One of the most familiar and cherished Christmas stories has been around a long time — 171 years in fact. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was published this week in 1843. Some sources say the publication was on this date. The first print run of 6,000 copies sold out in a week and the book has never been out of print. The tale about the reformation of Ebenezer Scrooge and his “Bah, humbug!” dismissal of the Christmas season became a solid holiday tradition over the years in the U.S. The story has been told on radio, on stage, in school programs, in the movies, and on television. It’s a safe bet that “A Christmas Carol” will be seen this holiday season on many of the nation’s 2,100 television broadcasting establishments. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.
Saturday, December 20th. Throughout history, bachelors have had to put up with a lot of pressure from friends, family and society in general. They tend to be stereotyped, and many television sitcoms deal with their supposedly hapless lives. But no insult can rival that enacted in Missouri on this date 1820, when the legislature voted to tax bachelors between the ages of 21 and 50 $1 a year — just for being unmarried. Obviously, the tax did not stand the test of time or legality. Today, around 34 percent of males over age 15 have never been married, compared with over 28 percent of females. Together, they number just over 77 million people, nearly a quarter of the total population. You can find more facts about America’s people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.
Sunday, December 21st. This month in 1823, Georgia became the first state to enact a birth registration law. It required county clerks to record in a book the dates of births of all new Georgians upon obtaining satisfactory proof by way of affidavit or sworn oaths. Enumerations of people go back to antiquity, but births were little noted outside of family and church records and the memory of neighbors. This informal method held true until Georgia’s action in 1823, which by 1919 were mirrored in all states. However, not until 1902 was the Bureau of Census established as a permanent agency to develop birth registration areas, and a standard registration system adopted in the 1930’s. In the U.S. today, babies are born, and nearly universally certified, at a rate of about 8 per minute. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.
Although I’m generally a cheerful person, this morning at the downtown ATM I was provoked to frown at an SUV parked the wrong direction and taking up two spaces. It was early and cold and I resented I had to park further away because of this thoughtless person’s disregard for parking manners. After he left the ATM the young lady, ahead of me in line, and I commented to each other how that person was inconsiderate. She gave me the brightest smile and said she tries to remember that everyone isn’t trained the same. I conducted my business and reminded myself that the young woman had a valid point. I let go of my humbug; no harm done so why complain? This IS the season to remember the Reason…to save us from ourselves!