America's Unlearned A B C

1895

Our holidays in this country are practically limited to two — the Fourth of July in summer and Christmas day in winter — writes Edward W. Bok in an earnest plea for more rest and recreation for the people of this nation in The Ladies' Home Journal.

While other holidays are more or less generally observed, as conditions make it possible, "the Fourth" and Christmas are essentially the great leisure days of the American people, when every one who can takes a holiday. It is a fact to be deplored that as a nation we have not more holidays that are really observed, but this is because as a people we have yet to learn how to rest.

That we will learn the lesson is unquestionable. Our national health will drive us to it, even if our judgment temporarily halts. The comfort of real living is something of which we in America as yet do not know the simple A B C. Some day we will wake up, cease this everlasting strife for the dollar, be content with what we have rather than reach out for more, take things a little easier, and we shall be a happier and a healthier people, but until we do reach this point we should wisely enjoy the few holidays we choose to recognize.

"Patriots' Day"

1900

The State of Massachusetts has a holiday which, although it is but seven years old, has attained great popular success. It is called Patriots' day, and is celebrated on April 19th, in commemoration of the battles of Concord and Lexington.

In Massachusetts this holiday has a special reason for its existence, aside from the fact that Concord and Lexington are within the limits of the state. It takes the place of the old Fast day, which fell by custom on the first Thursday in April. The transformation of Fast day into a day for baseball, fishing and merrymaking was a perversion of what was intended to be "a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer." The people were not willing to give up the vernal holiday, and the celebration of the anniversary of Concord fight gave an opportunity for retaining it. A bill has been introduced in Congress to make April 19th a national holiday.

Of course Congress has no power to make the observance of a holiday binding on the people; but if the nation were to make the day a holiday for its functionaries and employes, its example would undoubtedly be followed by some at least of the states.

It may be suggested that a day might be found for a vernal holiday which would not commemorate the opening of the great war which gave the country independence. The battles of the Civil War have wisely been left uncelebrated, nor have the anniversaries of battles with other countries been turned into holidays.

On the other hand, it is impossible to celebrate the beginning of national life without celebrating some incident of the great struggle with England; and it would be absurd to suppose — considering how holidays are spent — that animosity toward "the mother country" would be fostered, or would even be intermingled with the sentiments which a spring holiday might awaken.


Medicine to South Africa

The horrors of war in South Africa have been softened by many acts of magnanimity on both sides, and fierce foes in combat have forgotten animosity when moved by the appeal of human needs. Before the relief of Ladysmith a message went from the camp of the Boers to that of the British, requesting, for the relief of men in hospitals, a certain kind of medicine which the Boers' medical department lacked. The request was instantly granted. The Boers' confidence in the humanity of their foes was as touching as it was creditable to the British who inspired it.

— Youth's Companion.

Memorial Day — A Widening Memorial

1904

Like everything else, holidays undergo a gradual change in spirit and observance. When Decoration day was first set apart many persons predicted that its observance would last only so long as the generations which knew the participants of the Civil War. It was supposed that there would be little present-day enthusiasm for decorating graves of Revolutionary veterans, no matter how great the popular admiration for their valor and sacrifices.

The change of name was wise. Memorial day is a broader term than the old one, and the significance of dedicating one day in the year to the memory of those who gave their lives for their country has been more broadly and fittingly recognized. Memorial day is coming to represent a solemn, serious aspect of our national life, just as the Fourth of July stands for the joyful and the exuberant aspect; and for a nation, as for the individual, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."

As other wars come in the long line of history, the graves of their heroes also will be decorated. There is already a tendency to hold on this day memorial services for firemen and others who fall in public service. Gradually, too, and perhaps unconsciously, the occasion has assumed something of the character of All Souls' day in Paris. Not only do we place flowers on those hallowed spots which are marked by flags, but we leave a wreath upon the graves of our own dear ones who have gone before; and this is well.

One day in the year we can appropriately give to the memory of that great army of the dead whose banners are the lily and the rose, and of which the armies of the Blue and of the Gray are but divisions. — Youth's Companion.