Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-01-15
For the Freeman.
The Half Century Question.

1ne daAf century Question.
Another year is registered in Times Book Of
Remembrance, and new year has commenced
and with it again comes the question relative to
the close of the half century, which is equally
applicable to the close of each year. And so
long as difference of opinion exists, discussion
may with propriety, be continued until the minds
of community become settled, and all shall agree,
whether present time belongs to the current year
or the next. And, as the question has drawn
out some learned disquisitions, tending to prove
the half century to have terminated with the
year l849, which seems to be tacitly ad-
mltted, so far as newspaper communications
are concerned; and having waited in vain for
some explanation suited to my views. now
ask, at this late hour, to express my dissent
from such theory, to show its inconsistency,
and to offer few reasons in vindcation of, till
lately, the common opinion
In the first place let me premise, that the
computation of time, passing, cannot be proper
ly compared with any other kind of reckoning,
as it is progressive, and requires some duration
fol the completion of any particular portion;
whereas, dollars and cents, feet and inches, &c.
which have been used as means of illustra-
ton, can be counted, and the computation COM
pleted without regard to any particular length Of
time being ended.
But comparison of the manner of estma-
ting the year with that of other divisions of
time appears much less Objectionable. Then,
take the month Of January, which consider to
have commenced this morning at, or imme-
dlatey after midnight, and to continue thirty
one days from that time. But, if the year 1852,
as some think, ended before it takes place in
onr dntes, by the same mode of reasoning, Jan
uary also ended at the commencement of to-
day. January lstY) and to-day, together with
the thirty succeeding days will make up the
mouth of February, and so on with the other
months. And by the sumo rule that it is con.
tended by some that the following twelve months
will constitute the year 1853, to day Thursday
is not in reality Thursday but name for the
twenty-four hours of yesterday and the TWEEN.
ty-four hours of to-day will, tomorrow be call
ed Friday. Now do not believe that this man.
ner of reckoning was ever correctly applied to
months and days; and if not, why then to years?
My sort of reason denies the right OF any such
calculations. The incongruity must be obvi-
Gus. And in order to a consistent uniformity in
computing the different divisions of time, we
must, for example, call to day the first day of
the first month, of the 52hd, year of the 18th
century, uniformly using ordina adjectives, or
having such understanding. The expression,
1852, being equivalent to lS52nd year; which
style is frequently used in such a sense; and
\ 80 oee" January 1st, 2nd &c. also Sec
ton l. 2. 3. &C.
AS further proof, dates of legal instruments
often contain the words "In the year OF our
Lord . and when school bcy learned from
!, Webster's Old Spelling Book, that A. D. stood
for " In the year of our Lord" and DR.. Web
ster, it seems by his last Dictionary, did not live
long enough to discover the alleged mistake
Now in the year cannot be out Of it, neither
before it. nor AFTER it.
My apology for this, Is love for the cause Of
truth; nor would have grasped the pen at this
time with my bungling fingers, but for that, and
, also to make an effort to save Madam Earth from
the unmerited disgrace of appearing in the eyes
of some planet suitor year older than her real
age, which is generally cons dered among la
, dies as leading to caamitous consequences.
FARMER G.