Missouri is the 24th state, and was admitted into the Union as a slave state under the Missouri Compromise in 1821. Back then, it's capital was in St. Charles, near St. Louis. The capital was moved to Jefferson City in 1826, where it remains today.
Bob Priddy tells us that back in those earlier days, for various reasons, Christmas in Jeff City was just another working day:
"Working on Christmas was not all that unusual in those times. It was seventeen years yet before Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was published or that Sir Henry Cole, an Englishman, printed a couple thousand Christmas cards that sold for a shilling each. Christmas would not be declared a federal holiday for forty-four more years.
In 1828, the second general assembly to meet in Jefferson City took December 25 off but was back at work the next day."
Mark Twain once opined that "No man's life or property is safe while the legislature is in session." I agree and recommend the modern Missouri legislature enjoy an extremely long Christmas break. You have my blessing.
