, and automoblling is so
perilous that if the railroads killed as many
as die from motorcar accidents in propor
tion to the number riding the newspapers
would ba (Hied with the horrible toll.
The rule of safety first Is being observed,
and It Is proving to be a pretty good one.
LITTLE STORY OP GOOD BREAD
VjiWAN who knew how to make good
TX bread, the kind that tastes as if It came
irom the oven n your own kitchen, began
to bake and sell his bread In one of the
suburban towns of Philadelphia three or four
'ara ago. The people, liked it and he had to
t?e4 a horta and wagon to make hi dellv
rie. The wagon was shabby and the horse
t)M and slow. But his bread was so good
tbat tho demand, for It increased. Pretty
soon a better wagoti and horse, were bought,
iast stttwnef the. man moved from the aspaU
"EVENING T.lanmillt-P.Wtl.'ADtiliPinA, HAXUliDAY. JAftUAJiY 1, jjig:
house In which ho lived and bolted Inlo a
larger one, on which he built an addition to
contain a. bigger oven, A few weeks ago he
bought an automobile to displace the horse,
and there la about his business all the signs
of prosperity.
This Is what happens when a man who
knows how to do one thing well concentrates
on It. And It Is also an Illustration of what
a man who Is not young thin man Is giny
h aired and has grown-up sons can do when
he docs not lose courago and decide that
thero Is no room for an old man In Industry.
He has made a place for himself In splto
of the competition of the great factories.
YOUR GOLDEN GOOSE
THE New Year which begins today Is not
really any different from tho new period
of tlmo that begins with every day.
January 1 Is a purely arbitrary dato on
which the world has agreed to begin reckon
ing the tlmo that It take tho earth to re
volve around tho sun. Tho year might begin
at any other tlmo. A3 a matter of fact, It
has begun at a dozen different times. So
recently ns when Columbus discovered
America the first day of January was not
New Year's Day.
But wo now agree to begin the year today,
and custom has decreed that most of us shall
take account of slock and plan for the
future.
Each wise man asks himself what he Is
going to do with tho now year.
What aro you going to do with It?
You nro working for wages for another
man. What Is your mental attitude toward
your job? Do you regard it as an easy chair
In which to tako your comfort? Many men
look at It In this way, but nro you 0110 of
them?
Or, nro you like tho expert chauffeur,
familiar with tho construction nnd operation
of his motorcar, who sits on tho front scat
with tho throttle under perfect control,
speeding rapidly townrd a deflnlto placo?
The man who treats his JobnB an easy chair
never becomes anything groatcr than n. chair
warmer. Ho may loaf nnd Invito his soul,
nnd his bouI may respond, but such loafers
do not do tho work of tho world.
Tho man who regards his ofllco chair as n
scat behind a powerful engine thnt can
nchlevo wonders works ns many wonders ns
his Imagination can grasp and his will can
execute.
Ho acts, not as If ho were a hired man
afraid to glvo his employer moro than ho
was paid for, but as If tho business wcro
his own.
Ho docs not shed responsibility as a duck
sheds water. Ho reaches ou- for It. Ho docs
not object when It Is piled on him. Ho sits
up nights seeking out ways to solvo the
problems put up to him. Ho has no tlmo to
worry about his slow advancement or tho
neglect of his employer to pay him what ho
Is worth.
Ho ultimately qualifies for entrance Into
that small group of successful men who can
say that they never asked for but ono Job
and that was tho first one, and that they
never asked for nn increase in salary.
Pomeroy Burton, a young American who
began llfo with nothing but his ambition, Is
now filling a Job in London which pays him
6000 guineas a year becauso ho looked at
every Job which ho held us an opportunity
rather than as a couch of caso. Other
young Americans nro filling similar places
at home.
After you have decided what you nro going
to do with your Job this year, it 13 up to you
to decldo what you are going to do with
your spare time. Perhaps your conclusion
regarding tho disposal of It Is Involved In
your decision about what you aro going to
do with your Job. It certainly ought to bo.
Do you Intend to devote your evenings to
reading and studying, or are you planning
to tango tho time away, or to find relaxation
and lose your money at tho poker table?
Time Is too precious to bo killed.
The men who get on nro those who make
tlmo llvo and fill It with a throbbing vitality.
Thoy have no moro of It than tho sluggard,
but they know how to mako use of It.
If you lot another man do part of your
work becauso you havo not tho necessary
knowledge, pretty soon ho will bo doing It
all.
There Is time enough to qualify yourself
for every phase of your work, and If you aro
alert you will discover tho need of new
knowledge before tho occasion to usb It ar
rives. No man can promote you half so fast as
you can promote yourself.
After you have decided what you are going
to do with your Job and what your Job Is
going to do for you, there remains the neces
sity of deciding what you are going to do
with your money.
"If I had only had tho ready cash to In
vest, when tho chanco camo I would be a
rich man today," Is a confession of lack of
thrift. But it Is mado every day In thou
sands of offices. It is so much easier to spend
every cent that you earn than to savo a cer
tain part of It that the great majority go the
easy way.
Broad is tho way and straight is the path
and gently sloping downward is the grade on
the road that leadeth to dependence In old
age.
The unthrifty are on that highway. They
plan to leavo It at the next cross roads. But
the farther they go tho fewer cross roads
appear, and these roads grow steeper and
steeper, till pretty soon the highway runs
between precipitous cliffs up which there la
not even a goat path leading to freedom and
independence.
Mastery comes to every man willlne to
pay the price. However many exceptions to
the rule there may appear to be, most of ua
get what we are willing to pay for, and little
more,
What are you planning to buy with your
time, which is your life, this year?
Austria admits that the invention of the
submarine did not repeal the laws of hu
manity. Philadelphia's credit Is still good, thank
you. Tho subscribers were willing to take
six times as many bonds as were offered
yesterday.
When peace comes so many expert trench
diggers will be thrown out of work that it
ought to be easy to get men enough to build
the new subways.
Every homeopath ought to agree with
Roosevelt when he says that the might
which is the servant of wrong can bo re
sisted by the might which is the servant of
right.
To one man the extra day in this leap
year is Just so many more hours of work
without extra salary, to another it is Just so
pmca more of an opportunity to get In a few
hard blows for success.
Tom Daly's Column
A BONO FQR JANUARY
'Ttcas Joy that tald tho passing iear,
'Tis Joy that speeds the new;
AH joy that I have known, my dear,
Hath been and ts in you.
All peace and hope of peace, my dear,
Forever lives In you.
Like Janus, who with faces Ucaln
Kept watch In ancient Rome,
My love shall front old days again
And days that are to come.
Bo, tn this month of Janus, here
Where merge the old and new,
Ifoiic'er my Joy may turn, my dear,
It must envisage you.
Its past may count but twenty suns,
Its future rcachcth far;
Beyond the edge of time It runs,
Beyond the utmost star.
'Ttvas Joy that laid the passing year,
'Tis Joy that speeds the new;
All Joy that I have known, my dear,
Hath been and Is In you.
All peace and hope of peace, my dear,
Forever lives In you.
Somo things wo said as long as eight years
ago sound truer to us now than they did
then. Thnt's why we reprint tho above song
from "Cnrmlnn."
Sir Who'ii this patron ealnt jou'o selected for
your column? Done.
St. Simon Stylltcs, the hermit who lived
on the column of a ruined tcmplo and let
down his basket each day for food Oh, look
him up yourself. It will do you good.
the EMPinn necdi all voim nxnnoins
Don't let them deteriorate Start today taking
"Snnanhnq " It In nrlttah nnd hotter Avntri un
palatable German nere foode. "Sananl
palatable, Advt. from Olasgow Record
la
Ah' gentle reader, take It from us,
This suro Is patriotism plus.
Thomas Martlndalc, who was 70 years
young tho other day, asked his Italian barber
to trnnslato for him a notlco In a local
Italian paper of a lecturo recently given by
him. Hero's what tho barber handed him,
in part:
Last nleht Mr. Thomaa Martlndale ga,e a
meeting at tho nltherepoon Hall, Juniper and
Walnut stsi on tho subject "Hunting In Cooka
jniei, aibike' .
Mr. Martlndale Is nn excellent orator and speaker
and he was herd by a great crowd.
lfo exposed seeral ery Interesting particulars
of his latest ongo that wore appreciated very
much by the audlenco that was much pleased.
The description of the region Melted by him
ery much lvld and daring.
Mr. Martlndale Is In business for 17 years ns
so many ears Is his Arm old which tas founded
In 11.(10 and with his nctUIty nnd energy he gao
the firm a flrBt class position While ho Is a
man of business ho Is wonderfully cultured In
every branch of sports and especially tho hunt
which Is his passion. Wo oen know that he Ib
preparing a book which will eo tho light Boon:
nnd this shous thnt ho Is mentally and Wtnlly
strong nnd tho eerenlty of his moral and Oslo
shall bo a light example of the youths of to-day.
Refusing Money He Deserves Advertising
Tnrmer Smith Rainbow Club,
Evening Ledger Phlln., Pa.
Dear Sir As a new member of your club,
I beg to lot jou know of ono of my bravo
nctions on Richmond St, tho street on which I
reside.
As nn old man wns crossing tho street, I
npproacbed him nnd asked him If I could
relieve him in crossing thu street, ns ho wns
blind nnd fecblo, my help nssltcd him greatly.
Ho offered to glvo me money but I refused.
If you wish to have my picture kindly write
to the above adrcss.
William Meyer Cohen.
2346 Richmond St.
Hero Is our Now Year's Resolution:
During 191C wo will not find fault with
tho faults of the Intelligent compositor, but
rather point to his good points, when any
such thero be. Tho crenturo is sometimes
a philosopher. There was ono who set up
this: "Tlmo and tide wait for woman."
Positively the Last Word on Doughnuts
Dear Sir That correspondent of jours who claimed
to bo nn authority on doughnuts was n four-flush.
Among tho many things upon which I claim to bo
tho greatest living nuthorlty Is doughnuts.
Doughnuts has Its derUatlon In the two Pennsyl
tanla Dutch roots, "dough," meaning money, and
"nuts." rr-anlng crazy, tho application being that
those wh spent their good money for n caka which
wns largely though not exactly wholly hole were crazy.
Doughnuts originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch,
and have always occupied the place of the New Eng
land pie nt tho Lancaster and Berks Counties break
fast tables.
Doughnuts were not originally made to sell.
The PennsyUanla Dutch knew the danger of too
much sweets, nnd yet the attractiveness thereof, par
ticularly to the young, so they Invented the doughnut,
which Is mostly blown up InBlde with air and has a
centre of nothing, but looks a whole lot.
I desire to give credit to Ex-Uoternor Pennypacker.
Pennsylvania Dutchman and eminent authority upon
bugs, for essential aid In the Investigation of this
doughnut bug of mine.
Writ this 28th day of December, nlneteen-flfteen.
on mp own typewriter, with ma own hands, while
suffering from an attack of la grippe, whlla the nurse
Is out for nn airing elms. E. Carpenter.
Here's one of the first New Year's cards to
reach us. Same to you, boys, we say; go to It!
Wo Join In wishing you "A Happy and Prosperous
New ear," and thank you sincerely for the many
Kind courtesies extended to us during the year 1018.
?il?Si.yiatnl?tUr, ?vl.!.hes 'orworld'a championship
titles for Philadelphia may be gratified by us at an
early date. Very respectfully, '
Eddie McAndrews,
I'hlla. J. O'llrien. Jr.
After "Ballads of Portland" and such like,
this will be a relief. We'vo had to cut it a
bit, but wo'ro glad to put "O. IC" on the gen
eral sentiment:
The golden gate swings open for the cherubim
who crowd
To catch a strain that wanders up through maze
of star and cloud.
They peer across the parapet with wonder in
their eyes,
As mounting waves of harmony reach upward
to the skies.
For jou should know as dreamers do that cher
ubim on high
List wistfully by night and day for mortal song
and sigh.
Sometimes beond the gates they dip and hover
low a-wlng
To hear the distant Bong that sounds like songs
they used to sing.
And then St. Peter chides and frets lest one of
them should stray,
Bo, on this night of nights he holds his choristers
at bay;
For In the song that wanders up there runs a
sweet refrain
To tempt the saints or cherubim to visit earth
again.
Soft a new-fledged angel whispered; "Peter.
bid them list,
For I know the tune that's winging from that
planet through the mist.
Tis Jim McCool and Charlie Dooln, sure X knew
them both of old.
They are singing fair "Kilkenny,' can't you
hear those notes of gold?'
But, Jlro McCool and Charlie Dooln, tho cherubim
can wait.
Any time you sing Kilkenny they can hear it
from the gate,
So, stay on earth and sing it for this and many
a year.
And a little bit of heaven you'll be making for
us here.
Norman Jefferles.
MEMORANDA
Dato your letter properly.
Deware of laDiuiiblo-, spinster. Look before
they leap.
If any on ring your phone end nkit "I
thl 19181" Beat Wnj t Jt. with Na. (hi U
1918."
a nn, "Hal, Lut sk hul' N(mtr that the
coaducter u tbia cluaus
11 ww you, a, n, k. t
f&EJ!SL!-r-l
. i -ji r.
I-HbiK"'" "?- -h-"-v 1r,'-jMeKffiHtiiiiiiHKSfSH'r . 191
"Viinr-r"riH tf?S YBw iw&yj? jS&SflissssssssslssssBBF tWmHStMSSSSMl'&LSBKtM -T
NEW YEAR'S DAY AND JANUS' MONTH
Customs of Many Nations and of Other Periods of History Fact
and Fable New Year's Speaks a Universal Language.
Controversy Over a Name Making the Calendar
OTHER people's erudition Is sometimes a
nuisance. Somo of us havo been nccus
tomed to commenting confidently on tho ap
propriateness of tho nnmo of the first month
of tho year.
Janus was represented by tho Romans
as having two faces, ono looking forward,
tho other backward. Ho was supposed to
preside over doors. So far so good, but
when a scholar comes nlong and says, "Con
sult a classical dictionary," It's something of
a shock. When ho offers tho information
that Janus was "an old Italian dolty, tho
god of tho sun and tho year to whom tho
month of January was sacred; not to bo con
fused with tho two-faced Latin god of tho
somo namo" but what does It really matter,
after all? Ono thinks of somebody's remark
that If Shakespeare didn't write Unmlct nnd
Macbeth another gentleman of tho same
name did. And It's n great comfort to know
that Thomas Bulflnch speaks of tho dual,
double-faced Janus ns follows:
"Janus was a deity hold In high estima
tion by tho Romans, who placed him on
almost an equal footing with Jupiter, oven
giving his namo precedence In their prayers,
nnd Invoking tho nld of both deities previous
to every undertaking. To him thoy ascribed
tho origin of all things, tho introduction of
tho system of years, tho ups and downs of
fortune, and the civilization of tho human
race by means of agriculture, industry, arts,
nnd religion. Ho was represented with two
heads, one that of a youth, to lndicnto 'be
ginning,' tho other that at an old man, to
Indicate tho end, whence Sio was styled Bl
frons In his left hand Is a key, to show that
ho opens at tho beginning and shuts nt tho
end; tho sccptro in his right hand Is a sign
that he controls the progress of every
undertaking. The first day of January, a
month named after him, being the first day
of tho year, was tho occasion of a celebration
in his honor." So much for tho January
Janus controversy.
New Year's in March
In tho early Roman calendar March was
tho first month of the year. Tho King Numa
in tho seventh century B. C. added two
months to the existing calendar of ten
months, and gavo to tho first tho name Janu
arlus. Tho year began at the winter solstice
nnd followed tho regular series of seasonal
changes. In modern countries thero was long
a distinction between tho popular and the
legal year. Tho ancient Jewish year, which
opened with the 25th of March, continued
until a comparatively late period to havo a
legal position In Christian countries. In
England It was not until 1752 that the first of
January became tho Initial day of the legal,
ns It had long been of tho popular year. Be
foro that time It was customary to set down
dates between the first of January and the
IMth of Maroh, Inclusive, thus: "January SO,
1618-9," meaning that popularly the year was
1619, but legally 1648. A trace of the old cus
tom exists today In several American States,
where rental contracts are dated from March
25, Poets, for reasons of their own, have
inslstedthat March Is still the first month of
the year. Wordsworth In England and Bry
ant In America havo so described tho month
that legally Is third in order.
Though we use tho old Saxon names of the
days of tho week, we have abandoned the
Saxon names of the months.
The beginning of the year has in all tlmej
and countries been an occasion of festivity,
tho religious color having somewhat worn
off In recent times. In the days of King
Numa celebrations took placo on New Year's
Day, a day corresponding with our 21st of
December, Before he remade tho calendar
the Romans celebrated on the 1st of March
the festival of Ancylla. The day was ob
served with processions, feasts and general
rejoicing. In the time of the late Kings and
the Emperors the 1st of January was kept
as a holiday, Sacrifices were made to Janus,
god of light and heaven. Gifts and visits
were exchanged and masquerading and
feasting were general. The custom of New
Year's visits and masquerades Is thus of very
ancient origin, and is preserved in many
places tottho present day,
Scotia's Hot Pint
In Scotland, where New Year's Is more
generally observed .than Christmas, until a
recent time one of the customs was as fol
lows. On New Year's Eve the family gath
ered and a "hot pint" was prepared. A "hot
pint" was a kettle full of warm, spiced and
sweetened ale, with an Infusion of spirits.
When the cloek struck 1 each member of
the family, young and old, drank "a good
health, and a happy New Year, and many of
them," to all the rest, with a dance around
the table, aaf waye a mms or two. Then
tha ldf wtwH sally forth, with the hot
"WE'LL GIVE THEE A SMLE TO START WITH!"
KHlV iiiirTBBirk U w 1 Je
.eHHsW (HbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbKSVvD 1 ' fl
iSsssW Ra Miff nlivttfiyiBslfliSABiBiiBiln 39H
' VfJVn,i ,-fl" TTII iMrWr r,.r srwy t muss a -?a&avzjsr ms. m VisH
nmmtMmmmPJdm&WMzi? I IS
kettlo and a competent supply of buns and
shortbread, or of bread and cheese, on a
round of visits to tho neighbors. If they
met by tho way another party bent on
similar purposo they would stop and ex
chnngo greetings with them and tho kettlo
of each party would bo passed around. If
thoy wcro first to reach tho houso toward
which they had sot out thoy were deemed
tho "first. foot." It was important that they
should make their entry not empty-handed,
but with their hands full of bread and cakes
and cheese, for thus was good luck assured
tho friend's family for tho ensuing year.
"Eats" havo always borne a prominent
part In Now Year's observances, though by
"cats" wo should, perhaps, Include "drinks."
Tho beverages consumed in tho hotels nnd
restaurants of American cities on the holiday
evo aro of no lnslgnlllcant quantity. The
wassail bowl In England of nle, nutmeg,
sugar, toast and roasted crabs or apples and
the eggnog In tho United States aro a part
of tho celebration, but not to such an extent
as a century or moro ago.
Tho exchange of gifts on New Year's
Day Is still preserved In a few localities in
most countries, but tho custom is not nearly
as general as It onco was. Tho Chinese,
whose Now Year begins on February 1, make
the day a special time for tho adjustment of
differences, the payment of debts and the
oxchunge of girts. Tho Joss houses apiX
streets resound with the noise of firecrackers.
The racket drives tho devils away. Tho
Persians celebrate New Year's by exchang
ing presents of eggs. Tho Druids dis
tributed ns New Year's gifts branches of tho
sacred mlstletoo. In Anglo-Saxon and Nor
man England gifts were common. In early
Anglo-Saxon England, tho 25th of December
was New Year's Day. William the Conqueror
named January 1st as tho first day of tho
year, though before his tlmo and for somo
centuries afterward the 25th of March hold
that distinction.
Tho custom of exchanging gifts survives
In Scotland and In France and Germany, as
well as in China, Japan and Persia. In
Franco the day is known as "lo Jour
cretrennes." In England nnd America the
Christmas gift has in most localities taken the
place of tho New Year's gift. The custom is
of ancient origin. Tradition refers the origin
of New Year's gifts among the Romans to
TatluB, King of tho Sablnes. Branches cut
from the wood consecrated to Strenla, tho
goddess of strength, were received by him on
tho first day of the year as presents of good
omen. He sanctioned the custom and called
the gifts "strenae," a word which immedi
ately suggests tho Frencji "Jour d'etrennes,"
Tho custom of presenting gitts to the kings
and later to the emperors is described by
many Roman writers.
The Early Fathers
Participation In the ordinary New Year's
Day observances ns well as in the satur
nalia of December was from the first dlscour-
aged by the Church. Christians were expect
ed to spend the day in quiet meditation,
reading of Scriptures and acts of charity,
Tho early fathers Chrysostom, Ambrose,
Augustine, Peter Chrysologus and others In
reprobation of the Immoral and superstitious
observances of the pagan festival, prohibited
in Christian use all festive celebration. TheN
mandate, However, was but partially observ
ed. In early New England some of the Purl
tan ministers thought that the celebration or
even notice of the day savored of Improper
and unchristian reverence for the heathen
god Janus. It is curious to find tho Puritan
Judge Sewell, a hater of all holidays and
set days, recording his pleasuro at being
awakened on New Year's morning by a blast
of trumpets. That was In sober Boston in
1698. In Colonial days In New England
Christmas gifts were never exchanged, but
on New Year's Day gift-giving was common.
There has grown up in the United States
a new form of New Year observance. The
"mummer" of Philadelphia Is a development
of tho "bell anlckler" of 50 years ago, and the
fiesta hints of the New Orleans Mardl Gras.
The American no longer stays at homo if ha
happens to live in the city drinking h.ls
eggnog or wine by his own fireside as the
clock strikes J2. Instead, ha gdea to the
streets, where he blows a horn, wears a
masque, ithrows confetti and yells at the top
of his vplce. Then he will go to a fashionable
cafe and make himself believe he is seeing tho
new year In by eating and drinking, In San
Francisco the streets are illuminated, and
thropged with people, who compete with one
another in making hideous noises. More re
cently this unrestrained Impulse of good wtll
has been organized and reduced to some in
telligent form of order, so .that tha cele
! mumb im jyrm oi . gorgeous pageant t
in . , u ABeles ower. ar
bration takM tk form of a gorgeous pageant.
used In street pageants, and tho New Yeari
greetings aro expressed on a magnificent'
scalo of beauty nnd decorum.
Now Year's, with all tho variety of lu'
customs nnd observances, speaks a universal
language. Tho peoplo of every nation that1
Is sufficiently civilized to havo a calendar
take enoclnl notlco of Now Year's Dav.
Lamb reduces tho matter to personal senti
ment. "Every man," says he, "hath twi
birthdays; two days, at least, In every year
which set him upon revolving tho lapse of,
time, as It affects his normal duration. The
ono is that which In nn especial manner lis
tcrmoth his. In tho gradual desuetude of old
observances this custom of solemnizing our
proper birthday hath nearly passed away?
or Is left to children, who roflect nothing at;
all about tho matter, nor understand any
thing In It beyond cake and orange. But th
birth of a New Year Is of nn Interest too
wldo to bo pretermitted by king or cobbler.'
No ono ever regarded tho 1st of January with
Indifference. It is that from which all date
their tlmo and count upon what Is left. It li
tho nativity of our common Adam.'
Tho poets have been by no means Indif
ferent to the annual turning point of Time-!
"Tho Dlrgo for the Old Year" swells ana
dances Into a bridal song for tho new
Bolls are ns closely associated with New,
Year's as with Christmas. "Of nil sound of
all bells (bells, tho music nlghcst borderinfa
upon heaven) most solemn and touching Is
tho peal which rings out the Old Year." So
wroto Lamb. And Tennyson? If it weren't
for tho unintentional pun one would like to
describe his lines upon tho subject as ringing
lines.
Ring In the valiant man nnd free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darknesH of the land.
Ring In tho Christ that is to be.
"BREAK YOUR MATCH IN TWO"'
One day late In June n man in a room on th
seventh floor of an old-fashioned brick bulldlnl i
In Washington, holding a sheaf of telegrams lai
his left hand, was busy with his right taking!
red-headed pins out of his mouth and sticking!
them Into little Irregular blocks of green Ink
scattered over a large white wall map of tntl
United States. a
"The big problem," ho said, taking a freshl
pin out of his mouth and turning sldcwlse tu.hlil
assistant, "Is to get at the fellow who knows
what conservation Is but forgets to apply ItJ
wnen no llgnts up a cigar In the woods." m
The assistant sat nt a llat-topped oak desk
in the mlalo of tho room, struggling through,
mass of reports from field men In the emleavwj
to find suggestions for a set of fire preventjttl
"riilnfl " laSBU
"Well, what do you think of this?" he saW?
holding up a report from tho Pacific Northwef
" 'Break your match In two before you throw.
It away,'
Tho other man stuck the last red pin Into U
map, reached for his nine nnd lighted It. S
"Let's see," ho said, Ho snapped the burning
match In his fingers: as the nieces droDDed to
the floor ho uttered a sharp exclamation wvjfj
The assistant lauched. "Tlint'H thn Idea!" ha
said. "You've got to blow It out before yon"".
KrAnlr I .-i,. .. I,,i,.,nr1 tM3
So this suggestion became No. I of a set of j
,v luica wim-i. iuu tureai 5yrv.ee eeiu 10 wiss
newspapers at tho beginning of the summer'!
nre season in tne national forests. Outiaoit. n
"DEAR OLD LADIES" AND OTHERS j
There are as many kinds of old ladles M
therd are girls, men, automobiles, books" and'l
remedies for a cold. There ore kindly old!
males, ill-natured old ladies, sharp old ladle,
witty old ladies, stupid old ladles, musty-fusty
old ladles, dainty old ladles, wise old ladles.
silly old ladles. Whistler's mother old ladles, I
wetay 'j-rotwooa old ladles, white-spatted old
laoies, cnurcniy old ladles, slt-by-the-fire old
ladles, tangoing old ladles and old ladles who,
don't wish to be called old ladles at all.
Nowadays most of them are so busy working;;
In public causes that they have not time to'
proieci. ine.r own interests as they snould. uui
let us hope that after a while thev will orcan-
Ize a new association, to be called "The Society1
ior ina i-romouon or Distinctive Chara-teriza
lions jor uio sanies," ana that It Will bay
displayed prominently on Its banners tha slo-1
an, ''Down with the word 'Dear!' "-Scrlbner.
PREDICTIONS AND FACTS
The British Empire, according to tha German
Minister of Finance, will go down like Bel
ahazzar's empire. He also said that food 11
cheaper In Germany than in England or France.!
If hU predictions are no more accurate than hlsl
statements oi ract, unush need not worry.--New
York Evening Post.
THE NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW
If Uncle Sam ever gets into trouble on thai
Pftciflc. a friendly republla In China would, m
General Kslng says, be a bulwark of strengtal
..UCCV!.-'J.11.UU0 DUD.
...TheraL.Sin'. trU6 Preparedness in this age save!
that which la rooted In tha days ot peace, Inf
the broad policy of human Justice and human!
G.uviu. iw u.-umcagQ TMDune,
-in ,? ar8q"s ,or, Pce and for economWj
emclency and social welfare is no less needed!
by the United States than nr.iu..,in... ,.,. .,...1
tlonai defense against possible foreign azcres-J
,. .vn,9 wtvivcBiiiuiixvvvr
If in case of real war the Government needed!
ffSX W'JSLI 5?W rtmmtr mmu
...., ,..,,. uiu nuuiu rusn into tha
breach and meet the Hm,.u., .. .i..Z
have in the present war Oregon State Journal!
If the canal Is to b rterni .i -. .. .,-.'4
fenso worthy of the property's value ajust. Lap
zon rn.,inir-..".r. '.. ""'"' .loe y"8
r . v,itpV nmnsuia, out neither da
MtiXSr
ir,T.rt ...: i7. trrT"T.. "u.nei"w aa w