The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-09
HOW VERY OLD WE ARE.

HOW VERY OLD WE ARE.
We have entered upon the fiftY-eight
hundred and seventy-ninth year of the
worlds creation, if we accept Usher's
chronology, or upon the sixty-five hun
: dred and ninety-second year of earth's
existence according to the Julian pc
Rod. But it must be confessed that
we know very little of the correctness
OF these dates. Few modern scholars
respect their accuracy and none think
the earth only 5000 years old. Herod-
otus's statements and those of Egyp-
tian priests, affecting the worlds age,
to say nothing of those of modern
biologists and scientists, are more com
monty accepted now than fifty years
ago. II DR.. Schleimann's discoveries
signify anything, Homer wrote history
as we'll as poetry, and there were 9TH
or and older Homers than
"The blind old bard OF scio's rocky isle
Another and older Troy stood where
that fell beneath the blows of Achelles
and craft of Agamemnon. OF dates
relating to important events in the
course OF human affairs that of Christ's
birth Is fixed with tolerable accuracy,
and however we may dream Of the re-
7Vpote past 1t is true that we have en-
ed upon the eighteen hundred and
SsFenty-ninth year of the Christian
era. 1t will be noted in history as
Ammo Mundi, year of the world, 1919 4;
Ammo Domini, year of the Lord, 1879
Jewish year, 5000; Julian period, G692 I;
Hegira, or fight of Mahomet, 1865; A.
U. c., foundation of Rome, 2632; In
dependence of the United States,
1904; reign of Queen Victoria, AZ 8.
The year of the old Romans comprised
only 3o4 days. The Roman era From
the Founding of the City"-Ad ur6e
coaditd, or A. Z. c., as commonly
written-had origin at a period as un.
certain as the fable which told that
Romulus and Remus were twin nurs-
usgs of she wolf. 1t is commonly
6eld. however, that the Roman proceed
ed the ClriStian era about 7t3 years.
A Roman king added two months, JAN
uary and February, to the year. This
was continued till Julius Caesar, as adj
vised by astronomers and philosophers,
gave the year 385 days and hours,
constituting the basis of the Julian
calendar. Cesar also provided "leap
r year." introducing bissextile, when
the year was of 866 days, the name
having reference to these two skies.
But the true solar year was made up
of 365 days, five hours and forty-nine
minutes, and it was found in 1852,
when Gregory XIII. was Pope, that the
earth had revolYed ten times oftenel
than enumerated in accepted dates
and therefore the good Pope ordered
that the year 1889 should consist Of
only $40 days, by which pontifical de
cree the fifth became the fifteenth o.
October, and then, to prevent future
Irregularities, il was determined thai
the first year in each century should
not be bissextile, or leap year, ex'
eepting every fourth century. Tht
year 1000 will not, as the year 1900
will, be leap year, as the STATESMAN
of the period will announce at the
time. But however much Protestant
object to papal authority, neither
they nor pontiiTs nor kings nor Grants
have interfered with the matter o.
dates or chronological epochs as we u.s.
them, since Pope Gregory effected
these reforms nearly three hundred
years ago. Our Hebrew friends have
nice little chronology of their own
as we have when we inRocently SAL
'sbefore the war, !" referring to some.
thing like Noah's flood. The Hebrews
assume that the earth was S760 year
old when Christ appeared, aud this il
their mosaic of terrestrial events a
painted before their eyes by pa
triarehs and prophets, the world i
now $3.50 years old sndy Jet Herodotus
as does Diodorus Siculus and Scion
speaks of events that occurred
more than fifteen thousand year
before, their time aud Herodotu
--&Ted i've hundred years before Chris
came.
Originally Cesar made the alternat
months OF thirty-one and thirty days
and December was given an extra da
in leap-year. But August was nance
in honor OF Augustus Caesar, and h
was unwilling that this month shoul'
have fewer days than July, naIaed il
honor OF julius Cesar. Augustus, VIII
Was Charles-w illiam-H Henry sort OF
a-seliow, parting his hsir in the middle
aud fond of poetry, as Virgil tells
added day = tsken from Septen
ber-to the duration OF August. Thu
there were seven months having thirty
one days each. The only month hay
ing the same number of days With il
;nmediAte predecessor Is August
fact due to the vanity Of mighty en-
peror Ia whose reign Christ was boFi
and the temple Of Janus closed an
peace and good win came upon cart
The reform established by POI
Gregory was adopted By france Al
ether CAfhoiic countries in 1854. a.
b. EeeIasd in 1879 BY leaving o
eleven day., making the third u SCI