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Show Early Custom The early Romans were accustomed to hanging tiny masks of Bacchus upon trees anil vines, the idea being to impart fertility to every side of the tree to which the masks were turned by the wind. l tf , opening eyes "You have been talking to me while I slept, haven't you'" v- - ivrl TIME i J4 ' M J F7Tr MM L ( First Observers to welcome each New Year are the residents of First persons the Chatham Islands. New i Man has marked time in some way since the earliest stages of life upon earth Generally, we trace the present method to the year 738 B.C. when legend tells us that Romulus introduced the Roman calendar. But. even earlier, the ancients had what they called a calendarium, in which the days were marked off in stone inscriptions. (WRISTMAS As the Christmas bells gladden your heart, we wish you a Happy Holiday. Our Gas Co. The months of the year have been named for gods, goddesses and emperors. March, for example, was named for Mars, the god of war. May comes from Maia, goddess of marriage, yet, modern brides have made June the n onth for marriage, and this month was named in honor of the goddess Juno. Quintilis was the fifth month, as the Roman calendar began with March. To honor Julius Caesar, quintilis was later changed to July. The Roman calendar had ten months. Others were April, from Aperire, to open, denoting the time the earth opened up with new fruit; Sextilis, which was changed to August; and our own September, October, November and December. About 713 B. C, Numa Pompil-iuadded two more months, January, in honor of the god Janus and the February, from Februalia, time for sacrificing to the gods. This gave the calendar 12 lunar months, or 354 days, but the calendar was at variance with the equinoxes. By the time of Julius Caesar, the calendar was two months behind the sun. Caesar's experts devised the Julian cal- s endar by borrowing the Egyptian fixed solar calendar of 365 days An additional day was intercalated every fourth year to complete the 365!4 days. The Gregorian calendar can be traced to 1582, when Pope Gregory XII "rectified" the difference by dropping ten days to have the equinox fall on the approximate date it fell on in 325 A D., at the Council of Nicea The revision did not involve any change in the weekly cycle, as Thursday, October 4 of the Julian calendar was followed by Friday, October 15 of the Gregorian. The Gregorian calendar was first put into use in Roman Catholic countries, later by Protestant and subsequently Greek Catholic countries, eventually universally adopted. The Gregorian calendar is not perfect, yet experts estimate it will be accurate, at least, until 2500 A D. Maybe by then someone will develop a perfect method of keeping time and in keeping in tune with the solar year, which actually consists of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. "They can't fire me for that, can they-"- ' Helen Connerly laughed "I've also taken you fur a ride I want you to meet some one, near the main gate " It was Mary, on the arm of a He rugged, handsome man walked with a slight limp, yet straight erect and proud So this was how it would be She d taken his advice, then Good Now a simple goodbye and she would be rid of him forever, just the way he wanted it to be. Helen Connerly rushed for ward, hugged each affectionately "Ted. I want you to meet ." "I know ." "My husband, John Connerly "Your husband""' John Connerly let out a boom ing laugh "I know you, son Ami I know what you arc going A few years ago. I through lost an argument in Korea and wound up here the same as you are now. This little woman talked me back on my feet and I guess I talked myself into a lifetime contract What do vou think of that-"- ' Ted smiled "I think it's time I met the lovely young lady with you. I'd like to wish her a Merry Christmas and promise her a Happy New Year." .. SEASON'S GREETINGS, December 23, onto, rings his bell to send 65- - MAT PAGE 77 very best Gold Frankincense, Myrrh Make Suitable Gifts for Infant Kin a In New Testament history, St. Matthew describes the first of all Christmas gifts gold, frankincense and myrrh. Alter the wise men had knelt at the manger, he tells us, they opened their treasures to select these special offerings for the newborn Babe of Bethle- wishes for a fun-fille- so readily apparent. Actually, frankincense and myrrh were costly items in the time of Christ, and they are still cost- ly. Both are resins used in making incense, surviving to all. to- day at many a Christian altar. As further evidence that frankincense and myrrh were hem. precious treasures, To the modern mind, gold ."ifts for an Infant King,worthy there is instantly recognizable as a is the old poem which extreasure, but the value of pressed the ancient belief that frankincense and myrrh is not ' incense owns a deity nigh." First Message The first message was cabled across the Pacific on January 1. 1903. The cable ship "Silverton" arrived in Honolulu on that date after successfully laying down 2.600 miles of cable from San Francisco to Honolulu r s CHRI! Norm's Surplus Ancient Romans rang in the Vew Year much like Americans 'oday. All work stopped, schools LARRY. losed; courts handed down no sentences: revelors gamboled in masquerade; and gifts such as waxen fruit, candles, and dolls were exchanged PAUL. JAY across the other pa tients were happily stringing dec orations across the stately ever green that dominated the en trance to the hospital. It just didn't seem like Christ mas. For one thing, there cer tainly wouldn't be any snow thii far South. But, then, it hadn'l seemed like Christmas for some years now. Two Christmases in far away lands, one of them in a stinking jungle and now this flat on his back in a hospital. "I guess those guys have some reason to be happy, at least they can walk." He was aware, and somehow ashamed, of the tinge of sarcasm in his voice. 'P' ed Andrews looked lawn. Some of the Question Helen Connerly didn't seem to notice. "Would you like me to wheel you around the grounds? They're doing some decorating at the other entrances, too." Ted took the book he had been reading and covered his eyes. I think "No, thanks, Nursey-dear- . I'll take myself a little nap. This warm Southern temperature makes a Yankee like myself somewhat lazy." The woman smiled. "Okay, I'll be here if you need anything." Was it sleep, or that enveloped him? He was never sure any more. But he was back again, the whirring sound of the yf x boss-ma- half-slee- With -i- t I I Jf I yLI "Would you like me to wheel you around? They're decorating the other entrances, too." trimmed, the presents are here nw f'ncl ou yur Christmas wishes have come true! Ours did . . . we have the nicest customers there are! Many thanks. nejyyrff? The tree Sii Crump-Whcatlc- y is Motor Co. 'copter blades ringing in his ears, and the staccato bursts of ground fire, sudden explosion, pain and the realization that he couldn't move, that the world had fallen in on top of him. "He was just like you, Ted, exactly the same. He suffered. He wanted to suffer. He bottled himself up and shut out the world with a curtain of indiffer ence. I suffered, because I loved him and because I could find no way to build a bridge that would reach him." Mary, Mary, don't be contrary, forget me now. Sure you can, if you try. I'm not the same guy. He's gone. They left him in a rotting, stinking jungle, exchanged for a living corpse. Go away, Mary. Go away and stay. "You have everything, Ted. It's yours for the asking; yours for the takin- - There is a wonderful girl who loves you There is the 'promise that you can walk again if you try. You have to try. Ted. No one can do it for you. Try, as others have done, Ted, get up and try!" Awakening He stirred. The book had fallen to the ground and the last rays of afternoon sun greeted his V III III scaPe' t'ie sP'r't . . f f snow-covere- d all Ihe land- - Christmas comes to bless IJf - Xt tranquility ot a vlkz'V i . tw-Xss L ,vish that vou may enjoy thrice fold this Vule all f . far t the wonderful things that go into making the Lnristmas season such a special time: the io ful hours, w the happv memories, the cheerful gatherings with family and friends. And may we, loo, continue in your friendship, serving the needs of ou and your family, always in a better way. We know how much it means to have the trust and good will of folks like you, and we are truly grateful. The Leader Publishing Co, MR. AND MRS. A. N. RYTTING ROBERT E. NELSON FRED BUTLER d Holiday By Archie Boyd Rogers Mortuary 1965 FLORENCE RASMUSSEN PATTY R. KOFORD . |