The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-15
The Approaching Celebration At Char

The Approaching Celebration at Char
Iotte.
The interesting letters which we publish
this morning from our own correspondent OF
Charlotte will convey an adequate idea of the
extensive scale Of the preparations for the
patriotic commemoration of the Mecklenburg
Declaration Of Independence on Thursday
next There will be gathering OF distin-
guished men from all parts of the country.
All the State Governors have been invited,
and quite number of them have accepted
the invitation. Those who decline do so IN
courteous, appreciative letters, recognizing
the interest of the occasion. Among the emil
nent men not holding official positions to
whom invitations have been sent are Charles
Francis Adams and Robert @. Winthrop. To
repeat the language of our correspondent,
mot only will Charlotte be dignifed and
illumined on the Goth by the gathering within
her limits of eminent statesmen, scholars,
jurists, divines and other personages of note,
but there will be grand outpouring OF the
people," There will be an immense process
sion, great civic and military display, two
set orations, and, of course, superb dinner,
with the usual accompaniment of patriotic
speeches.
1t is apparent that the controversy relating
to the rival dates will have no effect on the
celebration, which will not take place on May
81, but on May 20. So far as an enthusi-
astic popular demonstration can authenti-
cate historical fact the reality of the meet
ing on May 90 1775, will be amply attested.
If the celebration proves nothing else IL will,
at least, prove the mistaken belief of the peo-
pie that May 20 is the true date. There can
be no reasonable doubt that that date has
come down by tradition, and the people of
North Carolina have undoubting faith in the
tradition.
We have suggestion to offer as to this dis
erepancy Of dates which we submit to the
Judgment of critics. We should have some
confidence in it as clew to the solution of the
problem if it had not SO entirely escaped the
acute and ingenious scholars who are enlisted
in this controversy If it can stand the ordeal
Of discussion it will clear up the whole diff
Guilty, and it is 50 simple that it
seems almost to establish its truth
by mere statement. But as it has occurred
to nobody before we suggest it with diffidence,
in the hope that some Of our able correspond
ents will discuss it. The difference in the
rival dates is just eleven days, or the difference
between what was called hundred years ago
''old style" and new style" For the British
dominions the style was changed by an act of
Parliament in 1852, which enacted that the Sd
Of September of that year should be called
the 14th. Although legal documents at once
conformed to the change the popular practice
$50 powerful is custom) continued long after
ward to recognize the "old style" Dates
we're thrown into such confusion and rendered
so doubtful that, for generation or two
after the change of style. the dates of letters
almost uniformly had 20. S." or IN. S. in
serted Immediately after them, to free the
date from ambiguity. To illustrate, BY one
example selected out of many, all birthdays
were confused George Washington vas born
February IL, 1872, and, until he was twenty
years of age, he never supposed he had
different birthday. If his nurse had been
called to testify to the date OF his birth in her
old age she would have given that date,
and she would have been supported
by the record in the family Bible. But, in
consequence Of the change Of style, we cele-
brate February p instead Of February IL, as
the birthday Of Washington. The conflicting
dates gwen for the Meclxlenburg meeting may
be perfectly reconcIled by supposing that the
old men who testified to the goth reckoned by
the old style, which had not gone out in popu-
lar practice at the beginning Of the American
Revolution. The two conflicting dates are
in fact the same date, if we regard one as
cold Style and the other as ''new style" as
everybody will admit as soon as it is stated.
'May 20 1875 %. ST." and "8Iay 81, 1875
(N. 81" arc precisely the same date. What
ever may be thought of this solution, the
coincidence is at least curious. AS an ilustra-
ton Of the strong popular repugnance to the
change Of style we will remind the reader of one
Of Hogarth's satirical pictures, in which that
inimitable humorous artist represents an ex-
cited political mob as representing their grev.
ance by the CRY Of "Give us back our eleven
days"
Picture OF American Life.