FEBRUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

FEBRUARY.

By MARION* WRIGHT.

February has always been distinguished as the shortest month of the twelve. Originally, however, it was a day longer than at present. The Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, by whom our calendar was intro'luccd and from whom it is called the Julian Calendar, assigned 29 of the 303 daye in his year to February in ordinary years, and 30 days in leap year. This arrangement was changed by the Emperor Augustus, after whom the month of August i= named. Caesar had given only 30 days to August, while July, which derived its name from himself, had 31. The vanity of Augustus led him to give as many days to August as to July, and the additional day was taken from February. Caesar had ordered that the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh months should"each have 31 days. But Augustus, in order that three months of 31 days might not come .together, reduced September and November to 30 days, and gave 31 to October and December. The Romans, instead of distinguishing the days by the original numbers, first, second, third, etc., counted backwards from three fixed points, namely, the Calends, the Nones, and the Ides. The Calends were always the first day of the month; the Ides were at the middle of the month, either the 13th or the loth day; and tl:e Xones were the Oth day before the Ides, counting inclusively. At first the additional day in February was inserted between the 24th and the 2.> th. so that the month having 29 days, the 2.3 th became the sixth of the Calends of March, sexto calendas in Latin, while the day added was called bis-sexto calendas. This is the explanation of. the term bissextile which is still used to describe the year of 3CU days. It may be pointed out that the name "leap year" would be more accurate if leap years were a day shorter instead of a day longer. As. it is there is not a day leaped over, bit a day inserted. In modern time.-, of course, the day added to February conies not between the 24th and 2.'ith but as the 20th.

The Fisher's Net. Six or eight girls clasp hands and form a large ring, facing inwards, keeping their places by treading water. Another girl is in the middle of the ring; she is the fish,- and it is her aim to escape from the net. To do this sho swims underwater and dashes for any promising gap. Those forming the ring must keep out at their full-arm distance unless they see the fish actually trying to pass. Then two girls may close together, but they must separate once more as soon as they have foiled an escape. When the fish gets out one of those players by whom she passed takes her" place in the middle. No holding of the fish should be allowed; escape must only be blocked by the swimmers closing together at the danger point. The fish should keep her eyes open all the time she is beneat'i the water, so that she can dart in the direction which looks most promising. Xeander: You have, heard the old story of Leandcr, who used to swim across tho Hellespont each day to visit Hero ? Well, this game is named after him. Leander treads water in the middle of the hath, or bathing-place, while the others in the game stand in a line along the bank. When Leander calls "ready" all must dive or jump in at once and try to get across without being touched. Anyone who is touched falls out of the game, until only the winner is left to cross. Seal Hunting: One girl is the seal, and she can swim in any way she chooses. But all her companions are hunters, and each of them holds a hand behind her back—thus using two legs and one arm for swimming. Whoever catches the seal takes her place. Swimming under water is a big help to the seal, for her pursuers are not able to follow very well, because of having only one arm. But they have the advantage in numbers — which balances things.