.
YKR since man knew
enough about astron
omy to divide time
into years which
more or less
agreed with the
earth's annual revolu
tion around the sun,
he has in various
characteristic ways
regarded the first
day of the new year
as a day of re
joicing and well
wishing.
It was the great
day for exchanging gifts until, in some
Christian countries, Christmas day
was substituted. While in America
New Year's day Is generally observed
as a holiday and as an occasion for
paying ceremonial social calls, in
France, even now, New Y'ear's pres
ents have not entirely disappeared.
New Year's day is not observed on
January 1 in every country, although
most nations nowadays use tlie Gre
gorian calendar, and consequent!} be
gin their new year on that day. In
Russia the Julian calendar is still in
use, and as a quarter of a day in each
year is lost by that system, there is
now an accumulated loss of 13 days.
Januqry 1 in Russia, then, corresponds
to January 14 of our calendar. The
Mohammedan New Year, the Jewish
New Year and the Chinese New Year,
owing to the peculiar systems of keep
ing time by those people, are very elu
sive dates, or seem so to persons fa
miliar only witli the Gregorian calen
dar.
AS TO THE CALENDARS.
The Jewish year is solar-lunar, and
may consist of as few as 353 days and
as many as 385. New Year’s day usu
ally falls in September. The Moham
medan years usually consist of 354
days, being purely lunar, and the leap
years, which occur in certain twelve
months of a cycle of 30 lunar years,
contain 355 days. The first day of
Muharrem—New Year’s day—may in
course of time make a whole revolu
tion of the seasons. An instance of this
may be given. The first of Muharrem,
1906, fell on February 25, while the
Mohammedan New Year last year be
gan on March 7. Inasmuch as it is
purely lunar, the Mohammedan year
Is almost unique in the calendars of
the world. While the Chinese year con
forms to the eastern idea, being found
ed upon lunar months, a month is add
ed to every 30, to make time conform
with the solar year. Consequently,
the Chinese New Year may begin any
time between January 21 and Febru
ary 28.
REVOLVING NEW YEAR.
The ancient Egyptians had a year
more or less conforming to the Julian
style, inasmuch as it contained 365
days. In course of centuries this made
New Year's make a complete revolu
tion of the seasons. This fact, only
recently properly appreciated by Prof.
Petrie, the Egyptologist, led to many
misconceptions and retarded the solu
tion of mysterious feasts and rites
which now are perfectly well under
stood by archaeologists.
Anciently, in Rome, the new' year
began in March, in the neighborhood
of the vernal equinox, which would
seem to be a reasonable, if not logical
time to begin the annual cycle. March
25 was, until the latter part of the
sixteenth century, the day when the
new year began in most Christian
countries. Numa is said to have made
the Roman year begin on January 1,
the day held by pagan Rome sacred
in honor of Janus, w'ho was thus sup
posed to turn at once back upon the
old year and forward into the new. and
subsequently New Year's day was, at
various times and in different Chris
tian countries, celebrated on the pres
ent Christmas, March 1, March 25 (the
Feast of the Annunciation), and East
er day.
CUSTOM OF GIFTS.
Almost everywhere the custom of
making presents on the first day of
the new year has been observed. When
It originated, or where, it would be
extremely difficult, if not actually im
possible, to say. It is sufficient to
know that the observance has the
sanction of remote antiquity. In the
eighth century B C. Tatius, king of
the Sabines, according to traditions,
began the custom among the Romans.
At first the gifts were merely emblem
atlc and of little price, being branches,
cut from the wood consecrated to
Strenia, the goddess of strength.
These were presented to the king as
an omen of good fortune The gifts
beeanio more pretentious as time went
on, and in later centuries some of (he
Homan emperors demanded New Year’s
presents of great value from the
"magnates" of those days. As the
Roman rulers were gentlemen who
were not to he trifled with, the pres
ents usually appeared on time after
notice to the wealthy was given.
it was in Rome, too that the habit
of masquerading at New Year's ap
pears to have originated. The custom
still observed in Italy now is confined
to the celebrations at the Epiphany
and at the carnival time.
FESTIVITIES OF THE DAY
In some countries, notably in Great
Britain and in some cities in Canada
and the United States, the new year is
welcomed in by festivities on the eve
of tlie day. in Scotland, for instance,
it is customary to celebrate New
Year’s eve with some festivity, which
is prolonged until past midnight. At
the stroke of 12 every one present
wishes each other a "Happy New
Year.” The custom is also common
in many parts of Germany, where the
salutation is “Prosit Neu Jehr.”
Similar to tiiis custom are ihe re
ligious “watch meetings" held in some
of the churches in tiiis country on
New Year’s eve. In England on New
Year’s eve, in some houses, a curious
custom, or superstition, is observed.
At the stroke of 12, which ushers in
the new year, the party, already wait
ing on the stairs, begin to ascend the
stairway backward, taking a step at
each stroke. Every step successfully
mounted means a happy month, every
stumble a reverse. Of course, it is
one of those playful superstitions
which are not taken seriously.
Glucose Fondant fcr Christmas.
Two cups sugar, one cup water, and
two tablespoons glucose Boil all un
til a little dropped in cold water will
form a soft ball. Remove from Are
and heat till creamy.
Seven ways to use the fondant:
Make into balls and dip in melted
chocolate.
Roll them in cocoanut.
Roll them in chopped nuts.
Fill Ags with fondant and slice thin.
Fill dates with fondant, or put the
fondant around the stoned date.
Make into squares and place a nut
on top.
Roll nuts In the fondant and then In
sugar.
Tie Racks for Men.
A present that will tie great)}' ap
preciated by a man i.- a tie jack. This
may be mounted embroidered linen,
burnt, wood, decorated leather or
painted cardboard The only thing lo
be guarded against is not to make
them too elaborate 1 e more simple
the pattern is the me ■<- s -< to please.
Room for Lots of Presents.
“I wish I could b< . • iiidMss " said
little Dorothy.
“You would have 'o « < y, very
hard, my child." obs< ved her mother.
“Hut just think, mamma, (f ail the
stockings 1 could hang up. ’
Greet ng.
Now while the sure t . ■ sj o* •; Pells
lament
The past year, * »r fl'Kit, lt,<y shall
change
Their solemn burder, ter a round of Joy,
Chiming the pratst s rf n,t year ntw
crowned,
—Edith Thomas.
New Year’s Greetings
T ieki-tock, tickj-toek ; tick -1 oel^Ytiek-tpc'k:
Tpejre « stands k'Hthe stairway " ,y>- >//7
SlbwJy I marking bit the moments
Op the 'hying
Yes;- another_ yejaif (of ''joy^;
On the morrow: / ^
Wihj have? gone tjo joirt/the de
Youtllave ticked o;ir by
Tick-tock, tick-t ek:, tick-tock, tick-tock;
Dear old jaldck
If I-but knew you
The stories ypUy
Of days
Before my time \x__ *
}
Would niteike an-utterming tale, ^
/ ^\\ K//~ry-~7
T ic k - toek,t i ck-tbck ;71 i ck -1 o^kAtick-loc k;
Memifiks I\\hjear the call to war - ‘ V x
ThY Vhunded^ Vdund. theVwbrld L x vitwYA
wireri^ou'Ye^ ypVng(^#\
And in>ypuu7 pcimeTY 77^7 YHTY.ft
The clash ph\BunkerAHilfiY ?V
SssaSSBaa, 5®g§f
MKi^i
Iri AlPw and mei$ikY<Y/cadbnc6 Y-wi
yriu/tilmly 4/a^3*J®? y,:, III,/Tv, I
Yourhearers Uei^HCj^r / A \W / r r ||
Of -the^goiden foments. as /tnhey/j7£T~lf/‘
Tick-tac 7ti C^-to ck|r t i‘bk>"t o c^/jt i ck^mk :;
In memt*ri<&*'"deep'rece$S]7
I see again the .days ofiSd '7' P7/\
When "fipirtrab'Kne^YYr-^^^^YA'mTyy J* J
And learbet ~lhVyheirt ;ortp ypa
As to a fried ^2^7 AA/
And the '^~W/ r/^K.
1 see ;7'/7S7\ My-y
The loved ones ?pf a later dayV ;7 '
With your protecting hands'7
You seemed to guard Them y • ’
FroraJ^ai-m 7 ‘
As #c|J^3ryour feet they played.' • J'J->
Tic&tbCk. tick-tpckYtick-lock,/tickrtbck;
When / Av>%-a / (• <7 J
Went om theabove \ N y
Youi■ > -y^ice^&ixf^ldj 7VY—
To c Ter condolerfeb 7 / '7.,,/ .'j, ■;
To (ha alfflictad[»fl}\f < £
And| A: id tTiem c^seUt^r (tppes.
Tick-tiockir tick-tacKV; yTjck-HtpckY/tick-.tock;
7H Y /
ReMember’ yotiAhe /y^v WL
When Johryjwas wopingfjNelV >7.
How we cQpbivgd 7 Jy" ^77^7 {7\
To tell Mm-when twas time to go, A
How loudly* you proclaimed the hour 1 J
When I did wind yoja /
For the coming A, , ✓ --> 7 / W
Tick-tock, tick'-toc!jk;' tick-tock, tick-t ;
Now we’re alonerf^V /k ■ s'- lv'\(
The child of yeat&dpyHas gone to gria
Another home y T / ! (
For othCivchildren just as fair 6 / \ J
As she was" ''~v \
When with chubby hand she’d point
At your round face and laugh /^/ \\
With glee , '|l
When you would toll the passing houh/
Tick-tock, tick-tock^ 1 li-tock;
And now «■->W.,
While v/e are waiting here^":L6
To welcome in with,loud acclaim
The new-born year, t _^
Let’s hope 0^* ~ ^
That in His mercy He will be
A shield and guide
To both of us
As in the days agone.
When skies are cold with wintry stars, and hills
Are white with yester-even’s snow, and lie
In ghostly state beneath the ghostly sky;
When many a gusty blast the darkness fills
With ever lonely, homeless sound, and chills
The window panes with frost; when crackling fly
The sparks about the hearth, and glow and die,
While In the pause his note the cricket trills;
Oh, then how dear is home! and what a sense
Of ruddy warmth and peace beguiles the mind!
And what a charm in listening while the wind
Blows fierce outside, through winter's starry tents,
And dies away around the window pane,
And ever rises loud, and dies again!
— Ernest Warburton Shurtleff.
The Newness of the Year
APPY New Year!" The glad,
greeting rings out on every'
hand. A new twelve month
has been ushered in with
all Its mystery of "the
things which are to lie.”
We need then for our
selves and for others to put
the emphasis upon the
» ' worn new rat nor man
upon the term "year." That another
year has come Is relatively unimpor
tant. The stress Is to be laid not on
the quantity but on the quality of
one’s life. All that an earnest soul
ran do is to live each day of the new
year by Itself, us it conies in its turn,
trying, if so it may be, to put a
month’s effort in one day, and a day’s
victory into a single hour. The time
is short, and it remaineth that all
who know Christ and partake of his
gift of new life should he diligent al
ways, watch unto prayer and boast
not themselves of the morrow, t'liffi
cient unto each day is the burden and
blessing thereof.
I he newness of the uew year is es
sentially a newness of spirit. A new |
man will always enjoy (he new year. I
When another January arrives it is1
distinctively the time lo slough off the
old and to put on the new. There is
an old nature to be discarded, and a
new spiritual manhood to tie assumed.
The trouble witli many people, how
ever, is that they try to remake and
to beform themselves, forgetting tliut
a few good resolutions, more or less
loosely kept, can at best only touch
the outside and possess no interior
efficacy in the recesses of the spirit.
The new man who is really worthy of
the name is the uew man in Christ
Jcstts. Where Jesus Is there is always
newness of experience, renovation of
the moral nature, freshness of hope
and a resiliency of elastic joy. It is
not necessary lo wait until the first
of January in any approaching year
to win the wisdom of such a heavenly
faith or to experience the benefits of
such a spiritual quickening. The
promise of God is now, to every one
that believeth. Kach morning may be
a resurrection day, each evening a
time of golden promise fair, yet not
as fading, as the sunset. The New
Year joy Is for all of life, all the
time.
It is stimulating and encouraging to
feel that a brand new year is offered
for happy employment, and that the
old records with their motley pages, j
some still vacant and other marred,
and, perhaps, here and there blotted
with tears, may he put away, and
fresh, unstained pages substituted In
their place. It Is helpful to remind one
self that those broken resolutions of
1908 may be renewed in 190B, and,
what is better, reinforced by more of
that prayer and divine grace for want
of which the Idealizing resolves of the
past year were soon forgotten or went
so sadly unfulfilled. The new year
means, accordingly, u new hope, a new
song, u new endeavor, a new outlook,
a new inspiration, a new determina
tion and u new grace—every new
thing that Is good appears to be possi
ble in Its gift. A hope like (Ills makes
any doubler optimistic, and gives to
existence the character of a life worth
living.
A wide chasm seems to Intervene
between the old and the new. Into Its
depths should be cast every regret,
every halting doubt, and every ham
pering fear which belongs to the past
period of our experience and which
would burden and binder our worthy
efforts and spiritual progress In the
new year. Let us take up our new
duties and meet our fresh opportuni
ties In free, gladsome and hopeful
spirit, knowing that God, who has pur
posed them for our uplift, will give
us grace to carry us safely through.
Happy New Year! The message is
sent far and near. Let the glad greet
ing be heard on all sides. There Is a
prophecy and a promise in the New
Year. Even to those who are bent with
grief, or lonely by reason of bitter
bereavement It Is possible and timely
to say, though with lowered tone and
softened accent: "Happy New Year!”
Every year will be a happy, or, at
least, a peaceful, one In which the
presence of the Lord Is realized—
which Is spent under the protection of
his wings, while its duties are dis
charged in his fear and its responsibil
ities are borne with the assistance of
ills grace. For the Christian every
year should be an Improvement on the
past, and offer Its additional oppor
tunities for growing In grace ami
Chrlstlikeness. The Christian Is a
convinced and convincing optimist
for, having a heavenly hope which the
world can never give or take away,
he can In every condition of life find
a basis for an assured happiness ex
pressing itself in the oft-quoted dic
tum: "The best of all is, ‘God is
with us!’ “
WE thank our patrons for
the liberal patronage, we
have enjoyed during the past
year.
We purpose to maintain
throughout the coming year, the
same high standard of quality
and workmanship that has
brought satisfaction to our pa
trons in the past.
A. E. JAQUET
“The Old Reliable”
